Roadrunners Physically Dominate Stars in 6-3 Drubbing

(Credit Andy Nietupski/Texas Stars)

In their first game back after a four-game road trip, the Texas Stars opened the New Year ending their five-game win streak in a 6-3 drubbing at the hands of the Tucson Roadrunners Friday night at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.

Texas’ defensive core struggled without the veteran presence of Kyle Capobianco and Alex Petrovic. Two of the Roadrunners’ goals came from turnovers suffered by Texas defensemen.

“Some good, some bad and that’s what happens in these kind of moments,” Neil Graham said about the younger defensemen taking an elevated role. “We play good hockey. All our players have played good hockey, and now we had moments that weren't good.”

Despite the return of Justin Hryckowian, Lian Bischel and captain Curtis McKenzie, the Stars struggled on their execution. Texas was outgunned in the final 30 minutes getting outshot 22 -9.

“I think that was obviously the demise of our group today was our puck play,” Graham said. “[Tucson] plays a heavy game, they’re a physical team and they finish most hits, which, In turn, can rush the decisions.”

Tensions were high all night. The often tenacious Kole Lind and Cameron Hughes were targets throughout the contest. In the first period during a stoppage of play, Curtis Douglas tossed Lind’s helmet and defenseman Kyle Looft took notice and dropped the gloves in defense of his teammate.

“I've been impressed with how we've come together as a team,” Graham said about his players stepping up for each other.

Tucson forward Cameron Hebig captured a hat trick with two late empty netters. Hebig’s third goal in the final second of the game, elicited Christian Kyrou to slam his stick along the boards as he walked into the locker room.

Kyrou opened up scoring for the Stars in the first period. Tucson did not wait long to tie the game up at 1-1, ripping a shot past Magnus Hellberg to find the back of the net.

Hryckowian and McKenzie, both making their returns to Texas after trips to the NHL and the Spengler Cup, respectively, connected on the power play to give Texas a 2-1 lead to close the opening period. It was a vintage McKenzie goal as he redirected a puck from a kneeling position right in the blue paint.

The Stars could not gain any momentum in the second period, with Tucson dominating the back half of the second period. Texas’ struggled, only getting two shots off compared to Tucson’s eight, two of which found the back of the net. The second goal was created off a turnover from Luke Krys, who broke his stick on the net in frustration.

In the early third, Hryckowian fed Hughes, setting up his wrist shot from the right face off dot and drilling it into the net to tie the game up, 3-3. But it proved to be the Stars’ last goal of the game.

Hebig’s late goal with a little under three minutes left in the game sealed the deal for the Stars' demise. The Roadrunners netted two empty net goals after Texas pulled Hellberg for the extra man advantage.

Texas returns tomorrow night at 7PM to face the Tucson Roadrunners at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.

Tonight’s lines
Stranges-Hryckowian-Lind
Wheatcroft-Hughes-Blümel
Pettersen-Seminoff-McKenzie
Ertel-Becker-McDonald

Karow-Krys
Bichsel-White
Looft-Kyrou

Hellberg

Injuries, scratches and notes
Hyry (callup)

Petrovic (injury)
Capobianco, Romano (scratch)

Kyle Capobianco was a late scratch, which scrambled the defensive pairing throughout the game.

Tonight’s attendance was 6,778, the second sellout of the season.

AHL Gamesheet - Texas v. Tucson - January 3 2024