Stars Burned by Late Griffins Goals
Mar 23, 2019|
Dahill Office Technology Corporation Three Stars: Shots: Goaltenders: |
CEDAR PARK, Texas – The Texas Stars, American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL’s Dallas Stars, met the Grand Rapid’s Griffins for the final time this season as they fight for the final playoff spot in the tight Central Division race. The Stars dominant play through two periods was not enough to take the victory, as the Griffins completed a comeback for a 3-2 final decision.
The first period was dominated by Texas as they held Grand Rapids to only three shots on goal and fired 10 shots on Griffin’s netminder Harri Sateri. Texas had a several good looks in front including a pair of opportunities by Michael Mersch but Sateri held him off the board. The Stars earned a pair of power plays in the period, but failed to open the scoring against the Griffins.
The Stars came into the second period ready to open scoring, and Joel Hanley did just that. Adam Mascherin carried the puck into the zone alongside Hanley on a 2-on-1. The blueliner received a cross ice pass from Mascherin and blasted a shot from the right circle over the left hand of Sateri. Grand Rapids felt a sense of urgency following the Stars goal and after a chance from Ty Dellandrea broke down the ice to even the game. Dominic Turgeon found the back of the net on a deflection for Grand Rapids at 12:11 evening the score at one a piece.
Fireworks ensued at the end of the second period as a scrum broke out in the Stars defensive corner. Penalties were handed out during the intermission and the Stars would benefit from a power play at the start of the third period. Texas finished the night with four power play chances in a physical, playoff style matchup, but failed to score.
The Stars generated momentum off that power play and seconds after its conclusion, Nicholas Caamano found the back of the net to give his team a 2-1 lead. Dillon Heatherington took a shot from the left circle that rebounded off the pad of Sateri and onto Caamano’s stick. He lifted a shot over the goaltender’s glove for his 10th goal of the season.
The Stars were burned as Dellandrea was called for interference in the latter half of the period, and Carter Camper got the game-tying goal past Landon Bow. The Griffins converted on 1-of-2 chances on the man advantage in the game, with both opportunities coming in the final period.
About four minutes later, Dominik Shine tallied the deciding goal, and concluded scoring on the eventual 3-2 decision. Texas fought for the equalizer until the very last second with Bow on the bench, but Sateri stood strong through immense pressure to sneak out of the game with a win.
Bow stopped 20-of-23 shots he faced but would suffer the loss after a pair of late Griffins goals.
Photo Credit: Taylor Sammarco