
(Credit: Logan Foust/Texas Stars)
The red hot Stars did not lead for a single minute the entire game, trading blows with the Admirals. Stranges’ game-winning goal in the final minute of regulation put them on top for the first time tonight. Texas scored three of its four goals in the third period to preserve its five-game win streak.
“It was a long game,” Stranges said about tonight’s victory. “Milwaukee plays very similar to the way we play. The night can feel long.”
To open up the third period, a cross checking penalty on the Admirals created the Stars’ second power play opportunity of the night. Cameron Hughes connected with Hyry who was standing in front of the net for a quick score to tie the game up at 2-2.
Responding quickly, Admirals’ Marc Del Gaizo’s shot from the high slot completely caught Magnus Hellberg off guard to put Milwaukee back up. Emilio Pettersen was infuriated, slamming his stick on the ice as he skated back to the bench.
Alex Petrovic kicked started Texas’ rally in the final period, from the point, his shot lasered towards the net. With the shot coming in hot, a Milwaukee skater ducked to avoid the shot, and his stick flew up into the air, tipping the puck into the net and tying the game for the third time.
With time rushing off the clock, connecting with his linesmate, Hyry found Stranges on a backhanded pass. Stranges, recognizing the puck, quickly shot towards the net for the game winning goal.
“We stayed positive with our group, and they stayed positive with each other,” Neil Graham said on keeping composure. “We knew we just had to move our feet around a little bit more, settle some pucks.”
A mostly uneventful first period quickly turned up the heat. Immediately after an official’s timeout, Admirals defenseman Turner Ottenbreit hit Stranges late. Seeing this, captain Curtis McKenzie, without hesitation, threw his gloves off onto the ice, squaring up to the perpetrator.
Tensions remained high as both squads jostled each other around all night long. Kyle Capobianco and Ondrej Pavel nearly dropped the gloves, but any notion of it was prevented by the official standing in the middle of their bear hug. Both were sent to the box for roughing, still angry with each other both Capobianco and Pavel were jawing off while in the box.
Skating up the left side, a rebound off Michael Karow’s shot found rookie Justin Ertel, who snuck it between the goalie’s arm and the post. It was Ertel’s first AHL goal and tied the game at 1.
Texas will hit the ice tomorrow night facing the Milwaukee Admirals at 5 p.m. at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.
Tonight's Lines
Stranges-Hyry-PettersenRomano-Hughes-Lind
Wheatcroft-Seminoff-McKenzie
Ertel-Becker-McDonald
Bichsel-White
Capobianco-Krys
Karow-Petrovic
Hellberg
Injuries, scratches and notes
Blümel, Hryckowian (callup)
Arcuri, Kyrou, Looft (scratch)
Tonight's attendance was 6,778, third consecutive sellout
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