Stars Net Four Unanswered Goals, Top Wolves 4-2
Mar 2, 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 Chicago Wolves for the seventh time this season, and battled back from an early deficit to earn two critical points in the Central Division standings. Points from eight different players inthe game led the Stars to four unanswered goals and taking five of a possible six points during a three-game home stand.
Early in period one, the Wolves net what would eventually be their only two goals of the contest. Tye McGinn and Matthew Weis slipped goals past Landon Bow just two minutes apart to give Chicago a 2-0 lead before the nine-minute mark. Each tally came off a deflection as McGinn tipped a shot in and Weis redirected a pass from behind the net off of Dillon Heatherington’s skate. Stars Head Coach, Derek Laxdal immediately called a timeout which turned the tide of the contest.
Texas pushed the pace in the second half of the period, firing eight shots at Wolves goaltender Oscar Dansk. With only 37 seconds before the intermission, Michael Mersch got the Stars on the board with a power play goal. Justin Dowling made an initial pass to Erik Condra below the goal line who slid the puck to Mersch in the slot. The veteran forward then fired the puck at Dansk from his knees and tucked it into the right corner of the net.
The Stars came into the middle frame looking to tie things up, and Condra came through for his team. Curtis McKenzie took a boarding call just five minutes into the period, sending the Stars to their second power play of the evening. Ten seconds later, Dowling won a faceoff to give his team possession of the puck. Ben Gleason got ahold of it and took a shot from the blue line that eventually found Condra at the side of the net. After Dansk made several saves, the puck was lifted up and over the left pad of Dansk to tie things up at two. Texas’ power play ended the night, scoring on 2-of-3 chances and held the Wolves on all three of their opportunities.
With the score tied midway through the game, Nicholas Caamano forced a turnover at center ice and carried the puck into the zone alongside two Wolves defenders. Caamano went right to left around Dansk, creating a wide-open net to score the eventual game-winning goal and give the Stars a 3-2 lead, their first of the night. Caamano has notched seven goals this year and has become the game-winning goal scorer on three of those tallies.
The Stars took momentum into the third period, looking to secure the win against the division-leading Wolves. Five minutes into the frame, first year forward Robbie Payne net a crucial insurance goal for his team to extend the lead. Payne received a pass from Adam Mascherin and ripped a shot into the top corner of Chicago’s net, scoring the final goal of a 4-2 Texas win.
Bow appeared in his 100th game in a Texas Stars jersey and secured the win by making 18 stops on Chicago. The third-year netminder held down the fort for Texas, staying perfect in the second and third periods to take his 20th win of the season. Bow is now 16-3-1 at the H-E-B Center this year.
Photo Credit: Mollie Kendall