Reign Even Series with Game 2 Win
Apr 20, 2018|
Three Stars: Shots: Goaltenders: |
CEDAR PARK, Texas - Missed opportunities for the Texas Stars provided the Ontario Reign the fuel they needed to even up the Pacific Division Semifinals at 1-1 after a 5-1 final on Friday at H-E-B Center at Center Park in front of 5,620 in attendance.
Philippe Maillet paced the Reign (1-1) offense with a pair of goals and Cal Petersen stopped 28 of 29 shots in net for the first postseason win of his career. Brian Flynn scored the Stars' lone goal and Texas (1-1) went scoreless on their first five power play chances in the loss.
The best-of-five series shifts to California tied at 1-1 for Sunday's Game 3 at 5 p.m. CST.
The scoring began late in the first when Philippe Maillet stuffed in a power-play goal for his first of the playoffs with 3:27 to play in the frame. Matt Luff followed things up in the final minute of the period for a 2-0 Reign lead.
Things got worse for Texas in period two as the Reign extended their lead and the power-play woes continued. The Stars misfired on two man-advantage chances in the middle frame, which set the table for TJ Hensick's first of the postseason with three minutes remaining on a shot through the left circle and a 3-0 score.
With 6:33 remaining in regulation, Flynn struck on a touch-passing setup down the offensive zone by Travis Morin and Curtis McKenzie for his second goal of the playoffs to give Texas life. However, Maillet scored less than a minute later for the Reign to make it 4-1 and Oscar Fatenberg added an empty-net goal to cap off the night.
Mike McKenna suffered the loss in net for the Stars with 27 saves.
Ontario was 1-for-2 on the power play. With Flynn's goal, Texas finished 1-for-6.
Photo Credit: Andy Nietupski/Texas Stars