Stars Win Streak Ends in 4-1 Loss to Ontario
Feb 19, 2016Boxscore
Shots:
Stars - 22
Reign - 35
Lagace Stops 31 Shots for Texas
ONTARIO, Cali. -- Despite a superb goaltending performance from Maxime Lagace in net, the Texas Stars offense was held to just a goal in a 4-1 road loss to the Ontario Reign on Friday in a matchup of the top two teams in the AHL’s Pacific Division as 9,491 fans watched at Citizens Business Bank Arena.
Lagace stopped 31 of 34 shots in net, including a series of acrobatic saves through the first two periods when Texas was outshot 24-11, and saw his personal 11-game win streak come to an end in net. Jason Dickinson scored the lone goal for the Stars (31-19-3-3). The loss ended Texas’ six-game win streak.
Knotted up entering the third, the Reign scored two quick goals to open up a 3-1 lead and never look back. Vincent LoVerde drilled a shot from the top of the slot at 3:46 and Jonny Brodzinski stuffed in a rebound goal at 5:13 to give the AHL’s top goaltender in Peter Budaj enough offense to seal his league-leading 28th win of the year.
Down 3-1, Texas pulled Lagace on a power play with three minutes to play, but Andrew Crescenzi scored an empty-net goal for Ontario (30-13-3-1).
After a scoreless first period, Jordan Samuels-Thomas opened up the scoring for Ontario with a backhand shot from the slot at 7:46 to beat Lagace. Dickinson responded for Texas on the power play just over a minute later when Curtis McKenzie’s centering feed set up the rookie forward for his 16th of the season and his 12th point over the last eight games.
Brett Ritchie was stopped by Budaj on a penalty shot late in the second period. The veteran netminder finished 21 of 22 in net for Ontario.
Texas went 1-for-5 on the power play, while their penalty kill was perfect on five Ontario chances. Texas has now killed off 27 of their last 28 penalties over the past seven games.
The Texas Stars are the primary development affiliate of the NHL’s Dallas Stars and currently in their seventh season at Cedar Park Center. Full season, 24-game and 12-game ticket packages for the 2015-16 campaign are on sale now. For more information, call (512) GO-STARS (467-8277) or visit TexasStars.com.
| Three Stars: 1. Andrew Crescenzi (ONT) 2. Peter Budaj (ONT) 3. Vincent LoVerde (ONT) |
Goaltenders: W - Budaj L - Lagace |
Photo Credit: Ontario Reign