Lind Scores Early but Stars Offense Continues to Struggle in 3-1 Loss to Milwaukee

 

(Credit: Milwaukee Admirals)

 

For about nine minutes Saturday night the Texas Stars got exactly what they wanted against the Milwaukee Admirals. The early lead on the road did not last, though, as three unanswered goals and a silent offense meant the Stars found themselves on the end of a 3-1 loss to open their three-game road trip. 

Kole Lind’s opener at 1:16 of the first period was the only goal the Stars would muster while Milwaukee got tallies from Read Schaefer, Jordan Oesterle, and Jake Lucchini. 

It was another frustratingly muted night from an offense that has managed 10 goals in five games on the road this season, tied for third worst in the AHL. Despite Arttu Hyry making his return to the lineup for the first time since October 18th, the Stars never managed to make Milwaukee goaltender Ethan Haider sweat at any point through the night. 

Meanwhile, 1,000 miles south at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Lian Bichsel scored the opener for the big club against the Philadelphia Flyers assisted by Alex Petrovic and Justin Hryckowian. Kyle Capobianco also suited up in place of the injured Thomas Harley and logged a respectable 15:42 minutes of ice time. 

Such is life in the AHL.

So far the only clear trend that has emerged this season is that it is difficult to immediately replace some of the top scorers in the league from a year ago. There have been flashes from rookies like Artem Shlaine, who slotted in on the first line in Hyry’s absence and assisted on Lind’s goal Saturday night. Meanwhile, the defense and goaltending has remained solid and has kept Texas among the most stingiest teams in the league this year. 

But if the goals continue to come at a drip, the margins for error will remain tight for a Stars team that still has high ambitions after last season’s playoff run. 

They will get another chance to open up the spigot Sunday afternoon against the Rockford IceHogs.
 

Tonight’s lines
 

Hughes-Hyry-Tuomaala
Stranges-Shlaine-Lind
Martino-Scott-McKenzie
Seminoff-Becker-Hanas
 

Looft-Bergsland
Bertucci-Karow
Kolyachonok-White
 

Kraws

Injuries, scratches and notes 
 

Ertel, Chisholm, Taylor (scratch)
 Tonight’s attendance was 6,327.