Texas Stars Can't Find the Goals and Lose 2-1 in Game 3 to the Chicago Wolves, Pushing Their Season to the Brink

 

                                                             (Credit: Chicago Wolves)

 

 The Texas Stars knew exactly what they wanted when they drew the Chicago Wolves in their opening series of the Calder Cup Playoffs. Whether said implicitly or explicitly, it was clear that the Stars wanted Chicago after going 7-1-0-0 against them in the regular season.  

Sometimes, though, getting exactly what you want can work against you, and after a 2-1 loss to the Wolves Saturday night at Allstate Arena the Stars are now looking down the barrel of a Round 1 exit. 

The Wolves got goals from Noah Philp and Ryan Suzuki while Cayden Primeau made 28 saves off of 27 shots to backstop the Wolves to the one-goal victory. While Texas may have had their number in the regular season, Chicago was one of the better teams in the AHL in one-goal games, winning 18 times and only losing five in regulation. 

In the playoffs, singular traits like that can go a long way and the Wolves leaned on that ability in the clutch to earn back-to-back wins and push the Stars to the brink of elimination. 

Chicago opened the scoring at 5:08 of the first period when the Wolves won a board battle in their zone and got the puck quickly into the neutral zone to a streaking Philp who used the head start to get past a Stars defender and force a 2-on-1. With a clear shooting lane available, he picked a corner and fired true to make it 1-0. 

The Wolves were again able to take advantage of a mismatch when a mistimed pinch sprung Chicago on an odd-man rush. With the extra space to work with on the left wing, Bradley Nadeau was able to send a cross-ice pass to Ryan Suzuki for the perfect one-timer to make it 2-0 at 19:34 of the second period. 

While the Wolves had put the game in the spot they wanted, Texas had also become known for their ability to come-from-behind and for a moment early in the third period it looked like the comeback may have been on. 

At 1:38 of the first period, Texas had finally managed some extended offensive zone time. Jack Becker won a board battle and started a quick give-and-go with Dylan Hryckowian that led to Becker with the puck right in front of the Chicago net. With time and space to work with, Becker held the puck until Primeau blinked first and got down on the ice where Becker was able to slide the puck past his outstretched leg to make it 2-1. 

That spark would not start a fire, though, as the Wolves held out to secure one of their most gutsiest wins of the whole year. 

It could be to the Stars’ advantage that the puck will drop for Game 4 less than 24 hours later, as it may give them a chance to immediately wipe the slate clean and focus on winning just one game.

One way or another, though, the Stars will come back to Texas after Sunday afternoon. It will be up to them if it’s for the deciding Game 5 or team breakup day.  

Tonight's lines
Hughes-Shlaine-Seminoff 
Stranges-Becker-Lind 
Chisholm-Scott-Hryckowian 
Hanas-Rickwood-McKenzie 

Taylor-Krys 
Minnetian-Kolyachonok 
Looft-Karow 

Poirier

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

Tonight's attendance was 6,006.