Stars Rip Rochester 4-1, Set New Record
Jan 15, 2014Three different Stars tallied two points as the Texas Stars crushed the Rochester Americans 4-1 Wednesday night in front of 4,840 fans at Cedar Park Center. It was Texas’ 11th straight home game with a point (10-0-0-1), which set a new franchise record.
The AHL’s top-rated power play unit got Texas on the board first when Jyrki Jokipakka ripped a one-timer from the point that found its way past Americans goalie Nathan Lieuwen and put the Stars up 1-0. The rest of the period remained scoreless, despite Texas dominating in shots, 20-4.
Rochester answered in the second when Alex Hutchings carried the puck into the zone and fired a wrist shot off the cross bar and in, tying the game at one. Justin Dowling put the Stars back ahead shortly after when he stole the puck from Lieuwen, who was playing it behind his own net, and wrapped it around into the vacated goal. Texas extended their lead less than three minutes later when rookie Taylor Peters corralled the rebound off a William Wrenn shot and put it past a sprawling Lieuwen to make it 3-1. By the end of two periods the Stars led the Amerks in shots on goal 41-15.
The hosts added on to their lead in the third when Dowling sent Matej Stransky off on a breakaway and the rookie beat Lieuwen with a shot that hit the top of the goaltender’s catching glove and went into the back of the net to bring it to the final score of 4-1.
Cristopher Nilstorp turned in another solid performance in the Texas crease, stopping 26-of-27 shots faced to earn his 13th win on the season. Rochester goalie Nathan Lieuwen finished with 45 saves on 49 shots and was saddled with the loss. The Stars out-shot the Americans 49-27 and went 1-for-6 on the power play. Rochester was 0-for-1 with the man-advantage.
Note: Texas’ 49 shots tied the team’s 2013-14 season high, but fell two shots shy of the single game franchise record of 51 shots, set during a 3-2 victory over the San Antonio Rampage on April 16, 2013 at AT&T Center.
The Stars will begin a two-game road trip by taking on the Charlotte Checkers on Friday, January 17th for a 6:00 p.m. CT face off at Time Warner Cable Arena. Texas will return home to begin a seven-game homestand by facing the Iowa Wild on Wednesday, January 22nd for a 7:30 p.m. face off at Cedar Park Center. Next Wednesday’s game is a Winning Wednesday presented by H-E-B. Pro-rated full and partial 2013-14 Texas Stars Season Tickets are on sale now. For more information on Texas Stars season tickets call (512) GO-STARS (467-8277) or visit www.TexasStarsHockey.com.