For the second game in a row, Texas came up just short on another comeback effort, falling to the Griffins 3-2. The Stars last opened the season 0-2 two years ago in the 2024-25 season.
Cross Hanas cut the deficit to one with his first goal as a Star late in the third period. However, for the Texas native, it was much more important than just the impact it had on the game.
“It was obviously super special,” Cross said. “A Texas kid getting to play in Texas, and being in the Dallas Stars organization, … honestly, I’m at a loss for words. I'm just super excited to be back in green, white and black. And the colors I've represented my whole life. It's the logo I've represented my whole life. So it really means a lot to me.”
The Stars failed to convert on any power plays tonight, including a crucial one in the final minutes of the game with a chance to equalize.
“The opportunities are being created,” Texas Stars head coach Toby Petersen said. “They're doing a pretty good job on entries. We're shifting pucks to the net, and we're just missing …. So we just got to find a way to keep digging there and execute.”
The first period was a back-and-forth affair with both teams getting quality scoring chances, but neither finding the back of the net. The Stars controlled the puck more, but the Griffins got several odd-man rushes, including a shorthanded breakaway that Ben Kraws managed to turn away. "I thought he was excellent," coach Petersen said of his goaltender. "He battled. He made some huge saves to keep it close enough for us to get within striking distance."
The physicality also ramped up as the frame progressed. Frequent shoving matches ultimately culminated in a clash at center ice where Matthew Seminoff dropped the gloves with Griffins forward Carson Bantle. Seminoff got three solid knocks on the side of Bantle’s head. The pummeled Griffin subsequently grabbed a hold of Seminoff and pulled both of them to the ice to stop the beating.
The second period started with six shots in a row from Texas until a slashing penalty on Stars forward Artem Shlaine stopped their offensive momentum dead in its tracks. The officiating put their stamp on this frame, calling 10 minor penalties between both teams. Six of those penalties were on Texas, and they proved to be fatal.
Dominik Shine opened the scoring for Grand Rapids on the power play with a deflection from the high slot that snuck past Kraws, giving the Griffins a one-goal lead. John Leonard extended that lead to two with a quick wrist shot on a four-on-four situation due to a pair of roughing minors. The Stars had a couple of power plays of their own in this period that were not particularly dangerous. The period ended with a 2-0 lead for the visitors.
The comeback bid started on the wrong foot as Austin Watson scored for the Griffins just four minutes into the final frame. Despite the setback, the Stars roared back in the second half of the final frame.
Harrison Scott gave the fourth line its second goal on the weekend, lifting a shot over the stingy Griffins' goalie, Michal Postava. The fourth line once again had a great night.
“We want our fourth line to provide energy and contribute on the score sheet whenever they can,” coach Petersen said. “Tonight, they did both.” Cross’ aforementioned goal came with just under five minutes remaining in the game. Gavin White made a firm pass to Cross, who redirected the puck from the slot into the back of the net.
The Stars had several good chances on their final power play of the night, including a Cameron Hughes deflection from the high slot that resulted in a mad scramble in the Grand Rapids crease, but couldn’t find the tying goal in the first half of the power play. With two minutes left in the game and one remaining on the man advantage, Texas attempted to pull their goalie, but a miscommunication led to the Stars taking a too many men on the ice penalty, ending the man advantage, and all but ending the game.
Texas will search for their first win of the season on the road next week as they take on the Rockford Icehogs Friday at 7pm.
Tonight’s Lines
Stranges-Hyry-Lind
Hughes-Shlaine-Hanas
McKenzie-Becker-Hemming
Ertel-Scott-Seminoff
Capobianco-White
Kolyachonok-Taylor
Bertucci-Karow
Kraws
Injuries, scratches and notes
Tiefensee, Bergsland, Kyrou, Arcuri, Martino, Chisholm, Looft (scratch)
MacDonell (warm-up)
Tonight’s attendance was 6,247.
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