Texas Stars Unable to Overcome Late Colorado Push in 2-1 Loss

(Credit: Colorado Eagles)

The Texas Stars lost 2-1 to Colorado after letting in two goals during the third period. The Texas defense bent without breaking through two periods but could not contain the Colorado offense in the final frame.

Colton Point made his first start of the season for the Stars and ended up making 30 saves. Point made a number of good saves and was perfect through two periods, but eventually was beaten twice by the Eagles.

Overall, the Texas penalty kill held strong as they went 7-for-8 on the night, but the one goal given up ended up being enough for Colorado to pull out a win. The Colorado pressure was palpable throughout the night, but the Stars PK kept them at bay for most of the game with the help of some key saves by Point.

Colorado came out fast to start the first period and created a number of chances in the first five minutes. Point held strong and ended up turning away all 14 shots he faced during the first period onslaught.

Texas picked up the pace in the second period and was gifted a 5-on-3 PP with 13:33 remaining. Joel L’Esperance took advantage of the opportunity and put the Stars up 1-0 with a goal assisted by Ben Gleason and Jacob Peterson. Although Colorado continued to generate chances in the second period, the Texas defense did enough to keep the game scoreless.

Early in the third period, Dylan Sikura tied the game for Colorado. From that point on, Colorado kept exerting pressure offensively and never looked back. A few minutes later, Jean-Luc Foudy added a power play goal for Colorado and put them up 2-1. The Stars generated a few chances on their final PP of the night, but could not score a goal to tie the game.

L’Esperance scored his third goal of the season, but the Stars struggled to finish chances on offense throughout the night. Gleason put seven shots on net and also added an assist to put him at four this season.

Any night with eight PP opportunities given to the opposing team is going to be a difficult night to maintain offensive pressure and keep pucks out of the back of the net on defense. Colorado pressure mixed with numerous PP chances eventually broke the Stars defense and did not allow the Stars to push back with enough sustained time in the offensive zone.

The Stars have now lost two straight games but will look to get back into the win column when they take on Colorado again tomorrow at 8:05 PM.

Tonight's lines
Tufte-Back-Dellandrea
McKenzie-Peterson-L'Esperance
Kawaguchi-Damiani-Caamano
Gregoire-Melnick-Karlstrom

Gleason-Petrovic

Borgman-Martin
Rosburg-Shea

Point

Injuries, scratches and notes
Cecconi, Louis, Gardner, Felhaber (scratch)
Harley (callup)

Tonight's attendance was 5,054.

AHL Gamesheet - Texas at Colorado - November 2 2021