Stars Fall to Ontario in a Wild, 7-6 Finish
Nov 21, 2015
Boxscore
Photos
Postgame Video
Shots:
Stars - 37
Reign - 32
Stars Collect 1,607 Teddy Bears on Teddy Bear Toss Night
CEDAR PARK, Texas -- The Texas Stars clawed their way back from a 6-3 deficit to knot the score, but a late third period goal by Jordan Samuels-Thomas was the difference as the Ontario Reign skated away with a 7-6 win at Cedar Park Center in front of 5,147.
Devin Shore finished with a four-point game for the Stars (9-7-0-1) to lead all skaters. Greg Rallo tallied a pair of goals, including the game-tying marker with 8:06 to play in the game. Michael Mersch added a pair of goals for Ontario (10-2-2-0) in the win.
The Stars kick off a four-game road trip Tuesday when they visit the Bakersfield Condors at 9 p.m. CST.
In a wild opening period, Ontario jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first four minutes of play off goals by Mersch and Kurtis MacDermid. The Stars returned fire with a goal from Rallo at 10:33 and a power play strike from Shore just over two minutes later, but the Reign responded again with two more goals to make it a 4-2 score after one.
Esa Lindell pulled Texas back within one 53 seconds into the second on a wrist shot from the point. Ontario added another pair of goals in the second from Samuels-Thomas and former Star Sean Backman to make it 6-3 with just under 15 minutes remaining in the middle period. From there Texas went to work on a resilient comeback effort.
Matej Stranksky scored his fourth of the season from Julius Honka and Shore on the power play at 9:50 of the second. In the third, Justin Dowling buried his fifth on the year 1:35 in to close the game to one, and Rallo added his second of the game midway through to tie the score.
Andrew Crescenzi set up the game-winning goal for Ontario with a backdoor pass through the goal crease to Samuels-Thomas, who finished with two goals in the game.
It was Teddy Bear Toss Night at Cedar Park Center and the Stars collected 1,607 stuffed animals which will be given to kids during the holiday season. Jack Campbell came on in relief of starter John Muse, who was pulled after the first two Ontario goals, and finished 24 of 29 in the loss. Ray Emery stopped 31 in his first win of the season.
Texas went 2-for-7on the power play. Ontario finished 2-for-4.
| Three Stars: 1. Jordan Samuels-Thomas (ONT) 2. Devin Shore (TEX) 3. Greg Rallo (TEX) |
Goaltenders: W - Emery L - Campbell |
Photo Credit: Christina Shapiro/Texas Stars