Stars Stun Wolves 5–4 in OT, Force Winner-Take-All Game 5

 

(Credit: Chicago Wolves)

The Texas Stars, after winning the opening game of the series against the Chicago Wolves, dropped two straight and found themselves facing elimination from the Calder Cup Playoffs.

A common sports cliché “a must-win game" actually applied to this matchup at Allstate Arena. For Texas, a loss would end their season. Needing to regroup quickly after a 2–1 defeat the night before, the Stars had to dig deep to keep their season alive.

Playing on short rest and on the road, Texas found enough stamina late to force a deciding Game 5, defeating Chicago 5–4 in overtime to stave off elimination.

The Stars’ season looked all but over with 10 seconds remaining and trailing by a goal. But the game and potentially the season was saved when Kole Lind buried a shot past Cayden Primeau, forcing overtime.

In overtime, after a high-sticking call on Bradly Nadeau gave Texas a four-minute power play, Artem Shlaine found the game-winner, jamming home the puck from in front of the net. His third goal of the playoffs ensured the Stars would live to play another game.

Knowing that fatigue could be a factor, Texas Stars head coach Toby Petersen wanted to see the come out in desperation mode. 

"We're going  put guys in the lineup, and they've got to play like whoever's in, they got to be ready." Petersen told Stars play-by-play announcer John Peterson pregame. "It's that time. I mean, it's desperation time. We there's no reason for us to not come out and give absolutely everything we got and hopefully have our best game of the year." 

Just over seven minutes into a fast-moving first period, Curtis McKenzie fed Antonio Stranges from behind the net, and Stranges buried the shot past Primeau to give the Stars a 1–0 lead.

A little over a minute later, Chicago capitalized on a Matthew Seminoff tripping penalty, scoring just nine seconds into the power play. Bradly Nadeau fired a shot from the left circle to equalize for the home side.

The back-and-forth continued as Cameron Hughes found himself alone, skating in from the right circle and ripping a top-shelf shot over Primeau to put the visitors back on top, 2–1.

Again, the lead didn’t last long. The Stars were pinned in their own zone, leading to an Evan Vierling goal from the bottom of the left circle. He beat Remi Poirier high glove side to tie the game at 2–2 just three minutes later. The goal capped a scoring frenzy, with both teams combining for four goals in just over six minutes.

Fatigue can show up in many ways. In hockey, it often manifests in the form of penalties. This game showed signs of that from both squads, as tired legs became more evident as the period wore on. The middle frame  featured five power-play opportunities, but neither side was able to convert and take the lead.

The game appeared headed to the third period deadlocked, but a fluke play gave Chicago the lead with just under 30 seconds remaining. Luke Krys lost an edge behind his own net, resulting in a turnover. The home side quickly capitalized, as Ivan Ryabkin beat Poirier from just outside the crease to put Chicago up 3-2.

Momentum can often shift when goals are scored just before the end of a period or at the very beginning of one. This game saw both, as just over two minutes into the final period, Chicago took advantage of a two-on-one and jumped ahead 4–2 on a Noah Philp goal.

Needing a spark to keep their season alive, Vladislav Kolyachonok found the puck in traffic in front of the net and put it past Primeau for his first career playoff goal, pulling the Stars back within one.

With only minutes remaining in the game and potentially the season Toby Petersen pulled Poirier for an extra skater. The move paid off when, with just 10 seconds left, Dylan Hryckowian sent a pass to Lind near the top of the left circle. The veteran didn’t miss, beating Primeau to tie the game and force overtime.

The eventual game-winner by Shlaine capped a performance that saw the Stars claw back from a two-goal third-period deficit. It showcased the determination and desperation head coach Toby Petersen was looking for.

Next up: Game 5 of the Calder Cup Playoffs on Tuesday May 5th at 7pm at Allstate Arena.

Today's lines


Hughes-Shlaine-Seminoff
Lind-Becker-Hryckowian
Stranges-Scott-McKenzie
Hanas-Rickwood-Fitzgerald

Kolyachonok-Krys
Minnetian-Taylor
Looft-Karow

Poirier

Injuries, scratches, and notes
Hyry (Injured)
Bergsland, Bertucci, Chisholm, J. Poirier, Ertel, Martino, McDonald, Anderson (scratch)
Wheatcroft, Tuomaala (injured, out for season)

Tonight's attendance was 3,830.

AHL Gamesheet - Texas v Chicago 5/3/26