Stars Fall in Overtime to Ontario, 3-2
Feb 26, 2016Boxscore
Photos
Postgame Video
Shots:
Stars - 51
Reign - 23
Lagace Stops 48 Shots in Net for Texas
CEDAR PARK, Texas -- Jason Dickinson forced overtime in the final seconds of regulation, but Vincent LoVerde’s overtime-winner gave the Ontario Reign a 3-2 win on Friday night at Cedar Park Center in front of 4,142 fans in a matchup of the Pacific Division’s top two teams.
Maxime Lagace stopped 48 shots in net for the Stars (32-19-4-3), one from tying the franchise record. Dickinson forced overtime with 4.7 seconds remaining in regulation to extend his point streak to four games. The Reign (31-14-3-1) picked up their fifth win of the season against Texas in as many chances.
The Stars and Reign close out their season series Saturday night at Cedar Park Center at 7 p.m. CST.
After both teams traded goals in the opening five minutes of the contest, everything remained quiet until the final minute of play. Knotted at 1-1, former Star Sean Backman located a loose puck in front of the net to beat Lagace and give Ontario a 2-1 lead with 33 seconds left in regulation.
With a power play in the final seconds, Texas opted for the extra attacker and Brett Ritchie fed Dickinson in the slot to snap home his 18th goal of the season to force overtime. LoVerde’s game-winner came on a slap shot from the top of the slot midway through the extra period.
Peter Budaj earned his AHL-leading 29th win in net after stopping 21 of 23 shots. Lagace suffered just his second loss in his last 14 games (11-2-0) for Texas.
Derek Hulak opened up the scoring at 1:11 of the first from a Brendan Ranford centering feed to score his 12th of the season. LoVerde responded at 4:47 for the Reign when his shot from the right-wing boards deflected off a Texas skate and in the net.
The Stars finished 1-for-6 on the power play and stayed hot on the penalty kill stopping all five Ontario chances. Over the last eight games the Stars have killed off 36 of their last 37 penalties.
Friday’s game was only the Stars’ third loss in their last 14 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. Vincent LoVerde (ONT) 2. Jason Dickinson (TEX) 3. Maxime Lagace (TEX) |
Goaltenders: W - Budaj L - Lagace |
Photo Credit: Christina Shapiro/Texas Stars