The Texas Stars needed a bounce back after losing back-to-back games to the Western Conference leading Grand Rapids Griffins last weekend in Cedar Park. It took three periods of regulation hockey, overtime, and six rounds of a shootout for the Stars to rediscover their rhythm as they came from behind to sink the Admirals 4-3 Wednesday night on captain Curtis McKenzie's 800th professional game.
Rookie Ayrton Martino scored the game-winning shootout goal in the sixth round, capping off a late-game surge from the Stars who had fumbled a 2-0 lead earlier in the evening. Matthew Seminoff scored twice in the game to put the Stars up early while Trey Taylor scored the tying goal late in the third period.
Stars goaltender Remi Poirier made 25 saves in regulation and stopped five of six Admirals in the shootout to set up Martino for his game-winner.
Seminoff put the Stars up 2-0 on goals that rewarded him for his net-front presence, as he was in prime position both times to slot in rebounds past Admirals goaltender Magnus Chrona.
Through the first half of the match the Stars looked in control, winning the zone time battle and limiting Milwaukee’s total time with the puck. The Admirals pulled themselves back into the contest, though, at 11:55 of the second period when Cole O’Hara found the puck in the slot after a contested faceoff and fired it past Poirier to make it 2-1.
The momentum swung towards the Admirals in the third period as Reid Schaefer and Josh Davies scored back-to-back for Milwaukee to put them up 3-2.
It looked as if the Stars were about to let precious points slip through their fingers before Trey Taylor was able to slip in past the defense and snipe home the tying goal thanks to a slick pass in the neutral zone from his defense partner Valdislav Kolyachonok.
It was enough to secure a point on the road for the Stars and set the stage for Martino to end the night with his winner. The Stars will look to do again against the Admirals Friday night at 7pm.
Tonight's lines
Hughes-Hyry-Seminoff
Stranges-Shlaine-Lind
Martino-Scott-McDonald
Ertel-Becker-McKenzie
Taylor-Kolyachonok
Bertucci-Krys
Karow-Bergsland
R. Poirier
Injuries, scratches, and notes
Chisholm, J. Poirier, Looft (scratch)
Hanas, Tuomaala, Wheatcroft (injury)
Tonight's attendance was 3,148.
Comments
Post a Comment
Thanks for commenting. Remember to keep it civil. Using a name will help us identify replies and build a Texas Stars community.