(Credit: Texas Stars)
Tied up at three heading into the final five minutes of regulation, there was some hope inside the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park for a Texas Stars comeback victory over the Grand Rapids Griffins on opening night.
“The first game is always a little shaky for both teams,” Stars' forward Antonio Stranges said. “I think the first game is about what team capitalizes, because there's gonna be mistakes on both ends. Everyone's getting used to each other, new lines and teammates.”
The Stars were able to kill off the Griffins' third powerplay of the game with a couple of massive saves by the Texas' penalty kill and goaltender Remi Poirier, preventing an almost surefire one-on-one goal with his right pad.
But with everyone already in the Texas zone after going back to full strength, Grand Rapids forward Carter Mazur was able to be at the right place, at the right time, punching in the puck standing still at the right post for the game-winning goal and his hat trick with a little over three minutes left in the game.
“Yeah, the outcome wasn't what we were looking for,” head coach Toby Petersen said. “Obviously, but the compete level and the resilience that the guys showed in the third period there was huge.”
The Stars struggled in the second period, getting outshot 12-7, with the majority of Texas’ shots coming within the final six minutes of the frame. Mazur was able to take over the game with a pair of goals, opening up scoring to regain the lead early, and adding insurance with a powerplay goal in the middle of the second.
Texas started to march back after flipping the ice for the final time, starting with the fourth line finally cashing in. The fourth line battled all night, at times providing the only opportunity for the Stars to be in their offensive zone.
The fourth line finally got its goal when Matthew Seminoff collected the puck in the neutral zone before firing it towards the net off the right faceoff circle to inch closer to their deficit.
The Stars were able to kill off the Griffins' third powerplay of the game with a couple of massive saves by the Texas' penalty kill and goaltender Remi Poirier, preventing an almost surefire one-on-one goal with his right pad.
But with everyone already in the Texas zone after going back to full strength, Grand Rapids forward Carter Mazur was able to be at the right place, at the right time, punching in the puck standing still at the right post for the game-winning goal and his hat trick with a little over three minutes left in the game.
“Yeah, the outcome wasn't what we were looking for,” head coach Toby Petersen said. “Obviously, but the compete level and the resilience that the guys showed in the third period there was huge.”
The Stars struggled in the second period, getting outshot 12-7, with the majority of Texas’ shots coming within the final six minutes of the frame. Mazur was able to take over the game with a pair of goals, opening up scoring to regain the lead early, and adding insurance with a powerplay goal in the middle of the second.
Texas started to march back after flipping the ice for the final time, starting with the fourth line finally cashing in. The fourth line battled all night, at times providing the only opportunity for the Stars to be in their offensive zone.
The fourth line finally got its goal when Matthew Seminoff collected the puck in the neutral zone before firing it towards the net off the right faceoff circle to inch closer to their deficit.
“They were huge. They just kept earning more and more ice time as we went along,” Petersen said. “Some great individual play by Seminoff on the goal. Great shot. All three of them contributed big time.”
A little over three minutes later, Antonio Stranges and the first line were able to get their second goal of the night. Stranges got his second point of the game, finding the back of the net on a deep one-timer after getting multiple chances in the first period, tying it up at three.
“I don't shoot the puck from that high too much,” Stranges said. “I got pretty excited when I went in, but he's a good goalie, it was a good shot, and I was lucky that I went in.”
A little over three minutes later, Antonio Stranges and the first line were able to get their second goal of the night. Stranges got his second point of the game, finding the back of the net on a deep one-timer after getting multiple chances in the first period, tying it up at three.
“I don't shoot the puck from that high too much,” Stranges said. “I got pretty excited when I went in, but he's a good goalie, it was a good shot, and I was lucky that I went in.”
Texas will look to rebound against the Griffins tomorrow at 7:00 PM at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park in Cedar Park, Texas.
Tonight’s Lines
Stranges-Hyry-Lind
Hughes-Shlaine-Hanas
McKenzie-Becker-Hemming
Ertel-Scott-Seminoff
Taylor-Capobianco
Bertucci-Kolyachonok
Karow-Kyrou
Tonight’s Lines
Stranges-Hyry-Lind
Hughes-Shlaine-Hanas
McKenzie-Becker-Hemming
Ertel-Scott-Seminoff
Taylor-Capobianco
Bertucci-Kolyachonok
Karow-Kyrou
Poirier
Injuries, scratches and notes
Tiefensee, Bergsland, White, Arcuri, Martino, MacDonell, Looft (scratch)
Chisholm (warm-up)
Tonight’s Attendance was 6023
Injuries, scratches and notes
Tiefensee, Bergsland, White, Arcuri, Martino, MacDonell, Looft (scratch)
Chisholm (warm-up)
Tonight’s Attendance was 6023
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