Texas Squanders Third Period Lead, Falls to Firebirds 2-1 in Overtime

(Credit: Logan Foust/Texas Stars)

The Texas Stars suffered their first back-to-back losses since December 17th, as they were defeated by the Coachella Valley Firebirds 2-1 in an overtime stunner tonight in Cedar Park. Both groups showed commitment to team defense and relinquished very few scoring chances throughout the affair.

The Firebirds’ game-winning overtime goal was batted out of mid-air by Ben Meyers on a cross-crease saucer pass from Ryan Winterton. This came just a minute after Texas Stars forwards Cameron Hughes and Kole Lind had a dangerous shift in the offensive zone.

“Those things in overtime happen because everyone's in an elevated situation,” Texas Stars head coach Neil Graham said. “A guy makes a play, puts it into an area and they arrive to the net on time. Very easily could have been ended, the shift prior for us [but] it wasn't.”

Tonight's game marked the seventh time in the month of January when the Stars held their opponents to two goals or fewer. “Collective buy-in,” Graham said when asked what led to his team’s defensive improvement. “It's all three positions doing their job. And I think as that buy-in grows, you see a better trust, and with that trust is predictability, and now you're defending faster, you're getting pucks on your stick quicker, and now you're transitioning to offense, so the whole game connects itself.”

Remi Poirier made 26 saves on 28 shots tonight, earning him his fourth consecutive start with over a .900 save percentage. Before his shutout win over the Roadrunners on January 4, Poirier only had one start with a save percentage that high.

“We talked about our team getting a little more predictable. That helps our goalies settle in,” coach Graham said regarding Poirier’s recent success. “And I think [Poirier’s] confidence has matched with that, and I find he's more settled in. He's been extremely square to the puck. I think he's been early, he's played excellent his last four starts.”

Texas’ power play is usually proficient, but without their lead power play defenseman Kyle Capobianco, who was called up to Dallas, they were unable to find the score sheet despite five chances, including an extended 5-on-3 man advantage. “We had a lot of power plays,” Matěj Blümel said. “We just didn't put the puck in the back of the net, and I feel like that's what cost us the game today.”

The Stars controlled the majority of the play in the first period, eventually leading to the first goal of the game. Arttu Hyry wrestled the puck off the boards and moved it to Blümel in front of the net, who beat the Firebirds’ netminder with a wrist shot that found the goalie's five-hole. Texas was unable to get any more offense for the remainder of the game, as they were held to only 19 shots on goal.

Poirier made several key saves in the tilt tonight, none bigger than his three-save sequence in the middle of the second period when Coachella Valley had a ton of offensive momentum. The Firebirds moved the puck to the top of Poirier's crease and got two grade-A chances that Poirier artfully turned away with a combination of poke checks and pad saves. Those chances came during a 10-minute segment in which the Firebirds outshot the Stars 7-0.

Coachella Valley adjusted in the third period and were determined to get a net-front presence at the top of Poirier’s crease. This strategy ultimately succeeded, as Firebirds’ forward Jani Nyman deflected a shot past a completely screened Poirier. The goal came with just nine minutes remaining in the period.

After a high event overtime with numerous chances for both teams, Coachella Valley sealed the win with the aforementioned game-winning goal. The Texas Stars will attempt to bounce back Saturday night at 7 PM against these same Coachella Valley Firebirds at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.
 
Tonight’s Lines
Stranges-Hryckowian-Lind
Hughes-Hyry-Blümel
Pettersen-Seminoff-McKenzie
Ertel-Becker-McDonald

Petrovic-Kyrou
Looft-Krys
Karow-White

Poirier

Injuries, scratches and notes
Bichsel (callup)
Arcuri, Romano, Punnett (scratch)

Tonight’s attendance was 6,778, the Stars' fifth consecutive sellout. The five-in-a-row sellout streak set a team record for consecutive sellouts.

AHL Gamesheet- Texas v. Coachella Valley - January 31 2025

Comments