(Credit: Texas Stars)
For three games, the Stars looked like themselves again. They carved out three consecutive victories against the Moose with a combined score of 9-2.
But two goals in the final 10 minutes of the third period were the equalizer for the Moose, clawing from a 2-0 deficit to take a 3-2 victory over the Stars Saturday night at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.
"This was definitely a step back tonight, losing the game," head coach Toby Petersen said. "There was enough positive from the week... that we're going to take those positives and try to build on them."
On just six shots in the opening period, Texas was efficient in the goal-scoring department. Cross Hanas and Harrison Scott each beat Manitoba goaltender Thomas Milic just two minutes apart from each other to put Texas up by two.
Just like how the Stars did in the first period to their netminder, Manitoba was able to put two quick goals past Texas goaltender Remi Poirier in the third period.
Moose forward Fabian Wagner tied the game up at 2-2, with a quick wrist shot in the low slot. Just 25 seconds later, forward Colby Barlow tapped in the game-winning goal after Ashton Sautner dumped the puck in from the blueline.
"It's hard to beat a team four times in a row. You get a familiarity with the team and a lot of pushback, and we were aware of that going in," Petersen said. "We were trying to safeguard against that. But in the end, they got the bounces, they got the zone time, and they got the big goals when they needed them."
Both teams struggled to stay out of the box tonight -- each team suffered five penalties apiece. While Manitoba's power play unit is not anything special, ranked 29th in the league, the timing of the penalty was key.
Texas Stars defenseman Tristian Bertucci was whistled for high-sticking near the end of the first, setting up Manitoba to open the second with the man advantage.
It cost the Stars big-time, the Moose cashed in within the first minute of the period as Manitoba forward David Gustasson put Poirier in a compromising position, preventing him from making the stop.
While the fans at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park were groaning at the majority of the calls tonight, nothing more drew the ire of the folks in green than the no-goal decision on Harrison Scott's apparent second goal of the night.
In the crease, Scott fell down after he was pushed in the scrum in front of Milic's net. As he was falling, the right blade of his skate deflected the loose puck into the net. At first, it grew the Stars' lead by two, but the Manitoba coaching staff quickly challenged the ruling.
It worked out in their favor, as the official skated back to center ice for the no-goal signal after a lengthy review.
"It's hard to say whether or not there was intent. Obviously, we don't know what was going through Harrison Scott's head in the moment," Petersen said. "When you watch the replay, I mean, all I can say is, it was, it was a good challenge by [Manitoba]."
The Stars' powerplay unit has struggled all season, and those issues were apparent once again tonight. The team's ineptness with the man-advantage was displayed in the first five minutes of the final period. On the 4-on-3 and then the 5-on-4 to open the third, Texas managed to only fire three shots on goal.
"We kind of gave away a couple of good opportunities that we could have had," Harrison Scott said. "If we could have found one on the power [play], it's a different story."
Texas will hit the road next week to face the Milwaukee Admirals at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena on Saturday at 6 P.M. CT.
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