Stars Split Two-Game Set in Iowa After 2-1 Loss
Feb 19, 2018|
Three Stars: Shots: Goaltenders: |
DES MOINES - Two power plays late in the third opened up an opportunity for the Texas Stars to force overtime, but the Iowa Wild held on for a 2-1 win on Monday night at Wells Fargo Arena as the two teams split their two-game set.
Despite the loss, Texas (27-19-5-2) took two of three games in their three-in-three stretch. Justin Kloos buried a power-play goal 6:21 into the third to push the Wild (26-16-7-3) in front for good. Michael Paliotta tallied his first goal of the season and his first as a Star.
The Stars return home for a weekend set against the Milwaukee Admirals beginning Friday at 7:30 p.m. CST.
Kloos capitalized on a two-man advantage for the Wild after Travis Morin and Greg Rallo both ended up in the penalty box early in the third. Cal O'Reilly set up the rookie forward for a one-time blast at the top of the right circle to make it 2-1, Wild.
Niklas Svedberg shut the door the rest of the way as the Stars could not convert on two power-play chances late in regulation to try and force overtime. Svedberg finished 26 of 27 in net for the Wild to earn his 16th win of the season. Landon Bow of the Stars was 25 of 27 in the loss.
Paliotta's first of the season gave the Stars a 1-0 lead with six minutes remaining in the first off Travis Morin's pass from the left-wing boards.
Pat Cannone tied things up for the Wild at 5:52 of the second. After being denied on a point-blank chance seconds before, the veteran foward finished off a second-chance play from Ryan White's centering feed from behind the net.
Texas finished 0-for-2 on the power play while the Wild went 1-for-4.
Photo Credit: Iowa Wild