(Credit: Andy Nietupski/Texas Stars)
One night after watching a two-goal lead slip away, the Texas Stars delivered the response that captain Curtis McKenzie promised. In a game defined by grit and determination, Texas locked down the Rockford IceHogs with a full 60-minute effort, erasing Friday's frustration with a 5-2 win at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.
The physicality started early when Rockford's Andrew Perrott and Texas forward Connor Punnett dropped the gloves for a lengthy scrap. Before the officials could fully separate them, another fight broke out between Rockford's Connor Mylymok and Texas forward Kole Lind, turning the opening frame into a statement period. Mylymok received two four-minute roughing penalties, while Punnett and Perrott got five each for fighting.
Texas capitalized on the momentum shift, controlling the pace and outshooting Rockford. With under six minutes remaining in the period, Stars defenseman Trey Taylor fired one past Rockford rookie goalie Stanislav Berezhnoy to give Texas the 1-0 lead heading into the first intermission.
The second period opened with a quieter pace, both teams trading shots more evenly than in the physical first frame. Connor Punnett went to the box just over five minutes in for a high-sticking minor, but Texas killed it off without issue. Both netminders faced steady pressure as the period progressed, until Stars captain Curtis McKenzie broke through midway through the frame. With helpers from Antonio Stranges and Harrison Scott, McKenzie buried his second goal of the weekend past Berezhnoy to extend the lead to 2-0.
Rockford responded with urgency, pressing hard to solve Remi Poirier. Their efforts paid off minutes later when Nick Lardis finally got the IceHogs on the board, cutting the deficit in half.
Texas still held the territorial advantage, outshooting Rockford 15-12 in the period.
The final 20 minutes brought more of the same shots, physicality, and mounting pressure. Rockford threw everything at Remi Poirier, searching desperately for the equalizer, but the Texas netminder stood tall.
"The coaching staff and leaders told everyone to take a deep breath. We're here. Just keep playing and defend harder," head coach Toby Petersen said of the team's mindset heading into the final minutes of the third.
Jack Becker extended the lead with his first goal of the season, assisted by Kole Lind and Harrison Scott, giving Texas breathing room. "I felt great. I've been getting a lot of chances lately and just to see that one go in felt really good," Becker said of finally breaking through.
With under four minutes remaining, Rockford pulled Berezhnoy for the extra attacker. Poirier turned aside five shots during the scramble, but Nick Lardis finally beat him on the sixth attempt, pulling the IceHogs back within one.
Rockford pulled their goalie again with under three minutes left, but Arttu Hyry capitalized immediately, firing a rocket into the empty net with an assist from Tommy Bersland. In a final desperation move with 52 seconds remaining, Rockford went back to the empty net. Texas defenseman Gavin White sealed it with another empty-netter, capping the 5-2 victory and giving the Stars the response they needed after Friday's tough loss.
"We had our hands full in the defensive zone there in the third, but then we stood big and tall and we got the job done," Petersen added.
With the win, Texas avoided a weekend sweep and reclaimed momentum heading into the home stand. The Stars will look to carry this performance forward as they prepare for their next series.
"This feels amazing. We did some good things and hopefully we can just carry on that momentum into the next series," Becker said.
Tonight's lines
Hughes-Hyry-Tuomaala
Stranges-Scott-McKenzie
Martino-Seminoff-Hanas
Ertel-Becker-Lind
Taylor-Bergsland
Bertucci-Karow
Punnett-White
Poirier
Injuries, scratches and notes
Capobianco, Kolyachonok (callup)
Schlaine, Chisholm, Hreschuk (scratch)
Looft (upper-body injury)
Tonight's attendance was 5860
AHL Gamesheet - Texas v. Rockford - November 22 2025
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