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| (Photo by Texas Stars) |
The Texas Stars have spent much of the 2025-26 season trying to outrun the ghosts of a difficult start. For months, the team struggled with last-minute collapses and unimaginable ways to lose games that were seemingly under control. But as the final horn sounded Saturday night at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park, those ghosts felt like a distant memory.
In front of a sellout crowd of 6,778 screaming fans, Texas extended its season-high winning streak to seven games with a hard-fought 4-3 victory over the Manitoba Moose, ensuring they enter the All-Star break as one of the hottest teams in the AHL.
The victory capped off an incredible January for the organization. Texas relied on a stifling defensive shell that has become their new method for success, clogging the middle of the ice and forcing the Moose to settle for perimeter looks.
"It's been really good. I think we're finding our groove a little bit," said forward Michael Karow. "You know, whether we're getting the lead early or putting ourselves in a bit of a hole and digging ourselves out, it kind of just goes back to having an identity as a team and not giving up all game. So it's been a lot of fun to be a part of it."
The Stars wasted little time getting on the board. At 13:53 of the opening frame, Tristan Bertucci spotted Kole Lind wide open and made the perfect pass, with Lind getting an easy chip-in past Moose goalie Thomas Milic. The goal, Lind's ninth of the season, was assisted by Bertucci and Karow, and gave Texas the early momentum they were looking for.
The middle frame belonged to Manitoba. After a slow start that saw Texas record their first shot on goal six minutes into the period and their second nearly six minutes after that, the Moose capitalized on their opportunities. Forward Brad Lambert tied the game at 1, and Mason Shaw gave Manitoba the 2-1 lead with just 41.1 seconds remaining in the period.
Texas managed only four shots on goal in the frame, and the sellout crowd grew restless as the Stars headed to the dressing room trailing for the first time all night. Defensively, Manitoba had been solid all season, but they appeared frustrated when it came to finishing plays, making attempts but struggling to convert consistently.
Whatever head coach Toby Petersen said during the intermission worked. The Stars came out with renewed purpose in the third period, and it showed in their methodical approach. Nothing seemed rushed, and the shots taken looked like they were done with clear intent.
The Stars' comeback began with Jack Becker, who capitalized on a loose puck in front of the net after Thomas Milic failed to secure the initial save. Moments later, a positioning error by Milic proved costly. With the goaltender caught out of place, Ayrton Martino found a wide-open Justin Ertel, who made no mistake in firing home the go-ahead goal.
The Stars continued to put the heat on the Moose. In a beautifully executed play, Stars captain Curtis McKenzie passed to Kole Lind, who found Michael Karow. Karow launched the puck through traffic and past Milic for the 4-3 lead, providing what would be the game-winning goal.
"I feel like now we're able to take the games to other teams and just kind of be able to play with our foot on the gas for 60 minutes," Karow said when asked about the team's recent success against strong competition.
Texas was able to hold off Manitoba during a Justin Ertel tripping penalty, showcasing the disciplined defensive play that has become their trademark. While the Stars only recorded eight shots on goal in the third period, they made them count when it mattered most.
Coach Petersen was unreserved in his praise of the team's resilience. "[Manitoba] took the lead, and our guys just battled back," he said. "They could have easily just said, it's not our night. We don't have our legs. Could have made excuses, but they didn't, and they kept playing and found a way to find a way to find a way to put the puck in the back of the net. So incredibly proud of the way they're playing right now."
As Petersen noted after Friday's win, the "guys are gelling," and the individual defensive pairings have found a rhythm that allows them to be an "abrasive force" in their own zone. This cohesion was evident as the Stars protected their narrow lead through the final frame, refusing to let the Moose mount a successful comeback.
The anchor of the performance, as has been the case throughout the month, was Remi Poirier. The third-year netminder has been solid for the Stars. Poirier's ability to come up big when needed most, tracking pucks through traffic and moving post-to-post with athleticism, has given the young defensive corps the confidence to play aggressively.
The Stars head into the break not just with two points, but with the knowledge that they can win no matter what the game throws at them.
Tonight's lines
Hughes-Seminoff-Hanas
Stranges-Scott-Lind
Martino-Becker-McDonald
Ertel-Chisholm-McKenzie
Taylor-Krys
Looft-Kolyachonok
Bertucci-Karow
Poirier
Injuries, scratches and notes
Bergsland, Wheatcroft, J. Poirier (scratch)
Hyry, Tuomaala, Shlaine (injury)
Tonight's attendance was 6,778, a sellout.
AHL Gamesheet - Texas v. Manitoba - February 7 2026
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