Texas Takes Game 1 in Overtime, 4-3
Apr 19, 2018|
Three Stars: Shots: Goaltenders: |
CEDAR PARK, Texas - If Game 1 is any indication of how the Pacific Division Semifinals between the Texas Stars and Ontario Reign is going to go, buckle up. Brian Flynn was the hero in overtime as his first goal of the postseason gave the Stars a 4-3 win and a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series.
The veteran forward stuffed home a loose puck on the doorstep 1:55 into the overtime. Roope Hintz set up the play with one of his two assists on the night and Mike McKenna stopped 38 of 41 shots in net to give Texas (1-0) a Game 1 win.
Game 2 is Friday at 7 p.m. at H-E-B Center.
Both teams traded the lead back and forth all game and it looked like Texas was gonna pull out the win in regulation, but Ontario's Matt Moulson knotted the score at 3-3 with just over a minute to play in the third on an extra-attacker goal.
The scoring began 3:17 into the night when Sheldon Dries scored his first career playoff goal on Colin Markison's centering pass from behind the net.
The Reign turned things around in period two, outshooting Texas 13-9 and scorign twice to take a 2-1 lead. Matt Roy tipped a shot from the point for his first of the playoffs with nine minutes remaining and Jonny Brodzinski struck three minutes later after a Texas turnover in the corner of their own zone.
8:34 into the third, Hintz carried the puck into the left circle of the Reign zone before crossing to Denis Gurianov for his first career playoff goal and a 2-2 score. With just over six minutes to play in the third, Curtis McKenzie rolled a puck in front from behind the net which Travis Morin stabbed home for a 3-2 Texas lead.
Cal Peterson suffered the loss in net for the Reign with 26 saves.
The Reign finished 0-for-3 on the power play. Texas did not have a man-advantage chance.
Brodzinski finished with a goal and an assist for the Reign. Brent Regner's assist on Gurianov's goal extended his point streak to five games dating back to the regular season.
Photo Credit: Andy Nietupski/Texas Stars