Stars Offense Shines in 5-4 Win to Sweep Chicago
Jan 24, 2015CEDAR PARK, Texas -- For the second straight night it went down to the wire, but a pair of second period goals just seconds apart was the difference as the Texas Stars swept their weekend set over the Chicago Wolves in a 5-4 final on Saturday night in front of a crowd of 6,309 at Cedar Park Center.
Brendan Ranford and Jesse Root provided the quick-strike offense to turn a 3-2 Texas deficit into a 4-3 lead, scoring just 11 seconds apart in the final minutes of period two. Ranford finished with a goal and an assist on the night. Justin Dowling also registered a multi-point game for the Stars (18-15-9-0) with a pair of assists, and Jussi Rynnas earned his 12th win of the season stopping 31 shots in net. Texas also scored twice on three power play chances, giving them nine man-advantage goals over their last eight games.
Curtis McKenzie padded the Stars lead less than two minutes into the third on the doorstep off Ranford's no-look, backhand feed, but Petteri Lindbohm pulled the Wolves (21-17-4-1) within one midway through the final period to set up a frantic finish to the game as Chicago pulled the goaltender and pushed the pace offensively after stifling multiple empty-net chances for Texas.
After opening their five-game homestand with a pair of wins, Texas continues things on Thursday against rival San Antonio at 7:30 p.m.
Texas jumped on the board early with Cameron Gaunce scoring on a wrist shot from the point at 1:55 of the opening frame. Julius Honka then made it a 2-0 lead on a cross-ice feed from Travis Morin to hammer home a power play goal from the top of the left circle at 12:31. Chicago responded with three unanswered goals beginning less than two minutes later on an odd-man rush with Philip McRae scoring from Ty Rattie.
The Wolves knotted the game early in the second on a strike from Pat Cannone, and McRae notched his second of the night on Chicago's only power play of the game at 11:04. The Texas offense came alive again late in the period with the quick goals from Ranford at 15:16 for his 11th of the season and Root at 15:27 for his fourth.
McKenzie's fifth of the year was at 1:53 of the third and Jamie Oleksiak also tallied an assist on the goal along with Ranford.
Jordan Binnington took the loss for Chicago stopping 30-of-35 shots in net.
It was the first time this season the Stars swept a weekend set against an opponent after splitting their previous six. 11 different players registered points for Texas on the scoresheet.
Photo Credit: Christina Shapiro
| Three Stars: 1. Brendan Ranford (TEX) 2. Jyrki Jokipakka (TEX) 3. Philip McRae (CHI) |
Shots: Stars - 28 Wolves - 24 |
Goaltenders: W - Rynnas L - Binnington |