Stars Fall to Rockford in Game 1, 4-2
Apr 24, 2015CEDAR PARK, Texas – Three third period goals for the Rockford IceHogs was the difference in a comeback win over the Texas Stars to take Game 1 by a 4-2 final on Friday night in front of 4,375 in attendance at Cedar Park Center.
Spencer Abbott scored a pair of power play goals for the IceHogs, including the game-tying marker. Texas picked up goals from Curtis McKenzie and Julius Honka. Jussi Rynnas stopped 33 shots in net for Texas, while Michael Leighton made 33 saves in the win for Rockford.
Game 2 is Saturday night at Cedar Park Center at 7 p.m.
Abbott opened up the game’s scoring with the only goal of the first, snapping a wrist from the slot at 6:23 for his first of the playoffs.
In period two, Curtis McKenzie knotted things up for the Stars at 16:37, finishing off a rebound goal in a scrum at the front of the net with assists from Greg Rallo and Honka.
Honka put Texas in front, 2-1, burying a slap shot from the top of the right circle at 4:24 of the third for his first of the postseason, but the IceHogs would score three straight to overtake the Stars in the win. Abbott added his second of the night from the bottom of the left circle during a two-man advantage at 8:31. Kirill Gotovets tallied the game-winner on a one-timer at 12:19 from a behind-the-net pass by Phillip Danault.
Ryan Hartman added an empty-net goal for the 4-2 final.
The Stars went 1-for-4 on the power play while the IceHogs finished 2-for-6. The win snapped an eight-game playoff losing streak for Rockford.
The Texas Stars entered the 2014-15 season as the AHL’s defending Calder Cup Champions. Single-game tickets for the remainder of the 2015 Calder Cup Playoffs are on sale now, and fans can now place season ticket package deposits for the 2015-16 campaign. For more information, call (512) GO-STARS (467-8277) or visit TexasStarsHockey.com.
| Three Stars: 1. Spencer Abbott (RFD) 2. Jussi Rynnas (TEX) 3. Julius Honka (TEX) |
Shots: Stars - 35 IceHogs - 37 |
Goaltenders; W - Leighton L - Rynnas |