Leaky Second Period Leads to 5-3 Loss for the Texas Stars Against Manitoba

(Credit: Manitoba Moose)

The Texas Stars had trouble keeping pucks out of their own net in a 5-3 loss to Manitoba. The Texas defense let up three goals on just four shots from Manitoba during the second period of the contest.

Defensive issues and goaltending problems were the story of the night for the Texas Stars. Colton Point had a rough night, posting a 0.692 SV% and allowing four goals before being pulled during the second period. Adam Scheel, who came on in relief of Point, saved 14 of the 15 shots he faced during his 23:08 spent on the ice. In addition, a typically strong penalty kill for the Stars went just 3-for-5 on the day. Overall, the defense looked sluggish and gave up too many scoring chances with a struggling goaltender.

The first period was defined by special teams play on both ends of the ice. Texas started the day with two successful penalty kills but eventually let in a goal with tired defenders on the third attempt. Cole Perfetti scored the power play goal for Manitoba, cracking the Stars’ PK. On Texas’ first PP opportunity of the night, Riley Damiani responded with a goal assisted by Anthony Louis and Ty Dellandrea to tie the game at 1-1.

The wheels fell off for the Stars during the second period. Near the middle of the period, Declan Chisolm scored back-to-back goals over a four-minute span and pushed the Manitoba lead to two goals. With 4:49 remaining in the period, a scrum broke out between the two teams following a hit on Riley Damiani. Texas was handed one more roughing penalty than Manitoba and Jeff Malott converted the opportunity to take a 4-1 lead.

The Stars found a few positives in the third period but could not do enough to bring the game back. Early in the period, Cole Maier scored to make it 5-1 for Manitoba, which gave them a commanding lead. The Stars did respond with a goal from Riley Tufte that came off of a crisp pass from Ben Gleason as well as a goal from Nicholas Caamano with assists from Ryan Shea and Oskar Back. Despite the Stars’ 2-1 goal advantage in the third period, Manitoba took the victory 5-3.

Riley Damiani’s first period goal extended his point streak to five games and also put him at the top of the Stars’ scoring list with 12 points. Riley Tufte’s sixth goal of the season tied him with Joel L’Esperance for the most Texas goals this season.

The Stars are now 6-8-1-1 and have two games remaining on their four-game road trip before returning to Cedar Park for a massive 11-game homestand.

Texas will make their way to Quebec and face the Laval Rocket at 6:30 PM on Wednesday.

Tonight's lines

McKenzie-Damiani-Dellandrea
Louis-Back-Caamano
Tufte-Melnick-Kawaguchi
Gregoire-Gardner-Felhaber

Harley-Petrovic
Shea-Cecconi
Rosburg-Gleason

Point
Scheel

Injuries, scratches and notes

Comeau, L’Esperance, Borgman, Barteaux, Karlstrom (scratch)

Martin (injury)

Kero (callup)

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