Checkers Rally to Topple Stars 4-2
Mar 23, 2013Vause Scores Two Goals as Texas’ Six-Game Point Streak Ends
CEDAR PARK, TX – Taylor Vause scored two goals for Texas, but Riley Nash added two of his own for Charlotte and Rob Madore made 43 saves to give the Checkers a 4-2 victory over the Stars Saturday night at Cedar Park Center.
Texas took an early 1-0 lead at 4:17 on Taylor Vause’s third goal of the year. Vause used a savvy Francis Wathier screen to circle to the left faceoff dot and wired a wrister off the shoulder of Charlotte starter Rob Madore and into the net. Scott Glennie, playing in his 100th career AHL game, tallied his fifth assist of the season on the goal. Stars starter Jack Campbell returned from his first career call-up to Dallas and got a critical save from captain Maxime Fortunus. Midway through the frame a Checkers shot trickled through Campbell’s legs, but Fortunus was there to swipe the puck away just before it crossed the goal line. Texas outshot the visitors 17-7 in the opening session and both clubs were 0-for-1 on the power play.
Riley Nash put Charlotte on the board with an unassisted goal at 4:07 of the second period. Nash maneuvered around Tyler Sloan into the right faceoff circle and beat Campbell to the near post to even the score and spark the comeback. Brett Sutter then gave the Checkers a 2-1 edge at 12:50. Chris Terry found Sutter from behind the net with a wraparound pass through the crease and he squeezed a one-timer between Campbell’s left pad and the post. The Stars ripped another 17 shots on net to Charlotte’s 12 in the middle frame, but Madore was stout between the pipes and kept Texas in a 2-1 hole heading into the third.
The Checkers pulled away in the final frame with two more goals. Zach Boychuk snapped wrister from the slot through Campbell’s pads at 12:59 to give Charlotte a two-goal cushion. Then Riley Nash tallied his second of the contest during a two-on-one rush at 14:44 to extend the advantage to 4-1. Taylor Vause notched his second goal of the night, and fifth of the year, with 65 seconds left when he took the puck from a scrum in front and slipped it around Madore to close the gap to 4-2. The Stars’ last gasp empty net effort came up short, however, and the Checkers earned a 4-2 road victory.
Charlotte starter Rob Madore denied 43-of-45 Stars shots and picked up his first career AHL win in his first ever AHL start. Texas starter Jack Campbell stopped 23-of-27 Checkers shots and was pegged with the loss. The Stars out-shot the visitors 45-27 and were 0-for-3 on the power play; Charlotte was 0-for-2 with the man advantage.
The Stars head to Houston on Tuesday March 26th for a 7:05 p.m. faceoff against the Aeros at Toyota Center. Texas returns home on Saturday March 30th for a 7:00 p.m. showdown against the Grand Rapids Griffins at Cedar Park Center. Saturday’s game is another Family Four Pack Night and the Stars Magnet Photo Frame Giveaway Night. 2013-14 Season Tickets are now on sale. Put your deposit for 2013-14 season tickets and receive priority for both Texas Stars 2013 Calder Cup playoff tickets and 2013-14 season seat selection. For more information on Texas Stars season tickets call (512) GO-STARS (467-8277) or visit www.TexasStarsHockey.com.