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| (Credit: Logan Foust/Texas Stars) |
In what felt like a preview of intense playoff hockey, the Texas Stars hosted the Milwaukee Admirals at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park for game two of the weekend series. Looking to snap their three-game skid, the Stars’ offensive woes continued as they were defeated by division rivals the Milwaukee Admirals, 3-1. With today’s loss, the Admirals are now tied with Texas at 83 points for the lead in Central Division.
“We’ve played some real good goaltenders. Milwaukee is also a very stingy hockey club in all areas of their game. So yeah, we have to get back to work a little bit” said Stars head coach Neil Graham.
In a quick start to the first period, the Admirals’ Grigori Denisenko notched the first point of the game. The physicality between the two teams continued through the fast-paced first frame which remained surprisingly penalty-free and ended with Texas having 15 shots on goal to Milwaukee’s 7.
The first penalty of the game came at the beginning of the second frame as Milwaukee was charged with a face-off violation. The remainder of the second period felt like a carbon copy of the first frame, where Texas and Milwaukee continued the fast pace and traded hard-hitting body checks. The Stars were able to hold off the Admirals from extending their lead, as was former Texas Stars goaltender Matt Murray.
Coming into the final frame of the afternoon, Texas looked to harness some late-game magic to get the win and snap the skid, but the scoring opportunities were few as were the second chances. Denisenko managed to break through a second time, finishing a 3-on-1 break for the Ads and putting them up two.
Minutes later with Milwaukee’s Navrin Mutter going to the penalty box for a slashing call, Texas would get on the board. With assists by Matěj Blümel and Kyle Capobianco, Justin Hryckowian would get one past Murray to get Texas on the board at 13:45.
“I’m glad that one broke through,” said Graham. “But obviously, it wasn’t enough.” Despite another power play opportunity, the Admirals were able to hold off the efforts by the Stars to tie it up. Milwaukee added a late empty netter to set the final at 3-1.
With the Stars and Admirals tied for first in the division, the focus is on the road trip and the handful of games remaining in the regular season. “We’ve led in offense through 63 games, and four games we have not”, continued Graham. “So let’s maybe get back to some of the things that have brought us that success.”
The Stars hit the road for a series against the Grand Rapids Griffins and the Chicago Wolves before returning home to Cedar Park for their final regular season series against the Manitoba Moose.
Tonight’s lines
Hughes-Hyry-Blumel
Chisholm-Hryckowian-Lind
McKenzie-Scott-Romano
Pettersen-Becker-Wheatcroft
Capobianco-Krys
Taylor-Petrovic
Karow-Looft
Poirier
Injuries, scratches, and notes
Bergsland, White, Ertel, Seminoff, Kyrou, Martino, and Shlaine (scratch)
Stranges (upper-body injury)
McDonald (lower-body injury)
Tonight’s attendance was 6,558.
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