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| (Credit: Andy Nietupski/Texas Stars) |
Capobianco’s two goals set the tone early for the Texas Stars in their second-to-last game of the season. Tacking on a pair of power play goals later in the first, the Stars’ dominant first period cruised them to a commanding 5-3 victory over the Moose Friday night.
“He gets up for these games. He did a great job,” head coach Neil Graham said about Capobianco’s performance. "He's very mobile. When he's on his toes, he sees the ice better than most guys at any position… when he's on, he's a tough guy to contain into an area.”
Sunburn and all, Capobianco was on fire to open the night. After fending off their first penalty kill, Texas had its first power play of the game as Manitoba forward Mason Shaw picked up his own hooking penalty to give the Stars a minute with the extra man on the ice.
Despite the crease packed thick with defenders and teammates alike, Capobianco ripped a wrist shot from the high slot to find the net for the game's first strike just one second after the power play expired.
The former Moose was not done just yet hearing the goal horn.
Shortly thereafter, Capobianco put his second goal behind Domenic DiVincentiis on another deep shot, this time rifling from the left faceoff circle to put Texas up by two.
After being mostly quiet in the final month of the season, the Stars power play unit proved once again they own one of the premier units in the entire AHL.
Despite Capobianco narrowly missing a power play goal of his own by a second, Cameron Hughes and Justin Hyrckowian were able to put a pair of power play goals on the board, adding to Texas' dominant opening period.
“We've been trying to learn how to execute when you get your chance,” Graham said. “To get three and then dial in on all three, it's big for our group moving forward and now we just got to reset.”
Hughes was able to get some revenge after Dylan Anhorn was called for a blatant cross-check on him just after a face-off opportunity. Just a minute into their second power play, Hughes fired a back-handed shot to put Texas up by three.
Hyrckowian also picked up two goals of his own. His first came just seconds after the Moose scored on a short-handed opportunity. Still with the extra man advantage, the All-Rookie forward put the Stars' fourth goal in the net to close the explosive period.
The Moose tightened their operation up in the final two periods, preventing Texas from capitalizing on well-placed shots. Offensively, Manitoba was able to put two goals in the final forty minutes as they attempted to mount a comeback; Hyrckowian’s empty-netter late sealed the victory for Texas.
“[Manitoba] made a good push, but we did what was needed,” Graham said. “We were a little better on the walls, a little better with the puck play, a little more connected with our forecheck, and we were able to close out the game correctly.”
Texas will conclude the 2024-25 regular season campaign tomorrow night against the Manitoba Moose at 7 PM at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.
“[Manitoba] made a good push, but we did what was needed,” Graham said. “We were a little better on the walls, a little better with the puck play, a little more connected with our forecheck, and we were able to close out the game correctly.”
Texas will conclude the 2024-25 regular season campaign tomorrow night against the Manitoba Moose at 7 PM at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.
Tonight's lines
Hughes-Hryckowian-McKenzie
Hughes-Hryckowian-McKenzie
Blümel-Hyry-Lind
Pettersen-Becker-Wheatcroft
Ertel-Shlaine-Seminoff
Capobianco-Krys
Taylor-Karow
Looft-Bergsland
Hellberg
Injuries, scratches and notes
Thomson, White, Scott, Arcuri, Kyrou, Chisholm, Martino, Punnett (scratch)
Stranges (upper-body injury)
McDonald (lower-body injury)
Petrovic, Kraws (call up)
Tonight's attendance was 6,309.
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