Sellout Crowd Sees Stars Comeback on Aeros, Win 4-3 in a SO
Jan 21, 2012Texas to Play in San Antonio at 7:00 P.M. this Friday
Cedar Park, TX - The Texas Stars (20-18-1-2, 43 points) defeated the Houston Aeros (21-9-3-8, 53 points) 4-3 in a shootout in front of a sellout crowd of 6,863 fans at Cedar Park Center on Saturday night. Texas rallied in the third period to erase a one-goal deficit and the team scored on three of five shootout attempts to defeat its in-state rival. Stars right wing Colton Sceviour scored the game-tying goal at 9:58 of the third period and added a shootout goal as the team moved two games above .500 for the first time all season. Texas forwards Stephen Schultz and Mike Hedden scored within 1:20 of each other in the second period, dismissing a two-goal deficit. Stars’ center Travis Morin notched two assists on the night, as the team won for the seventh time in the last nine home games. Texas goalie Andrew Raycroft (6-2-1) stopped 22 of 25 shots and three of five shootout attempts to preserve the club’s first shootout win of the season. Aeros’ center Mike Radja scored twice on the night and forward Jeff Taffe provided two assists for Houston. Aeros’ goalie Darcy Kuemper (5-3-4) stopped 45 of 48 shots and added an assist as Houston lost its eighth shootout of the year. The Stars face off against San Antonio on Friday, January 27th at 7:00 p.m. at AT&T Center.
The Aeros struck early at 5:45 of the first period as center Mike Radja snuck in a rebound. Defenseman Marco Scandella and center Casey Wellman each put up an assist on Radja’s first goal of the year, giving Houston a 1-0 lead.
Houston jumped out to a 2-0 lead at 6:46 of the second period as center Mike Radja slipped the puck past Raycroft. Radja’s second goal of the night was set up by forwards Jeff Taffe and Chris Clackson. Texas got on the board late in the second frame at16:07 as forward Stephen Schultz lifted the puck past Kuemper on the power play. Defenseman Dan Spang and center Travis Morin each registered an assist on Schultz’s seventh goal of the year as the team cut the deficit in half at 2-1. The Stars tied the game 2-2 with a breakaway goal from left wing Mike Hedden. Morin assisted on the shorthanded goal with 2:33 left in the period. The Aeros responded with 32-seconds later with a power-play goal to take a 3-2 lead. Forward Justin Fontaine tapped in his tenth goal of the season to put the Aeros on top. Taffe and goalie Darcy Kuemper each had an assist on the club’s third goal of the night.
The Stars tied the game 3-3 midway through the final period on the power play. Right wing Colton Sceviour found the back of the net at 9:58, notching his eighth goal of the year. Defensemen Maxime Fortunus and Jordie Benn assisted on the game-tying goal, forcing overtime.
After a scoreless overtime, the teams skated to a shootout. Texas forwards Ryan Garbutt, Colton Sceviour and Mike Hedden capitalized on their attempts to give the squad its first three shootout goals of the year. Goalie Andrew Raycroft stopped three of the five Houston attempts to give the Stars their first shootout win of the year.
Texas will travel to San Antonio on Friday, January 27th at 7:00 p.m. and to Oklahoma City on Saturday, January 28th at 7:00 p.m. before the All-Star break. Texas will wrap up a three-game road swing in Houston on Thursday, February 2nd, prior to returning home. The Stars will host Charlotte at 7:00 p.m. at Cedar Park Center on Saturday, February 4th. The first 2,500 fans will receive a Texas Stars Player Magnet, compliments of Time Warner Cable. The State Farm Family Four Pack will be available for the Saturday game, with four tickets, four hot dogs and four sodas starting as low as $48.
Individual tickets for all games are on sale now. Tickets are available online at www.TexasStarsHockey.com or by calling 512.GO.STARS (467.8277).
2011-12 season seat packages are on sale now. For more information on Texas Stars season tickets call (512) GO-STARS (467-8277) or visit www.TexasStarsHockey.com. Anyone interested in purchasing season tickets, suites, group tickets or mini-plans may call the Texas Stars front office.
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