Goaltending, Penalty Kill Lead Stars to Shutout Win over Barons, 2-0
Jan 16, 2015OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -- A strong second period for the Texas Stars was the difference on Friday night in a 2-0 shutout win over the Oklahoma City Barons at Cox Convention Center.
Travis Morin tallied the game-winner, and Maxime Fortunus also scored for Texas. Jussi Rynnas turned aside 39 shots in net for his 10th win of the season, while the Stars' special teams unit killed off three seperate penalties in the middle frame to set the tone for the road win. Scott Glennie appeared in his 200th career game as a pro and tallied an assist. It was the second shutout of the season for the Stars and Rynnas, who blanked the Utica Comets, 1-0, back on Oct. 18.
The Stars (16-13-9-0) and Barons (26-9-2-2) close out their two-game set Saturday at 7 p.m.
Afer a scoreless first period, the Stars took control on both sides of the puck in period two. Through the first 10 minutes of the frame, Texas killed off three power play opportunities for the Barons' third-ranked unit in the league. The Stars then went to work offensively as Morin opened up the game's scoring with a wrist shot from the left circle at 10:27 for his team-leading 14th of the season. Glennie tallied the assist on the goal from blocking a shot in the Stars zone and feeding Morin through neutral ice to set up the rush. Maxime Fortunus extended the lead just over six minutes later with a wrist shot from the point to make the score 2-0, Texas.
The Barons ratcheted up the effort in the third, outshooting Texas 14-10, and pulled goaltender Laurent Brossoit for the extra attacker in the game's final minute. Rynnas and the Stars weathered the storm to earn the shutout win. Brossoit finished 25-of-27 in the loss.
Overall, the Stars held the Barons scoreless on five power play chances, and finished 0-for-2 after scoring four power play goals over the past two games. Texas has now given up just five power play goals over their past 21 games, and have handed Oklahoma City three of their five regulation home losses this season.
WIlliam Wrenn and Taylor Peters had the assists on the Fortunus goal for the Stars.
Photo Credit: Steven Christy
| Three Stars: 1. Jussi Rynnas (TEX) 2. Scott Glennie (TEX) 3. Travis Morin (TEX) |
Shots: Stars - 27 Barons - 39 |
Goaltenders: W - Rynnas L - Brossoit |