Stars Take Over Final Playoff Spot with 3-1 Win at Iowa
Feb 13, 2015DES MOINES, Iowa -- Jussi Rynnas stopped 35 shots in net and Greg Rallo scored twice to extend his goal-scoring streak as the Texas Stars topped the Iowa Wild for a 3-1 win on Friday night at Wells Fargo Arena in front of 6,680 in attendance.
Justin Dowling added the other goal for the Stars. Rallo has scored in four straight games, and Gemel Smith also tallied a two-point night with assists on both goals by the veteran forward. With the win, the Stars passed Hamilton and Adirondack to take over the eighth and final playoff spot in the AHL's Western Conference, plus pulled themselves within one point of seventh-place Grand Rapids.
The Stars (22-16-10-1) and Wild (17-32-1-1) hook up again Saturday at 7 p.m. to close out their weekend set.
Appearing in his 100th career AHL game, Rynnas was in reach of his fourth shutout of the season but Olivier Archambault batted in a bouncing puck at the right side of the crease with 54 seconds remaining in regulation to end the bid. The Stars netminder earned his 15th win of the year to open the team's season-long, six-game road trip. Texas is 6-1-1-1 in their last nine games.
Rallo put Texas in front two minutes into the contest on a wrist shot from the right circle to beat Iowa goaltender John Curry, who took the loss in a 22-save effort. Dowling then struck at 9:16 for his 12th of the year, deflecting Julius Honka's point shot to make it a 2-0 lead for Texas, and the rest of the night belonged to Rynnas.
Rallo scored again at 12:52 of the second, beating Curry from the slot, but the Texas goaltender turned aside 29 of his 35 saves in the game during the final forty minutes of play. Cameron Gaunce on Rallo's second, and Matej Stransky on Dowling's lone goal, each recorded assists as well.
Texas was scoreless in their lone power play chance in the game, and held the Wild off the scoresheet in their three man-advantage attempts.
Photo Credit: Iowa Wild
| Three Stars: 1. Greg Rallo (TEX) 2. Jussi Rynnas (TEX) 3. Olivier Archambault (IA) |
Shots: Stars - 22 Wild - 36 |
Goaltenders: W - Rynnas L - Curry |