Texas Stars Snap Grand Rapids Griffins 19-Game Point Streak and Shutout the League Leaders 2-0

                                                       (Credit: Grand Rapids Griffins)

 

The Texas Stars entered their two-game stint against the Grand Rapids Griffins knowing they couldn’t settle for anything less than valuable points in the standings. After a tremendous effort that came up short on Wednesday, they refused to take any “moral victories.” 

On Friday night at Van Andel Arena, the Stars turned in their most complete performance of the season and earned their biggest win of the year when they shut out the league-leading Griffins 2-0.

The Griffins (29-2-1) had their historic 19-game points streak snapped and were shut out for the first time all season thanks to 29 saves from Remi Poirier. Texas is only the second team this season to beat the Griffins in regulation this season, their last loss having come against the Charlotte Checkers on November 21. 

Cameron Hughes scored the game-winning goal late in the second period while Cross Hanas would score shortly after to make it three points in two games this past week against his former team.

Unlike Wednesday's game, where the Griffins dominated play all night and forced a heroic effort from Stars goaltender Arno Tiefensee, the Stars adjusted and skated with Grand Rapids all night. They moved the puck faster and did a much better job getting away from the aggressive Griffins forecheckers. Texas also did an excellent job forcing the issue themselves, with both goals coming off great reads to regain the puck quickly. 

The effort looked like it had paid off in the first period when Artem Shlaine was able to poke a loose puck past Griffins goaltender Michal Postava, but the goal was waived off for goaltender interference when it became clear that Kole Lind had too much contact with Postave in the crease.

Crashing the net would pay off for the Stars, though, late in the second period. 
 
Hughes’ would score the first official goal of the night when a second net-front scrum led to a loose puck that found the Stars’ leading scorer at 18:44 of the second period. There was a brief discussion between the refs but they eventually confirmed the goal and made Texas’ 1-0 lead official. 

A little more than a minute later, Hanas continued to run amok over his previous team when he extended the lead with a trickler that crossed the line to make it 2-0. Texas started the play when Micheal Karow won a battle in the neutral zone and got the puck to Hanas who quickly re-entered the Griffins zone and laid it off for Kole Lind who sent a cross-ice pase to Artem Schlaine who quickly returned it Hanas who, despite not getting a good shot on, put enough force to get past Michal Postava. 

From there on the Stars locked the ice down and would not let Griffins on the board for the rest of the night.

In terms of the bigger picture, the Stars moved to 32 points and maintained their hold on fifth place in the Central Division and officially in a playoff spot. While one game does not make a season, though, it was an effort that Texas can hope to build on as they head to Chicago for another crucial Central Division match up on Saturday night. 

Tonight’s Lines
Hanas-Scott-Seminoff
Hughes-Shlaine-Lind
Stranges-Becker-McDonald
Martino-Chisholm-McKenzie

Taylor-Krys
Karow-Looft
Bergsland-Punnett

Poirier

Injuries, scratches and notes
Ertel, Hreschuk (scratch)
Bertucci, Tuomaala, Wheatcroft, Hyry, White (injury) 

Tonight’s attendance was 8,169.