Goaltending Duel Ends in Stars Defeat
Feb 10, 2019|
Dahill Office Technology Corporation Three Stars: Shots: Goaltenders: |
WINNIPEG, Manitoba – The Texas Stars, American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL’s Dallas Stars, were blanked by the Manitoba Moose and goaltender Mikhail Berdin with 34 saves and a 2-0 decision. Stars netminder Philippe Desrosiers made 31 saves on 32 shots in the game as the pair of netminders held the game scoreless into the third period.
The Stars and Moose traded chances throughout the contest, both ringing the post in the first period. Forward Joel L’Esperance had the best chance of the game for Texas, sending a shot off the cross bar during an early Stars power play. The effort was as close as the Stars would come with the rookie Moose netminder standing tall for 60 minutes of hockey. Manitoba was held away from Desrosiers for much of the game but the netminder held the Moose at bay even through a pair of power plays and an early third period surge.
For the first time this season, Texas entered the third period in a scoreless situation. The first goal came after Marko Dano beat out an icing call and forced Desrosiers to wrap the puck around the boards. The Moose forward sent a backhand pass across the slot to a wide open Logan Shaw who used a backhanded move to open the scoring 4:50 into the third period. It was the only shot to beat a goaltender in the game.
Texas fought feverishly to tie the score in the final 15 minutes of play but came up short. The Stars eventually required an extra attacker in the final two minutes of play. Moose winger Seth Griffith quickly notched the extra tally on the empty net after a Stars timeout. Berdin countered with a few late saves against the Stars including a last second sprawling stop on Michael Mersch in the crease to earn the win.
The Stars continue their road trip with a Tuesday night matchup against the Rockford IceHogs at 7:00 p.m. from the BMO Harris Bank Center.
Photo Credit: Manitoba Moose