Texas Completes Comeback in 3-2 Shootout Win Over San Antonio

The Texas Stars won the first game of a weekend home-and-home set against the San Antonio Rampage 3-2 in a shootout on Friday. They came back from a two-goal deficit in the first period to force overtime and eventually collect the full two points in the glorified skills competition.

The important thing was that the Stars got the full two points. However, they can only finish the weekend tied with the Rampage in the standings should they win again on Saturday.

(credit: Texas Stars)

Texas outplayed San Antonio in just about every facet of the contest. That went especially for the first period, routinely beating the Rampage on the forecheck and winning puck battles while outshooting the competition 13-5.

There is only one statistic that counts towards winning games in hockey, and the Rampage had the upper hand in that regard in the opening frame.

Nathan Walker finished off a give-and-go play and put the Rampage on the board less than two minutes into the game. It was San Antonio’s first shot of the night, though Stars netminder Jake Oettinger would later make up for it.

Near the halfway point of the period, Klim Kostin scored a power play goal from the left circle, pushing the lead to two while the Stars were still searching for rewards for their hard work in the offensive zone.

It finally paid off in the two ensuing periods.

Seven and a half minutes into the second period, Anthony Louis cut the lead in half with a power play goal on the rush. The Stars kept pushing and doubled up the Rampage in shot totals in the middle frame 10-5.

That momentum carried into a third period that saw the Stars buzzing early. Near the five minute marker, Gavin Bayreuther fired from the point and Joel Kiviranta got the deflection for the game-tying goal.

Overtime was about as fun as it gets without a goal being scored. Both teams possessed the puck, and both goaltenders made outstanding saves while benefiting from the posts on two occasions.

In the shootout, Jason Robertson was the lone scorer while Oettinger stood tall against his challengers. The Boston College product confidently came out of the crease and forced each shooter into uncomfortable decisions. Oettinger finished with 21 saves on 23 shots.

The Stars play the Rampage again tomorrow night in Cedar Park.

Tonight's lines:
Louis-L’Esperance-Kiviranta
Mascherin-Gardner-Robertson
Mersch-Melnick-MacKay
Tufte-Cuglietta-Felhaber

Heatherington-Cecconi
Bayreuther-Scarlett
Hanley-Djuse

Oettinger

Injuries, scratches, and notes:
Nyberg, Gleason (scratch)
Kero, Caamano (injury)

Tonight’s attendance was 7,436.

AHL Gamesheet - Texas at San Antonio - December 27 2019

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