Arttu Hyry’s Hat Trick Guides Stars to Dominant 6-2 Victory Over Moose

(Credit: Manitoba Moose)

Extending their win-streak to four, the Texas Stars crushed their division rival Manitoba Moose 6-2 Sunday afternoon at the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Arttu Hyry had his best performance of the season capturing the first North American hat trick of his career. Hyry has continued his points streak to nine games, the longest streak in the AHL currently.

After a sluggish start on the day for the Stars, Hyry opened up scoring for Texas late in the first period. On the boards, Matěj Blümel chipped the puck to his linemate, who was positioned just outside the goalie’s crease. Moose goalie Kappo Kähkönen initially stopped Hyry’s first attempt but could not stop his second shot, finding the back of the net to give the Stars their first goal of the afternoon.

Hyry’s second goal of the game came in the middle frame. Fresh off a line change, Cameron Hughes connected with Hyry near the left faceoff circle. Hyry’s wristshot cleared right past Kähkönen's shoulder to give Texas a 3-0 lead.

A little over a minute later, Manitoba responded quickly. Moose forward Mason Shaw found the back of the net, sneaking the puck under the legs of Magnus Hellberg to give the Moose some life in the second period. But just 12 seconds into the final period, Hyry sealed his hat trick off an unassisted wrist shot finding the back of the net to add to the Stars' dominant lead in third.

Hyry was not the only Star to get on the action, Blümel captured his 14th goal of the season, connecting with the fresh-out-of-the-penalty-box former Moose defensemen Kyle Capobianco in the second period.

Hughes scored his tenth goal of the year after receiving a pass from Blümel from the right faceoff circle for a quick wristshot goal adding to Texas’ commanding lead. Both Hughes and Blümel ended the game with a goal and two assists for three points on the day.

Scoring late in the final period, Manitoba lessened their blowout on home ice, with Manitoba’s Ashton Sautner tipping in the puck on a wide open net.

The Stars got their last goal of the afternoon when points leader Antonio Stranges sealed the Stars' crushing 6-2 victory less than a minute later with his wrist shot getting tipped in front of the net by a Manitoba skater's stick.

The Stars were left without two of their major pieces in the lineup. Captain Curtis McKenzie was out for his second game representing Canada in the Spengler Cup, and Justin Hyckowian was called up yesterday to Dallas and is making his NHL debut tonight. As a result, Texas mixed up the line combinations all afternoon.

Texas will return to the ice New Year's Eve to play its final game of 2024 against the Manitoba Moose at 4 PM at the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg.

Today's lines
Hughes-Hyry-Blümel
McDonald-Pettersen-Wheatcroft
Stranges-Lind-
Seminoff-Becker-Romano

Capobianco-Krys
Petrovic-Kyrou
White-Karow

Looft  

Hellberg

Injuries, scratches and notes
Bichsel, Hryckowian (callup)
McKenzie (international duty, Spengler Cup)
Ertel (scratch)

Today's attendance was 5,166.

AHL Gamesheet - Texas at Manitoba - December 29 2024