Stars Storm Back to Top IceHogs, 4-3 in Absolute Nail Biter

(Credit: Ross Bonander /Texas Stars)

Down 3-1, the Texas Stars found themselves in a tough spot versus the Rockford IceHogs in the first period. Unwavered, the Stars came storming back in the final 40 minutes to top the IceHogs, 4-3 Saturday night at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.

“I'm really proud that our group stayed the course and got it done,” Texas Stars head coach Neil Graham said. “You're going to have to try and find a way to win games like that.”

Making his second start this season for Texas, Ben Kraws struggled mightily in the opening period surrendering three goals on six shots. The rest of the Stars did not help their case either, for a majority of the first they had zero shots on goal.

After going down 3-1, coach Graham promptly called a timeout to regroup his team after letting up their third of the period.

With the game far from over, Texas started to chip away at their deficit. Kyle Capobianco from the point fired towards the net, and Kole Lind finished the job, chipping the puck in to make it 3-2 at the end of the first.

Kraws, as well as the rest of the Stars, settled their nerves in the second. Banging on the net, Texas got their opportunity to close in on their deficit. On Texas' first power play of the night, Rockford netminder Drew Commesso went down with an apparent ankle injury.

Ben Gaudreau, a recent callup from the ECHL came in to close the Stars power play. The rejuvenated Stars tested the backup goaltender, ringing off a series of shots on goal.

“Whenever there's a new goalie, you try to test them early, he's been sitting there, you don't know if he did his warmup, or what he's been thinking about, so you try to get on him early,” Capobianco said. “I think we did a good job at that.”

Although unable to capitalize on the man-advantage, Kyle Capobianco ,who was nestled along the blue line, fired deep, finding the back of the net to tie the game up at 3-3 near the end of the second.

Texas held the IceHogs shotless through the first 10 minutes of the final period. A cross-checking penalty called on Capobianco set Rockford up for their second power play of the night.

The Stars did not care about their man disadvantage, Matěj Blümel from the right face off circle found the back of the net to give Texas its first lead of the night off the shorthanded goal.

With just five minutes left, Rockford appeared to have scored the game-tying goal. The puck never crossed the line but in the commotion, Gavin White smothered the puck with his gloves in the crease, awarding the IceHogs a penalty shot.

With the fans on their feet, nothing stood between Kraws and Andres Athanasiou. Making his approach, Athanasiou's shot rolled off his stick as Kraws gave him nothing to work with, preserving their thin lead and completing the 4-3 comeback.

“I thought after 20 [Kraws] was excellent, and we don't win that game without him,” Graham said about his young goaltender. “The way he played in the final 40, our team matched that intensity in the final 40.”

Texas returns to the Great White North when they play Central Division rival, the Manitoba Moose Wednesday at 7 PM at the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Tonight's lines

Stranges-Hryckowian-McKenzie
Pettersen-Hyry-Blümel
Wheatcroft-Hughes-Lind
Romano-Becker-McDonald

Capobianco-Krys 

Looft-Petrovic 

Karow-White

Kraws 

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

Tonight's attendance was 6,239.

AHL Gamesheet - Texas v. Rockford - February 8 2025