Stars Clipped by Marlies in Overtime, 4-3
Jan 10, 2015CEDAR PARK, Texas -- In a back-and-forth battle on Saturday night, Stuart Percy tallied the overtime-winner to lift the Toronto Marlies to a 4-3 road win over the Texas Stars in front of 5,602 in attendance at Cedar Park Center.
Brendan Ranford led all skaters with a pair of goals and an assist for the Stars (15-12-9-0). Derek Hulak tallied a pair of assists to extend his point streak to six games, the longest by a Texas player this season, and Jack Campbell took the loss stopping 27-of-31 shots in his second consecutive start. Percy ended the game 3:16 into the extra frame on a breakaway rush, beating the Stars goaltender for his first goal of the season.
The Marlies' Matt Frattin forced the overtime period with just over two minutes remaining in regulation on a wrist shot the left circle for his 10th of the year. Toronto (15-15-6-0) needed the late heroics after Jyriki Jokipakka buried his third of the season from the point at 5:51 of the third to give Texas their second power play goal of the game and their only lead of the hockey game at 3-2. The Stars finished with two power play goals in the game to snap an 0-for-11 drought over their last four games.
Texas will close out their homestand on Wednesday when they host the Rochester Americans at 7:30 p.m.
Petter Granberg opened up the game's scoring at 15:19 of the first from the left circle to give the Marlies a 1-0 lead, but the Stars responded in period two as Ranford snapped his first of the game and eighth of the season from the right circle for a power play goal to knot the score at 1-1.
The offense picked up in the third with Brendan Mikkelson putting Toronto back in front at 2:22, but Ranford returned fire for Texas 24 seconds later off a rebound goal at the front of the net prior to Jokipakka's and Frattin's markers. Maxime Fortunus registered an assist with the shot that forced the rebound for Ranford.
Christopher Gibson took the win with 21 saves. The Stars finished 2-for-6 on the power play, while holding Toronto scoreless on five chances. Campbell and the Texas penalty kill also thwarted a pair of two-man advantage opportunities for the Marlies in the game.
The Stars' Travis Morin is currently on 499 points in his pro career.
Photo Credit: Christina Shapiro/Texas Stars
| Three Stars: 1. Brendan Ranford (TEX) 2. Stuart Percy (TOR) 3. Derek Hulak (TEX) |
Shots: Stars - 24 Marlies - 31 |
Goaltenders: W - Gibson L - Campbell |