Stars Turn up the Heat in Frigid Winnipeg, Topping Moose 4-2

(Credit: Manitoba Moose)

Looking to avenge their 4-2 loss on Wednesday night, the Texas Stars (27-15-3) returned to the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg on Friday night for their second game against the Manitoba Moose (14-27-1-1). Texas skated away with a 4-2 come-from-behind victory after going down 2-0 early.

In front of a crowd of 2,285, Manitoba wasted no time in taking an early 1-0 lead with a goal by Moose center Ben King, his ninth goal of the season. With just over three minutes left in the period, Texas defenseman Alex Petrovic would find himself in the penalty box, charged with a holding penalty and giving the Moose their first power play opportunity of the evening. Texas would hold off Manitoba and finish out the period trailing the Moose 1-0.

The second period started with the Stars looking to increase the pressure and overcome the points deficit, but Manitoba was ready to match the energy Texas came out with. With assists by Parker Ford and Dominic Toninato, Mason Shaw gave Manitoba a bit more of a buffer, scoring his tenth goal of the season and putting the Moose up 2-0, but the Stars would not go into the locker room quietly. 

Texas’ Anthony Romano slipped the puck past Manitoba goalie Kaapo Kähkönen for his second goal of the season. After an iPad review of the play, the goal was confirmed, and the Stars were able to cut Manitoba’s lead in half before going into the room. The period would end with just a handful of shots on goal, with Texas making seven attempts and Manitoba only making five.

Coming out for the final 20 of the game, Texas wasted no time in setting the pace for the remainder of the game. Trading shots at both ends of the ice, Texas’ Luke Krys would get called for a cross-checking penalty, but it was during that Manitoba power play that Texas’ Arttu Hyry would tie the game at two. Matěj Blümel’s shot from the right circle was kicked out far enough for Hyry to get to the puck and bury his short-handed chance.

Just 90 seconds after the Hyry goal and on a Texas power play, Blümel would get his 23rd goal of the season and give Texas a 3-2 lead. At 17:47 in the third frame, Kole Lind, with an assist by Luke Krys, would get an empty net goal and seal the win for Texas tonight.

 
The Texas Stars return home to start a six-game homestand starting on Friday, February 21 against the Colorado Eagles at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park for Pink in the Rink weekend.

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

Capobianco-Krys
Looft-Petrovic
Karow-White

Kraws

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

Before the game, Texas sent defenseman Connor Punnett to Idaho.

Tonight's attendance was 2,285.


AHL Gamesheet - Texas at Manitoba - February 14 2025