Texas Opens Final Road Trip with 3-1 Loss in San Jose

Rookie Justin Hryckowian scores first pro goal in loss

(Credit: Andreea Cardani/San Jose Barracuda)

In the end, it all came down to an unfortunate eleven seconds in the first period where Texas ceded a two-goal advantage to the host San Jose Barracuda and fell ultimately by a 3-1 mark to open their final road trip of the regular season.

It was a complete fluke of a play to open the scoring for San Jose. Texas was pressing deep on the power play with Mavrik Bourque sending a below-goal-line pass out to Derrick Pouliot, who had stepped in from the blue line. The pass bounced over the stick of Pouliot and into neutral ice. Normally, that would be a reset and re-entry, but the Stars' power play had just expired and Lucas Vanroboys caught the pass and scored his first AHL goal on the breakaway.

On the ensuing faceoff, Matt Murray banked a dump-in behind his own net and did not expect Danil Gushchin to be the one collecting it. He flung a quick shot at the short side of the net and Murray could not get there in time. 

Within eleven seconds, it was 2-0. It was the fastest two goals in Barracuda history. It was a lead they would not relinquish.

A late power play yielded another goal for the 'Cuda, who got a 5-on-3.5 with Nick Caamano breaking his stick and unable to get to the bench for another twig. Filip Bystedt scored from the hashes on a sizzling pass from Jack Thompson.

All that was left was the break up the shutout, which Texas did do on a power play of their own late. The Stars went 6-on-4 for the advantage. Matej Blümel had the initial shot, which tipped off Curtis McKenzie and died at the goal line. Justin Hryckowian scored his first pro goal on the tap to make it 3-1.

The Stars, with limited time remaining, were unable to establish themselves in the zone until the final thirty seconds of the period. There wasn't enough remaining to make the difference up.

These two teams rematch tomorrow afternoon in San Jose.

Injuries, scratches and notes
Stankoven (callup)
Stranges, Kyrou, Haiskanen, Kraws (scratch)
Bäck (injury, week-to-week)
Reedy (out for the season - upper body)

Tonight's attendance was 3,321.

AHL Gamesheet - Texas at San Jose - April 12 2024