Stars Fall 5-2 to Griffins, No Longer Control First Place Destiny

(Credit: Nicolas Carrillo)

 The Texas Stars, having lost all four games on their most recent homestand, looked to get back on track against the Grand Rapids Griffins at Van Andel Arena. Even though Texas controlled significant stretches of the game and outshot Grand Rapids 37-23, the Stars fell 5-2 on the night and lost control of their own destiny for first place in the Central Division due to Milwaukee holding the tiebreaker.

Prior to the homestand, the Stars were on a run that saw them win all five games on the road, giving them a four point lead in the Central Division over the Milwaukee Admirals. But after dropping four straight, including two games to Milwaukee, Texas found themselves in second place with only five games remaining entering tonight's contest. 

The first period began with the home team taking a quick lead just over two minutes into the period when Gabriel Seger beat Magnus Hellberg for his ninth goal of the year. The Stars, intent on pressuring the Griffins, swarmed Grand Rapids with intense forechecking while outshooting their opponent 15-7 in the period. However, former Dallas Stars goalie Jack Campbell kept the visiting team from getting an equalizer, ending the period with Texas trailing 1-0.

The second period started with the Stars killing off a carry-over power play, but as time expired Kyle Capobianco was called for cross checking. The home team capitalized 16 seconds later, when Dominik Shine scored on a rebound in front of the net to put Grand Rapids up 2-0.

Midway through the second, Texas took advantage of a power play and cut the lead in half when Cameron Hughes tapped in the puck past Campbell for his 22nd goal. Credit should be given to both Matěj Blümel and Capobianco for quick passing that lead to the Hughes goal. The period would end with Texas trailing 2-1 but with a 26-16 shot advantage,

Answering the call to start the third period, Jack Becker skated in from the left circle and sent a wrist shot past Campbell's glove side for his 11th goal of the year to tie the game. Credited with the assists were Matthew Seminoff and Trey Taylor, who earned his first career professional point.

Grand Rapids took the lead for good with 4:23 remaining when Joe Snively was able to beat a screened Hellberg. A little over a minute later, former Texas Star Sheldon Dries put the home team up 4-2 when he scored on a transition two-on-one play as the Stars were in the midst of a line change. The final tally on the night was an empty net goal by Nate Danielson with just over two minutes left in the game.

Next up, the Stars play the Griffins at Van Andel Arena again on Saturday, April 12th at 6 PM.

Tonight’s lines
Hughes-Hryckowian-Blümel
Martino-Hyry-Lind
Scott-Petterson-Wheatcroft
Shlaine-Becker-Seminoff

Capobianco-White
Taylor-Karow
Looft-Krys

Hellberg

Injuries, scratches, and notes
Bergsland, Chisholm, Ertel, Kyrou (scratch)
Stranges (upper-body injury)
McDonald (lower-body injury)

Petrovic (call up)

McKenzie (family)

Tonight’s attendance was 7,094.

AHL Gamesheet- Texas at Grand Rapids - April 11, 2025