Heroic Hyry Overtime Winner Overcomes 3rd Period Collapse Versus Wolves

(Credit: Logan Foust/Texas Stars)

Artu Hyry scored the overtime winner to overcome a disastrous ending to the third period as the Stars defeated the Chicago Wolves 4-3. Leading 3-1, Texas allowed two 6-on-5 goals in the final two minutes of regulation to necessitate overtime. 

The Stars showed some serious mental fortitude despite the late defensive collapse. They controlled the overtime period, allowing only one shot on goal, and still earned their two points, although with a little more drama than was initially anticipated. “We’re resilient and confident,” head coach Neil Graham said when asked about his team's response to the 6-on-5 goals allowed. “I think our confidence comes out when we feel like we’ve put in the work to be confident, and I thought tonight we did. You’re not gonna let a final two minutes derail all the hard effort you put in for the first 60 minutes…” Excluding the defensive miscues at the end of the game, defenseman Michael Karow was quite happy with the team's overall defensive performance. “I think we just played a really good game, honestly. We stuck to our systems, which is important this time of year, especially as games get tighter, teams get better.” The Stars’ top line of Matěj Blümel-Justin Hryckowian-Curtis McKenzie were the catalysts of the Stars’ offense tonight and have dazzled since they were put together earlier this week against Grand Rapids. They were involved in three of the Stars’ four goals tonight. “There’s a little bit of everything,” coach Graham said on the success of the Stars’ top line. “They all work well below the goal line, they all can make plays through the neutral zone, and frankly, there’s a little bit of different dynamics, both offensively and defensively, that round each other out.” The first period appeared to be approaching a relatively uneventful end after no goals were scored until Blümel made a quick one-touch pass to Hryckowian, who elevated a quick backhander past the Wolves netminder for the night's first goal with just seven seconds remaining in the frame. That tally put an exclamation point on what could have been labeled a pretty 'meh' period. The Wolves began the second on the hunt. A strong forecheck led to extended time on the Stars’ end of the ice and eventually a delay of game penalty from Anthony Romano. The subsequent Chicago power play led to a game-tying wrister from Chicago defenseman Scott Morrow. Thankfully, the Stars rallied back, outshooting Chicago 8-1 in the final nine minutes of the period and earning another buzzer-beater goal. This time, Cameron Hughes netted the go-ahead goal with 14 seconds remaining in the frame. Hughes’ wrister was initially stopped, but the rebound immediately deflected off a Chicago defender and found its way into the opposition's cage.

McKenzie extended the Stars’ lead to 3-1 midway through the third, and it seemed Texas would be able to end the game quietly. Chicago had other plans. With the goalie pulled, the Wolves scored two twice in the final two minutes, including the game-tying goal with just 20 seconds remaining in regulation.

“First one, we lost sight of the puck,” coach Graham said. “Something we can talk about with our decisions with the puck ... Once that first one goes in and everyone doesn’t know where the puck goes, I could tell we were a little bit tight…”

Hyry’s winner came roughly two minutes into overtime. Kyle Capobianco dished a quick pass to Hyry, who faked the forehand, pulled the puck onto his backhand, and easily slid it past the sprawling netminder. “That’s how our group responds. Collect in the intermission there before overtime, reset, get back to work, and then a real nice goal in overtime.” Texas will attempt to sweep the two-game series Sunday afternoon at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park. Tonight’s lines Blümel-Hryckowian-McKenzie Stranges-Hughes-Romano Lind-Hyry-McDonald Ertel-Becker-Seminoff Capobianco-Krys Looft-Petrovic Karow-White Hellberg

Injuries, scratches and notes Kyrou, Pettersen, Wheatcroft (scratch) Tonight’s attendance was 6,421.

AHL Gamesheet - Texas v. Chicago - March 1 2025