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| Nathan Bastian's game-winner (Credit: Tim Garland/Iowa Wild) |
The Texas Stars sent 2025 out with a bang in Des Moines as they never trailed in their contest against the Iowa Wild, ultimately securing the 3-2 win for good in overtime thanks to conditioning loanee Nathan Bastian. Fourth-liner with a scoring knack Jack Becker scored twice in the contest, his fifth and sixth of the campaign.
Early in the first, Texas was coming off a power play and Remi Poirier had to stand tall on two successive high-danger chances coming back the other way. A quick breakout led Kyle McDonald to go backwards against the grain to Becker on the left wing side and into the yawning cage.
Texas found misfortune as the period closed with Michael Karow already in the box. On the ensuing shift of the PK, Kyle Looft caught a puck up high in front of the net, hitting him in the left ear. With Texas down to four defensemen for the kill, they gave up a power play goal to David Špaček, a blistering shot from the top of the left-wing circle.
Becker had the only tally for either team in the second period. Cross Hanas intercepted a neutral zone pass from Will Zmolek and went down the left side with Becker in traffic on the right. In a similar copy-paste to the first goal, Hanas sent a pass backwards across the grain to the blue paint where Becker tapped it in.
The Stars would play tight road hockey from there until the Wild got the chance with the extra skater. Špaček again got the shot off, this time tipped by Ben Jones in front, to tie things at 2-2.
In overtime, it was everyday NHLer Nathan Bastian stepping up to extend his cheeky point streak to six. Former Star Ben Gleason tried for an outlet pass up the middle, which was snagged by Bastian. He came down with a head of steam and beat Samuel Hlavaj clean over the glove.
With the win, Texas heads to 11-15-3-1 with 26 points and sixth place in teh Central. They have two games in hand over Rockford, who look to be their nemesis for the rest of the season, as both are locked in a battle for the fifth and final playoff spot in the division.
The Stars return home to play Milwaukee this weekend on Saturday and Sunday.
Tonight's lines
Hughes-Seminoff-Bastian
Stranges-Scott-Lind
Martino-Shlaine-McDonald
Hanas-Becker-McKenzie
Taylor-Bergsland
Bertucci-Karow
Punnett-Looft
Poirier
Injuries, scratches, and notes
Chisholm, Ertel, White, Wheatcroft, Hreschuk (scratch)
Tuomaala, Hyry (injury)
Tonight's attendance was 7,867.
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