Stars Pick Up a Point on the Road in 3-2 Overtime Loss
Nov 14, 2014GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Teemu Pulkkinen struck the back of the net with less than a second remaining in sudden death overtime as the Texas Stars fell to the Grand Rapids Griffins in a 3-2 final on Friday night at Van Andel Arena in front of 8,183 in attendance.
Stars goaltender Jack Campbell had gone toe-to-toe with Petr Mrazek of Grand Rapids in overtime on a series of game-saving plays in the extra frame before Pulkkinen ended things with his sixth of the season. Both teams combined for eight shots in overtime.
The Stars (6-3-3-0) and Griffins (5-6-1-0) face off again on Saturday at 6 p.m. CST in Grand Rapids.
It took late third period heroics as well for Grand Rapids to force overtime when Mitch Callahan tied the game with 1:14 left in regulation and the extra attacker on the ice off a wrist shot from the left circle.
Travis Morin opened up the game’s scoring at 3:28 of the first with the Stars first shorthanded goal of the season, and the forward’s 19th overall point to keep him atop the AHL scoring leaders.
Grand Rapids tied it in the second with a power play goal by Andy Miele at 2:30. Brendan Ranford put the Stars ahead again less than four minutes later with a power play goal of his own.
Campbell finished 36-of-39 in net despite the loss. Mrazek stopped 26 in the win.
Both teams finished 1-for-5 on the power play.
Morin extended his point streak to a team-high, five games with his first period goal. Ranford stayed hot for the Stars with his sixth point in the last four games. Scott Glennie picked up an assist on Ranford’s goal to give him six points in his last four games also.
Three Stars:
1. Teemu Pulkkinen (GR)
2. Petr Mrazek (GR)
3. Andy Miele (GR)
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: Robert Wilcox/White Spot Images