Stars Lose to Manitoba for First Time This Season by 4-2 Mark

(Credit: Manitoba Moose)

Texas (26-15-3-0) looked to extend their win streak to three games and remain undefeated against Manitoba (14-26-1-1) on the season, but fell just short, losing 4-2 in front of 1,951 in attendance at Canada Life Centre.

The Moose had standout performances from defensemen Dylan Coghlan (two goals) and goaltender Domenic DiVincentiis (30 saves) that proved to be the deciding factor in the contest.

The home team got on the board just under three minutes into the game when Coghlan fired a shot from the blue line that beat a screened Remi Poirier. Midway through the period, Justin Ertel was called for hooking, giving the Moose their first power play of the game. Coghlan took advantage, scoring his second goal in just over eight minutes. Just like the first goal, Poirier had to contend with traffic in front of him and a puck with unordinary movement as it was on edge when shot from just inside the blue line.

Later in the first, the Stars found some life on the power play when Cameron Hughes scored his 18th on the year in the high slot on a passes from Matěj Blümel and Justin Hryckowian to cut the Moose lead in half with four minutes left in the period. The quick touch passes from Blümel and Hryckowian gave Hughes ample time and space to unleash a blistering shot that beat Moose netminder DiVincentiis. 

Prior to the game, Texas Stars play by play voice John Peterson asked head coach Neil Graham about Hughes' increased productivity, "I think there's only a matter of time you know, he was brought in for a reason. I think he's a heck of a hockey player. He brings a unique energy and pestiness, feistiness, I should say, to our lineup. And when he's on, our team is on, and I think that's a credit to the way he carries himself. He's well liked, he's well respected in our room, and he can be a driver for us, and he's doing that right now."

The second period began with a concerted effort by the Stars to establish the forecheck. Texas sent four lines rolling into the Moose end of the ice. Those efforts eventually paid off when Chase Wheatcroft and Jack Becker won a puck battle on the end boards and sent a pass to a waiting Kyle McDonald at the right circle for his fourth goal of the year. The goal tied the game just over seven minutes into the period.

In a turning point in the game, the home team took the lead back for good with just over one minute remaining in the period when a tired Texas penalty kill unit allowed Axel Jonsson-Fjällby to score on a Poirier rebound for his sixth goal on the year. The Stars were called for consecutive minor penalties (hooking and delay of game) and were only four seconds from escaping unscathed. The period ended with the Stars trailing 3-2. The Moose had a 24-17 shot advantage. 

The Moose quickly grabbed a 4-2 lead as the third period began when Simon Lundmark sent a backhanded pass to Ben King who sent a wrist shot from the left circle to beat Poirier. Texas, looking to get back into the game, peppered DiVincentiis with quality shots, but the Moose netminder was equal to the task. The Stars finished the period outshooting the Moose 15-3 but couldn't find a way to beat the Manitoba goaltender. It was their first loss of the season to the Moose. 

Next up, Texas rematches with Manitoba at Canada Life Centre on Friday February 14th at 7 PM.

Tonight's lines
Stranges-Hryckowian-McKenzie
Pettersen-Hyry-Blümel
Wheatcroft-Hughes-Lind
Ertel-Becker-McDonald

Capobianco-Krys
Looft-Petrovic
Karow-White

Poirier

Injuries, scratches and notes
Hellberg (injury)
Romano, Arcuri, Kyrou, Punnett, Bichsel (scratch)

Tonight's attendance was 1,951.

AHL Gamesheet - Texas at Manitoba - February 12 2025