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| (Credit: Cleveland Monsters) |
The Stars hung on to defeat the Cleveland Monsters 5-4 in overtime. The shootout win put Texas four points ahead in first place of the central division. Leading the way for the Stars were Kole Lind (2 goals) and Cameron Hughes (2 assists).
Texas, having already a clinched a postseason spot, is now focused on potential playoff seeding. Heading into tonight's contest against the Monsters at Cleveland's Rocket Arena, the Stars were leading the Central Division by two points with three games in hand over the Milwaukee Admirals. A win tonight would help ensure a first round bye with only 11 regular season games remaining on the schedule.
As to tonight's contest, Sean Chisholm is already making his presence known in his second career pro game. He found a wide open Lind streaking down the center of the ice and fed him a perfect pass for a breakaway goal just over seven minutes into the game. It was Chisholm's second point in as many games after scoring in his professional debut two days prior.
In a quick response, Samuel Knazko beat Magus Hellberg to tie the game 20 seconds later. But, the Stars quickly answered when Arttu Hyry drove to the net three minutes later and flicked a shot over Zach Sawchenko's left shoulder for the go ahead goal. It was Hyry's 24th goal on the season and was unassisted. The period would end with Texas leading 2-1 and outshooting Cleveland 10-6.
Midway through the second period, Trey Taylor's elevated wrist shot was caught by a sliding Sawchenko, robbing him of his first professional goal. Though he didn't score, Taylor is showing signs he belongs in professional hockey after staring at Clarkson University and is already "quarterbacking" the Stars' second power play unit.
Joining Taylor for his own pro debut, Ayrton Martino also seamlessly fit on a line with Emilio Pettersen and Hyry. The encouraging performances from the Clarkson duo of Taylor and Martino certainly show the coaching staff at Clarkson should be credited for developing their respective games.
Cleveland, fighting for their own playoff lives, tied the game when Trey Fix-Wolansky took advantage of a failed clearing attempt and scored. In a quick answer while on a 5-on-3 power play, Matěj Blümel put the away team back up on top on a one-timer from the right circle. His 37th tally tied the team record for a single season (Matt Fraser) and his third straight game with a goal.
The second period was nearing an end when Lind jammed home a loose puck at close range on a shot by Justin Hryckowian. It was Lind's second goal of the game and 18th for the season giving Texas a 4-2 lead going to the third period.
For much of the third period, the Stars were seemingly in control until a tripping penalty on Chase Wheatcroft gave the Monsters momentum. The extra skater was a lifeline for Cleveland as Fix- Wolansky scored his second goal on the night and cut the Stars lead to 4-3. A couple of minutes later, Hunter McKown found an equalizer for the home team to make it 4-4 with nine minutes left.
The remaining third period saw Cleveland play with desperation but unable to get one past Hellberg. The game was not decided until a shootout, when Blümel and Hughes scored for the Stars and Hellberg kept a clean sheet, giving Texas the victory and two full points.
Tonight's lines
Blümel-Hryckowian-McKenzie
Hughes-Chisholm-Lind
Pettersen-Hyry-Martino
Seminoff-Becker-Wheatcroft
Taylor-Petrovic
Capobianco-White
Karow-Looft
Hellberg
Injuries, scratches and notes
Kyrou, Ertel, Bergsland, Shlaine (scratch)
Stanges, Krys, Romano (injury)
McDonald (lower-body injury)
Texas signed D Artem Shlaine to an amateur tryout today.
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