Remi Poirier stops 38 as Stars take 4-1 victory over Cleveland

(Credit: Andy Nietupski/Texas Stars) 

After starting out the year shaky, Texas Stars netminder Remi Poirier has started to turn up the heat just in time as the Stars gear up for their late season playoff push.

Facing their only Eastern Conference opponent of the year, Poirier came up big over the Cleveland Monsters, stopping 38 of their 39 shots on goal as the Stars took a 4-1 victory Friday night at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.

“He’s been playing really well,” head coach Neil Graham said about Poirier. “We have a lot of hockey coming up, [and] we have two goalies that are both very capable.”

Up by three with seven minutes left in regulation, Cleveland pulled goaltender Zach Sawchenko to salvage any pride that was left. Stuck defending in their own zone, Stars forward Cameron Hughes was called for tripping an opposing skater, drawing a two-minute minor for Texas. 

Still with an empty net on the other side of the ice, the Monsters looked to pounce on the six-on-four powerplay opportunity. Buckling down, Texas held Cleveland to just three shots on goal during their two skater advantage, killing off its third Monsters power play of the night.

“We were knowing our jobs, that was the biggest thing,” Jack Becker said about the penalty kill's performance tonight. “I think really focusing in on our intangibles, most of the time its basic mechanics, and it really showed well tonight.”

Cleveland did not leave anything on the table, coming at the Stars swiftly, firing shots toward Poirier at any chance they got control of the puck. Cleveland outshot Texas 39-26, with 15 coming during the final period in regulation.

The sound of bodies slamming against the boards rang out constantly for the first 32 minutes; both Texas and Cleveland were deadlocked in a defensive battle in all three areas on the ice.

The Stars broke the seal just as their first and only power play of the night expired. Alex Petrovic fired from the right point; his shot initially ricocheted off Sawchenko’s chest, fluttering in the air for a moment.  

The puck found its way inside Sawchenko’s crease. Capitalizing on the easy shot, Stars forward Jack Becker quickly chipped it in for the Stars' first goal, kicking off a momentum shift.

A pair of goals by Justin Hyrckowian and Matěj Blümel put the Stars up 3-1 to end the offensively potent second. Early in the final period, Emilio Pettersen capped off the Stars offensively for the fourth and final goal of the night.

“The team played good in general, but a lot of different guys stepped up,” Graham highlighted. “Our fourth line gets the first goal of the game, that's a big moment for our team but now it's important that new guys step up tomorrow.”

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

Looft-Krys
Petrovic-Kyrou
Karow-White

Poirier

Injuries, scratches and notes
Capobianco (callup)
Ertel (scratch)
McDonald (warmup)

Tonight's attendance was 6,778, the Stars' tenth sellout of the season. 

AHL Gamesheet - Texas vs Cleveland - March 14 2025