After an intense game against top competition, the Stars came out on top by a 4-3 margin
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| (Credit: Mike Zitek/Coachella Valley Firebirds) |
Coming off a shutout loss to the Ontario Reign, the Texas Stars sought to get back in form in their second game of a long road trip against the Coachella Valley Firebirds.
The start of the game did not inspire much confidence for the Stars’ faithful. Even though the team’s offense was not able to get on the scoreboard in the opening period, there was great movement from the players to create quality shooting opportunities.
The first score of the game came at the hands of Coachella Valley forward John Hayden after teammate Max McCormick forced a steal into Hayden’s possession for a shot near post to the top-right corner five minutes into the game to make the score 1-0.
The first half of the second period was more of the same trend that was seen to start the game: lots of good shooting chances for Texas but not able to translate those opportunities on the scoreboard, and Coachella Valley being able to find the back of the net.
A three-man play from the Firebirds led by defenseman Max McCormick became a scoring effort where McCormick found 26-year-old Cale Fleury on the left side who passed the puck to fellow forward Ben Meyers for the score on the far side of the goal.
However, it became a tale of two halves when the Stars began to find their stride and built their momentum off a Chase Wheatcroft score to break the four-period scoreless streak that started the game prior in Ontario.
Defenseman Kyle Capobianco found forward Kyle McDonald for a shot on goal where Wheatcroft was just able to deflect the puck for the tip into the goal to bring the game to 2-1.
Exactly six minutes later, team captain Curtis McKenzie tied the game up at 2-2 with Emilio Pettersen, who showed great patience behind the opposing team’s net, to find McKenzie in open space right in front of the goal.
The third period brought exciting plays and intense competition as both teams tried to gain the upperhand before the game came to a close. In the final minutes, a Capobianco steal and assist led to Matĕj Blümel scoring the go-ahead goal to give their team the lead with 90 seconds left in the game.
That lead was short lived, though, as the Firebirds responded with an equalizer shot from McCormick to end regulation after they pulled the keeper for a 6-on-5 advantage over the Stars.
Overtime did not bring any scoring from either the home or visiting team as both squads attempted four shots each. Even with a 4-on-3 advantage for Texas brought on by Coachella Valley forward Lleyton Roed for hooking, the Stars failed to take advantage of that opportunity; this led to the road team’s first shootout of the season.
It was an impressive effort by Stars’ netminder Remi Poirier as he was able to turn away all three attempts made by the Firebirds, and rookie Arttu Hyry was the only one that came away with a score.
Tonight’s win for the road team was a victory that was needed for the Stars’ confidence as their away record reflected poor performance on the road. In a win like this against a team with an over .600 win percentage rate, it may be the game that will mark a turning point to change that narrative of being a “bad road team.”
The team will look to keep their momentum going against the team that shut them out previously and redeem themselves on Tuesday night as they face the Ontario Reign at 9 PM.
The start of the game did not inspire much confidence for the Stars’ faithful. Even though the team’s offense was not able to get on the scoreboard in the opening period, there was great movement from the players to create quality shooting opportunities.
The first score of the game came at the hands of Coachella Valley forward John Hayden after teammate Max McCormick forced a steal into Hayden’s possession for a shot near post to the top-right corner five minutes into the game to make the score 1-0.
The first half of the second period was more of the same trend that was seen to start the game: lots of good shooting chances for Texas but not able to translate those opportunities on the scoreboard, and Coachella Valley being able to find the back of the net.
A three-man play from the Firebirds led by defenseman Max McCormick became a scoring effort where McCormick found 26-year-old Cale Fleury on the left side who passed the puck to fellow forward Ben Meyers for the score on the far side of the goal.
However, it became a tale of two halves when the Stars began to find their stride and built their momentum off a Chase Wheatcroft score to break the four-period scoreless streak that started the game prior in Ontario.
Defenseman Kyle Capobianco found forward Kyle McDonald for a shot on goal where Wheatcroft was just able to deflect the puck for the tip into the goal to bring the game to 2-1.
Exactly six minutes later, team captain Curtis McKenzie tied the game up at 2-2 with Emilio Pettersen, who showed great patience behind the opposing team’s net, to find McKenzie in open space right in front of the goal.
The third period brought exciting plays and intense competition as both teams tried to gain the upperhand before the game came to a close. In the final minutes, a Capobianco steal and assist led to Matĕj Blümel scoring the go-ahead goal to give their team the lead with 90 seconds left in the game.
That lead was short lived, though, as the Firebirds responded with an equalizer shot from McCormick to end regulation after they pulled the keeper for a 6-on-5 advantage over the Stars.
Overtime did not bring any scoring from either the home or visiting team as both squads attempted four shots each. Even with a 4-on-3 advantage for Texas brought on by Coachella Valley forward Lleyton Roed for hooking, the Stars failed to take advantage of that opportunity; this led to the road team’s first shootout of the season.
It was an impressive effort by Stars’ netminder Remi Poirier as he was able to turn away all three attempts made by the Firebirds, and rookie Arttu Hyry was the only one that came away with a score.
Tonight’s win for the road team was a victory that was needed for the Stars’ confidence as their away record reflected poor performance on the road. In a win like this against a team with an over .600 win percentage rate, it may be the game that will mark a turning point to change that narrative of being a “bad road team.”
The team will look to keep their momentum going against the team that shut them out previously and redeem themselves on Tuesday night as they face the Ontario Reign at 9 PM.
Injuries, scratches and notes
Petrovic (callup)
Hellberg (injury, day-to-day)
Arcuri, Kyrou, Romano (scratch)
Tonight’s attendance was 8,035.
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