Stars Earn a Point in 4-3 Overtime Loss to Utica
Dec 4, 2014CEDAR PARK, Texas – A pair of third period goals for the Utica Comets forced overtime, and Cal O’Reilly banged home the game-winner to hand the Texas Stars a 4-3 overtime loss on Wednesday night at Cedar Park Center.
O’Reilly’s winner came on the doorstep at 2:37 of overtime off Dustin Jeffrey’s centering feed during a Comets (15-5-3-0) power play. Justin Dowling tallied a three-point night with a goal and two assists for the Stars (7-6-7-0).
The Stars hit the road for a pair of games this weekend beginning Friday against the Adirondack Flames at 6 p.m. CST.
Ritchie wedged the puck between the legs of Utica goaltender Joacim Eriksson at the 4:28 mark of the first period to open the scoring in the contest. It was Ritchie’s first appearance after missing the last seven games and his fourth goal of the season.
The Stars made it a 2-0 lead when Dowling caught a rebound off of a Maxime Fortunus one-timer and lifted it stick-side at 9:31. Alex Friesen was credited with Utica’s first goal of the night on an awkward bounce that slipped past Stars goaltender Jack Campbell to cut the Stars’ lead to 2-1.
Texas took a 3-1 advantage with Travis Morin’s 10th of the season from the right circle midway through the second on a power play.
The Comets picked up third period goals from Will Acton at 3:09 and Bobby Sanguinetti at 4:54 to knot the game and force the extra frame.
Eriksson earned the win, stopping 38-of-41, for the Comets. Campbell took the loss for Texas with 26 saves.
Fortunus extended his point streak to three games with an assist.
Texas went 1-for-5 on the power play while Utica finished 2-for-5.
Three Stars:
1. Cal O’Reilly (UTI)
2. Justin Dowling (TEX)
3. Brett Ritchie (TEX)
The Texas Stars entered the 2014-15 season as the AHL’s defending Calder Cup Champions. Single-game tickets and season ticket packages for the 2014-15 campaign are on sale now. For more information, call (512) GO-STARS (467-8277) or visit TexasStarsHockey.com.
Photo Credit: Christina Shapiro/Texas Stars