Magic Number Drops in 3-2 Shootout Loss
Apr 6, 2018|
Three Stars: Shots: Goaltenders: |
CEDAR PARK, Texas - Gavin Bayreuther forced overtime with an extra-attacker goal with a minute play, but the Rockford IceHogs skated away with a 3-2 shootout win over the Texas Stars on Friday night in front of 4,938 fans in attendance at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.
Despite the loss, the Stars dropped their magic number another point to lock up the final playoff spot in the Pacific Division. Viktor Svedberg ultimately won the shootout for Rockford in round five as Texas played past regulation for the fifth time in their last six games, and their 26th overtime game this season.
The Stars (35-24-9-4) and IceHogs (39-25-4-4) close out their weekend set, and season series, Saturday at 7 p.m. CST.
Bayreuther's late heroics were need after Chris DiDomenico put the IceHogs in front on a power-play goal from the right circle 4:11 into the third. With Landon Bow on the bench, the Stars rookie blueliner drilled a loose puck into the traffic from the left faceoff circle that deflected past Rockford's Collin Delia for his seventh of the season and a 2-2 score.
After a scoreless overtime, Travis Morin of the Stars and Cody Franson of the IceHogs each scored in round three before Svedberg ended the night.
Bow finished with 24 saves in the loss while Delia was 22 of 24 in the win.
The scoring began with three minutes to play in the first when Brent Regner scored from the point for his ninth of the season for Texas. Jason Dickinson set up the Stars' veteran defenseman on a crossing feed for his third point in his first two games back from the NHL (2-1=3).
The IceHogs took advantage on their first power play of the game to even things up as Tyler Sikura tipped Adam Clandenning's point shot past Bow for his 20th of the season.
Texas finished 0-for-2 on the power play while Rockford was 2-for-2.
Photo Credit: Andy Nietupski/Texas Stars