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| (Credit: Andy Nietupski/Texas Stars) |
Mincing no words, this was a very bad game for the Stars. It's been a rough week overall. Well, it's been a rough few weeks.
They've collected just one win in each of the last three series they've played, a 3-4-2 record. Each of those opposing teams had a record that was underwater when the series started. Tonight the power play was powerless on eight chances; it hasn't scored all week against Iowa. The shot count was tilted completely in Texas' favor, especially in the first, but they were shut out. It was the first shutout for Texas all year.
"It's frustrating when you see a similar result for a similar effort to the other day," said head coach Neil Graham. "You can't blame the start or the preparation from our group, you know, they came out on time. Really the only thing we lacked was finish."
It seemed like Texas had things going in the first with an 18-3 shot advantage and three power plays. However, it was a 0-0 score after 20. Iowa scored first in the second period, and that was all they would need on the night. At this point, it almost doesn't seem to be relevant how the goals went in whether it be the first or the fourth of the night. It was a rout.
The power play had eight chances and got nothing. That's just unacceptable, and the team knows it.
"The one thing I was reminding the group was once we regained pucks where we battled to get a puck back, you know, it was important not to let them off the hook. I thought we forced a couple passes, once we regained a puck after a good shot or a good chance, instead of, you know maybe simplifying making one or two passes and get it back to the net."
Iowa would extend the lead in the second period to 2-0 then score three and four in within a minute of each other in the third. At 4-0, Tomas Sholl relieved Colton Point, who had allowed those four goals on twenty shots. The game got completely out of hand from there as far as discipline goes. Texas came away with a season-high 35 penalty minutes. Iowa had 53.
How does this team reset for tomorrow and get two points to finish the weekend?
"We have to be good pros this evening in terms of taking care of our body flush, do the things necessary to make ourselves feel better and give us the best chance for tomorrow, and then we'll regroup in the morning."
These teams finish their series tomorrow night.
Injuries, scratches, and notes:
Stranges, Moutrey, Scherbak, Kawaguchi, Shea, L. Martin, M. Martin, Scheel (scratch)
Matt Jurusik was released from his PTO today with the addition of Adam Scheel.
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