(Credit: Andy Nietupski/Texas Stars)
Despite positives in the first and second period, employing a staunch defense — going 4-4 on the penalty kill and Kole Lind punching a power play goal to open the second period to even the score — that momentum subsided in the final period of play for the Texas Stars.
The Milwaukee Admirals’ combination of speed and overbearing defense was too much for the Stars. Evening the score at the end of the second. The Admirals exploded in the final twenty minutes of regulation, scoring five goals to go up 6-2.
Garnering some late-game magic, Lind completed his second hat-trick of the season late in the third to give Texas a fighting chance.
Fans in the building were unsure of how to react to Lind’s third tally of the night, some holding their hats in confusion, but ultimately none were thrown. Pulling Hellberg for an extra skater, the Stars were only able to fire three shots on goal with the advantage.
Playing a majority of the game on defense, the Stars were taxed by the end of it, allowing the Admirals to even the series before heading up to Milwaukee to close the series in a 6-4 victory Sunday night at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.
“We knew they were going to come out hard,” head coach Neil Graham said. “I thought we defended well in the first but unfortunately, probably defended too long. It can be taxing on you. You got to give them credit. We know it's going to be a tight series. It is every year.”
Milwaukee’s defense did not give the Stars much breathing room on the rare occasions when they had a chance to piece something together. Texas struggled to generate viable offensive possessions, as the Admirals' abrasive forecheck prevented the Stars from even leaving their own zone for the majority of the night.
Even with Texas blowing up the Admirals' defense at times, making their way down the ice, goaltender Matt Murray did not give Texas many chances to get a quick momentum-shifting goal; repeatedly stopping breakaways and well-placed shots all night.
“I think a few times tonight, we tried to get too cute in certain areas,” Lind said. “It slowed down our whole attack and made us either have to go back and play in our own end, or regroup again.”
AHL Rookie of the Year Justin Hryckowian collected two points, furthering his league-leading playoff point total. After assisting on Lind’s first goal, Hyrckowian found the back of the net from the faceoff circle for a quick goal, taking the lead in the second period.
With the possibility of playing their final home game of the season, the Stars remain confident about their chances before they head up north to close out the series on the Admirals' turf.
“We knew they were going to come out hard tonight. Being a best of five, going down two is not easy,” Lind said, “Unbelievable road team, and I have full faith in our group to go there and grab two wins.”
Texas will look to retake the series against Milwaukee in Game 3 Wednesday at 7 PM at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Pettersen-Becker-Wheatcroft
Seminoff-Scott-Romano
Capobianco-Krys
Taylor-Karow
Looft-Bergsland
Hellberg
Garnering some late-game magic, Lind completed his second hat-trick of the season late in the third to give Texas a fighting chance.
Fans in the building were unsure of how to react to Lind’s third tally of the night, some holding their hats in confusion, but ultimately none were thrown. Pulling Hellberg for an extra skater, the Stars were only able to fire three shots on goal with the advantage.
Playing a majority of the game on defense, the Stars were taxed by the end of it, allowing the Admirals to even the series before heading up to Milwaukee to close the series in a 6-4 victory Sunday night at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.
“We knew they were going to come out hard,” head coach Neil Graham said. “I thought we defended well in the first but unfortunately, probably defended too long. It can be taxing on you. You got to give them credit. We know it's going to be a tight series. It is every year.”
Milwaukee’s defense did not give the Stars much breathing room on the rare occasions when they had a chance to piece something together. Texas struggled to generate viable offensive possessions, as the Admirals' abrasive forecheck prevented the Stars from even leaving their own zone for the majority of the night.
Even with Texas blowing up the Admirals' defense at times, making their way down the ice, goaltender Matt Murray did not give Texas many chances to get a quick momentum-shifting goal; repeatedly stopping breakaways and well-placed shots all night.
“I think a few times tonight, we tried to get too cute in certain areas,” Lind said. “It slowed down our whole attack and made us either have to go back and play in our own end, or regroup again.”
AHL Rookie of the Year Justin Hryckowian collected two points, furthering his league-leading playoff point total. After assisting on Lind’s first goal, Hyrckowian found the back of the net from the faceoff circle for a quick goal, taking the lead in the second period.
With the possibility of playing their final home game of the season, the Stars remain confident about their chances before they head up north to close out the series on the Admirals' turf.
“We knew they were going to come out hard tonight. Being a best of five, going down two is not easy,” Lind said, “Unbelievable road team, and I have full faith in our group to go there and grab two wins.”
Texas will look to retake the series against Milwaukee in Game 3 Wednesday at 7 PM at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Tonight's lines
Blümel-Hryckowian-McKenzie
Pettersen-Becker-Wheatcroft
Seminoff-Scott-Romano
Capobianco-Krys
Taylor-Karow
Looft-Bergsland
Hellberg
Injures, scratches and notes
Thomson, Terness, Ertel, Bertucci, White, Arcuri, Kyrou, Martino, Punnett, McDonald, Shlaine, Hemming, Stranges (scratch)
Chisholm (warmup)
Tonight's attendance was 6361
Thomson, Terness, Ertel, Bertucci, White, Arcuri, Kyrou, Martino, Punnett, McDonald, Shlaine, Hemming, Stranges (scratch)
Chisholm (warmup)
Tonight's attendance was 6361
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