Stars Continue Offensive Roll with Fourth Win in Five Games
Dec 5, 2018|
Dahill Office Technology Corporation Three Stars: Shots: Goaltenders: |
CEDAR PARK, Texas – The Texas Stars, American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL’s Dallas Stars, pushed for a 5-1 win over the Milwaukee Admirals at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park tonight. The Stars fourth win in the last five games was back-stopped by goaltender Landon Bow who finished the game with 29 saves and his eighth victory of the year.
Two offensive juggernauts for Texas helped propel the Stars to victory as Denis Gurianov scored the opening goal and added a pair of assists while Joel L’Esperance recorded the first multi-goal night of his career.
Gurianov put the Stars on the board in the second half of the first period, netting his ninth goal of the season. The winger broke through the Milwaukee defense at the defensive blue line and bolted up the right wing. His speed stunned the Admirals, bringing him 1-on-1 with goaltender Tom McCollum. The third-year Russian skater made a quick move to tuck the puck between the legs of the Milwaukee goaltender to put the Stars ahead.
Through the first intermission, the Stars continued to push and give Bow some goal support. L’Esperance and the Stars capitalized on the team’s first power play of the game five minutes into the second period. The rookie continued his successful season as Erik Condra and Travis Morin helped lead a pass to their line mate in front of the net. Condra’s assist extended his point streak to nine straight games, scoring 15 points (6-9=15) in the streak.
Texas played the next nine minutes without a tally but Colin Markison changed that at 14:28 of the second period. The speedy winger tore up the left wing on a 2-on-1 before scoring his second goal of the season. Drawing the defenseman away from him on the left side, Markison laced a shot over the shoulder of McCollum on the short side to extend the Stars lead to 3-0.
Again in transition, L’Esperance would add a second goal to his stat line two minutes later. Adam Mascherin tapped the puck to Gurianov who led the AHL’s leading rookie scorer on a breakaway. His 12th of the season gave Texas a commanding 4-0 lead at the second intermission.
Mascherin again found the scoresheet in the third period as the Admirals luck faltered. The rookie was led on the right side of the net for a one-timer but was stopped by McCollum’s left pad. The rebound however bounced toward Joonas Lyytinen who accidentally knocked the puck into his own net. Mascherin was credited with the goal and his 10th tally of the year to push Texas’ lead to 5-0.
Bow made some stellar saves in the game and finished off with a game-high 11 stops in the third period. The only goal that beat the Texas goaltender came on a breakaway from Garret Ross after the winger broke out of the penalty box with 12 minutes left in the game. Bow also helped the Stars hold Milwaukee off the board on three power plays while Texas ended the night 1-for-4 on the man advantage.
The Texas Stars will face the Milwaukee Admirals again on Friday, Dec. 7 at 7:00 p.m.
Photo Credit: Andy Nietupski