Texas Comes Back To Force Overtime But Falls 4-3 in Extra Frame

(Credit: Manitoba Moose)

Texas collected a point yet again in Winnipeg after an inauspicious start, coming up short on a comeback bid to overcome a 3-0 early deficit and falling 4-3 in OT to the host Moose. After falling behind by three in the first eight minutes of the game, Texas scored one per period, capped by Riley Barber's team-leading 20th goal of the season to send the game to overtime.

Dominic Toninato went first as the Moose swarmed the Stars net on a failed clear and he benefited from a good shot, which he tipped for the 1-0 lead. Daniel Torgersson scored 31 seconds later off a puck that just sat in the crease. Texas called its timeout to settle the team, but it wasn't effective.

Leon Gawanke just ripped one from the point past Khudobin three minutes later and that ended the goalie's night. Khudobin stopped 5 of 8, and it was his second time in as many starts being pulled.

From there, Matt Murray and the Stars started their comeback. It was a great time for Oskari Laaksonen to find his first goal with four left in the period. It was a similar goal to Gawanke's, coming off a solid shot from the point. 

Just past halfway in the second, another defenseman got involved. Thomas Harley got a wonderful dish from his right side by Fredrik Karlstrom. It hit a lucky bounce off a Moose stick to put it right on his tape to beat Oskari Salminen for the 3-2 score.

In the final frame, the forwards got into the scoring with a late power play for Texas giving a chance to complete the comeback. It was a relatively light contest on penalties. Texas was only penalied once and Manitoba three times. On the final call, the Stars made them pay.

Somewhat humorously, while it was Riley Barber scoring the goal, he was playing the point on the power play and sailed one in on the net from the right point to tie things at three all. Clearly, it was a weakness of Salminen's that the Stars played to their advantage this afternoon.

That set up overtime for the teams. It was an unfortunate way to end things as the Stars all collapsed to the corner and the puck came out to the low slot. Toninato made no mistake and won it 4-3. Texas is now 1-6 in the overtime frame through the season, despite their overall dominance on the year.

The Stars come home for a weekend series with Colorado starting Friday.

Injuries, scratches and notes
Tufte, Karow, Stranges (scratch)
Rosburg (out for season - upper-body injury)

Today's attendance was 5,502.

AHL Gamesheet - Texas at Manitoba - January 22 2023



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