An All-Time Classic, Texas comes back down three, tops Henderson in OT

(Credit: Andy Nietupski/Texas Stars)

There is the old sports adage, “the game is not over until the fat lady sings.”

For the Texas Stars, they lived up to the timeless saying, valiantly storming back down by three goals in the first five minutes of the opening period to rally back and top the Henderson Silver Knights, 6-5 in a thrilling overtime period Friday night at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.

“I feel like recently, we haven't really been able to get it done for our fans at home,” Kyle McDonald said. “(It) feels good to come in here and battle back and show like our fight and kind of win that game feels really nice.”

Henderson forward Kai Uchacz was able to beat Texas goaltender Remi Porier with 1:37 left in the game, giving the Silver Knights the lead and forcing the Stars to call a timeout to strategize a 6-on-5 play to push the game into overtime.

Texas was able to pull Poirier quickly, giving the Stars the extra attacker for a late-game push in their offensive zone. Stars forward Kole Lind, near the left point, was able find a narrow gap on Silver Knights’ goaltender Cameron Whitehead's net to tie the game up at 5-5 with 1:13 left in the final period, ultimately pushing the game into overtime.

“We give up a late goal, it's several times here this year we give up the late goal in the third,” Petersen said. “And then threat to have Lindy out there 6-on-5 and get that the big snipe was huge. I mean, that was brought us all back and gave us a chance.”

After a couple of rushes towards the net in the overtime period, Texas was struck with luck with a too-many-men penalty on Henderson during a sloppy line shift. The penalty gave the Stars a 4-on-3 opportunity and all the momentum.

“Those are huge,” Petersen said. “Things happen. Guys jumped the wrong time for the wrong guy… we'll take the win, we'll take the penalty and take the power play and move on.”

After a couple of good chances in the overtime periods man-advantage, Stars forward Cameron Hughes found an open shooting lane, dumping the puck toward the net in traffic. The puck was deflected in the traffic of the Henderson defense, slowing down in the process, but Texas forward Artem Shlaine was in the mix, getting one last touch on the puck as it slowly inched into the net.

The moment was so shocking to Whitehead and the rest of the Silver Knights that they quietly skated to their locker room in disbelief.

“We came out they got a couple bounces (and) we weren't winning our battles in front,” McDonald said. “It's kind of just like a settle down everyone will get it.”

The Stars rally started in the middle frame, opening up the second period hot with Stars forward Matthew Seminoff scoring a goal in the period's first nine seconds. Seminoff had his hand in the period's second goal, tossing the puck to Luke Krys in the slot to tie the game up at 3-3.

Texas goaltender Arno Tiefensee made the start tonight, but after allowing three goals to rip past him, Stars head coach Toby Petersen saw enough from the young German goaltender, pulling him for Remi Poirier to close out the night.

Poirier was able to hold down the net, making routine saves and simmering a very hot Henderson offense for the rest of the night, allowing only two goals while in net.

“It's gonna be a battle tomorrow. We're excited for it,” Petersen said.

Texas will finish up it’s two game series with Henderson tomorrow at 7 p.m. at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park in Cedar Park, Texas.

Tonight's Lines

Hughes-Shlaine-Seminoff
Stranges-Scott-Lind
Hanas-Becker-McDonald
Ertel-Chisholm-McKenzie

Taylor-Krys
Bertucci-Kolyachonok
Karow-White

Tiefensee 

Injuries, scractches and notes

Punnett, Martino Bergsland(scratch)

Hyry (upper body), Wheatcroft (upper body), Tuomaala (lower body), Looft (upper body)

Tonight's attendance was 6778 (sellout) 

AHL Gamesheet - Texas v. Henderson - January 30 2026