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| (Credit: Texas Stars) |
Energized from their 4-3 overtime win on Saturday night, the Texas Stars were back on the ice for game two against the Chicago Wolves at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park and this one surely did not disappoint.
In front of a crowd of 4,902, which included several pooches for Pucks 'N Paws, the Stars set the pace early on to take the win 4-0 with goaltender Remi Poirier getting his second shutout of the season. “It was a team effort. I think the guys blocked a lot of shots. We just shut it down,” said Poirier. “It was just a team effort, and everyone got their game a little tighter.”
In the first twenty minutes, the Stars were quick to get on the board, as Curtis McKenzie scored his second goal of the weekend with assists by Matěj Blümel and Kyle Looft. The point came after Looft took the initial shot from the left point, and with Blümel taking a few shots of his own, it was McKenzie who would lift the shot over Wolves goalie Dustin Tokarski.
Blümel’s assist gave him his 50th point of the season, which makes it his second consecutive 50-point season.
With goals in back-to-back games, Cameron Hughes got a back-hander past Tokarski for a goal that is worthy of the highlight reel. The goal, with assist by Alex Petrovic and Kyle Looft, was Hughes’ twentieth goal of the season.
Continuing with their dominance from the first two frames, the Stars would add a couple of insurance goals in the third to seal the deal and get the win.
The Stars found themselves in an early power play opportunity as Wolves defenseman Charles-Alexis Legault was charged with a high-sticking penalty. Nine seconds into the power play, Stars’ forward Justin Hryckowian found the back of the net with assists by Cameron Hughes and Blümel. In an attempt to get the puck to Stars forward Antonio Stranges, the pass was blocked and gave Hryckowian the opportunity to get the puck past Tokarski.
Stranges 18th goal of the season with a no-look return pass from Cameron Hughes to get one of the stick-side shoulder of Tokarski to give Texas a 4-0 lead. “Hughes was working the goal line with a good draw by [Wheatcroft] where the puck went off his skate and redirected to [Stranges] with an excellent finish by [Stranges].” said Stars head coach Neil Graham.
The Stars’ lines continue to make changes and grow in finding their rhythm heading into the later part of the season. “You have to dig in, and you have to stay attentive.”, said Graham. “Focus is half of that battle. And this time of year, everyone's grinding.”
The Texas Stars start their three-game road trip with their next game on Wednesday, March 5 at 10:30 AM against the Milwaukee Admirals.
Tonight's lines
Blümel-Hryckowian- McKenzie
Stranges-Hughes-Wheatcroft
Pettersen-Hyry-Lind
Seminoff-Becker-Ertel
Capobianco-Krys
Looft-Petrovic
Karow-White
Poirier
Injuries, scratches, and notes
Kyrou, Romano, McDonald (scratch)
Tonight's attendance was 4,902.
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