Heartbreak at the Buzzer: Stars Fall to Reign in Stunning Final Seconds

(Credit: Logan Foust/Texas Stars)

In a game that had all the makings of a redemption story, the Texas Stars saw their hard-fought effort vanish in the cruelest of fashions Saturday night at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park. The Ontario Reign, Pacific Division leaders with a 24-11-1-1 record coming into tonight’s contest, came away with the 4 to 3 victory after scoring the game-winner with just 1.4 seconds remaining in regulation.

The sellout crowd of 6,778 witnessed a Texas team that looked nothing like the squad that stumbled through their previous two-game series against Coachella Valley. The Stars controlled play for large stretches and carried a 3 to 2 lead into the final minutes before Ontario's Cole Guttman tied the game with 1:15 remaining. 

Then came the gut-wrenching finale – a puck ricocheting off a Stars player's skate and soaring above goaltender Remi Poirier's shoulder into the net, leaving players and fans stunned into silence.

"It felt like a gut punch, like having the lead there at the end and not pulling through," said Texas Stars head coach Toby Petersen. "We're not taking anything for granted with what happened leading up to it, but it's just tough to talk about. Our guys worked their tails off. They were so much better overall. The intensity was there, the little details were great, and then it just didn't really come through. We didn't get it done."

The game marked Ontario's first visit to Cedar Park since last March and the third meeting between the clubs this season. Texas came out with purpose, and defenseman Sean Chisholm rewarded their effort at 14:27 of the opening frame. His shot weaved through Ontario traffic to give the Stars a 1-0 lead, with assists credited to Trey Taylor and captain Curtis McKenzie.

The passing was crisp throughout the period, with the third line of Cross Hanas, Jack Becker, and Kyle McDonald generating the most shot attempts. Special teams saw an extended 4-on-4 sequence after Texas forward Justin Ertel was called for tripping at 3:09, followed by Ontario's Glenn Gawdin heading to the box for hooking at 3:54. 

Neither team could capitalize on the extra space.

The period ended on a positive note for Texas when Ontario's Jack Hughes was issued a four-minute double-minor for high-sticking Chisholm at 16:36. Poirier was perfect in the frame, stopping all five Ontario shots.

Texas carried the power play into the second period and capitalized when Harrison Scott beat Reign goaltender Erik Portillo to extend the lead to 2-0. Cameron Hughes and Luke Krys collected assists on the goal.

The Stars kept Portillo busy with aggressive play, building a 12-to-6 shots advantage by the 13:27 mark. All four lines contributed to the offensive pressure, peppering the Ontario netminder throughout the frame.

However, the Reign found life on a goal by recent Ontario callup Kenta Isogai. With the game at 2-to-1, Ontario would once again find the back of the net on a Justin Ertel penalty. Cole Guttman converted the opportunity at 12:00 to tie the game at 2.

The Stars answered quickly. 

Defenseman Michael Karow unleashed a shot from the left point at 14:23 that sailed past Portillo, restoring Texas's lead at 3-2. The goal was Karow's fourth of the season, and gave Hughes his second assist of the night. 

Texas carried a 17-13 shots advantage into the third period.

The final stanza of the evening opened with both teams serving roughing penalties from the end of the second period. The fast pace began to take its toll on Texas, and Ontario dominated possession. At the five-minute mark of the period, the Reign held an 11-3 shots advantage. By period's end, they had outshot Texas 15-3 in the frame.

Connor Punnett's high-sticking penalty at 5:07 gave Ontario another power-play opportunity, but the Stars' penalty kill held firm. Texas appeared poised to close out the victory as regulation time wound down, but Guttman struck again with 1:15 left to tie the game at three.

Then came the heartbreaker. 

With 1.4 seconds remaining, a bizarre bounce off a Texas player's skate sent the puck over Poirier's shoulder and into the net, giving Ontario the stunning victory.

Despite the devastating loss, there were positives for Texas to build upon. The balanced attack Petersen has sought all season was on display, with all four lines contributing offensively.

"There's good depth right now, up front and in the back end, we have good depth," Petersen said. "It's good to see different guys chipping in and pitching in, but, you know, it's hard. We didn't get the win. We will look at every aspect of our game, whether it's line matchups, line pairings, D pairings, and special teams, all of it. We're close, but we’ve got to find a way to get over it."

One bright spot came in the form of Cameron Hughes's selection to the AHL All-Star Team. The forward recorded two assists Saturday night and has been a consistent offensive presence for Texas all season.

"He finds ways to get on the scoresheet," Petersen said of Hughes. "He's been a great leader for us, but he finds ways to move the team in the right direction. Everyone's frustrated right now, but Hughes has been a bright spot for us. We're happy he's being rewarded."

The Stars will look to shake off this heartbreaker and continue building on the positives as they face Ontario again Sunday at 5pm CT.

Tonight’s Lines

Hughes-Shlaine-Seminoff

Stranges-Scott-Lind

Hanas-Becker-McDonald

Ertel-Chisholm-McKenzie

Taylor-Krys

Bertucci-Karow

Punnett-Bergsland

Poirier

Injuries, scratches, and notes

Hreschuk, Martino (scratch)

Hyry, Tuomaala, White, Wheatcroft, Looft (injury) 

Tonight’s attendance was 6,778 (a sellout). 

AHL Gamesheet - Texas v. Ontario Reign - January 17 2026