Texas Leads For Almost Three Periods, But Falls 3-2 in OT

(Credit: Brad Repplinger / Rockford IceHogs)

Despite holding a lead for almost the entire game, the Texas Stars succumbed to the Rockford IceHogs by a 3-2 margin in overtime to conclude their three-game Midwestern swing at 1-0-1-1.

All in all, four out of six points on the road is not a bad outcome. But it's a rough one when the Stars had the lead late into tonight's contest and created several three-point games within the division as things get tight for the playoff race.

Matej Blümel got things started very early for Texas. The first shift of the night and also the first shot of the night yielded the first goal. Sneaking in on what should have been a manageable shot for Rockford's Drew Commesso, Blümel went five-hole for the 1-0 lead. Oskar Bäck had the outlet pass in the neutral zone.

With Blümel already having claimed the first goal of the night, Logan Stankoven would have to settle for the second. Stankoven did what he does and found open ice in between four IceHogs, opening up to accept a pass from Gavin White and snap it past Commesso short side. Watching the play was a masterclass in quickly finding space for the rookie forward. 

Texas would lead 2-1 after twenty with Brett Seney scoring on a power play, tipping a shot from Wyatt Kaiser. With no scoring in the second, the teams went to the third with the same mark. 

Although the Hogs' tying goal won't be marked as such on the scoresheet, it was a power play goal for all intents and purposes. Mere seconds after Curtis McKenzie was freed from the box and with the Hogs already set up in the zone and pressuring, Mike Hardman scored on a rebound. McKenzie didn't even have a chance to make it back to the zone before the shot went off the initial effort. It was tied 2-2 with just over three minutes left in the game.

In overtime, Blümel had the Stars' best chance of the frame, coming in alone off the pass from White after Rockford's initial possession. On the ensuing rush, however, Ethan Del Mastro would finish off a nice passing play from Cole Guttman to secure the 3-2 win.

Texas returns home for a pair against Iowa on Friday and Saturday. With the loss, the Stars sit in third in the division with a bit of room on fourth-place Rockford (6 points) and tied with second-place Grand Rapids on points at least.

Injuries, scratches and notes

J. Murray (scratch)

Bayreuther (out - ankle)

Reedy, Caamano (out - upper body)

Wheatcroft (out - lower body)

Berard (out - injury)

Tonight's attendance was 2,273.

AHL Gamesheet - Texas at Rockford - February 13 2024