Stars Double-Up Rampage in 4-2 Win
Apr 13, 2018|
Three Stars: Shots: Goaltenders: |
SAN ANTONIO - Denis Gurianov tallied two goals to pace the offense as the Texas Stars skated away with a 4-2 win over the rival San Antonio Rampage on Friday night in front of 9,235 fans at AT&T Center.
Two third period goals in less than two minutes was the difference as Colin Markison's shorthanded tally held up as the game-winner. Mike McKenna stopped 33 of 35 shots in net for his 17th win of the season, and rookie Robbie Payne recorded his first career point with an assist on Gurianov's second of the game.
Before beginning their playoff run, Texas (38-24-8-5) will close out the regular season against San Antonio (34-31-10-0) Saturday at 7 p.m. at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.
Leading 2-1 entering the third, Joel L'Espernace set up Markinson on a 2-on-1 rush for the forward's seventh goal of the season to give the Stars a two-goal cushion at 5:18. Felix Girard responded for Rampage less than a minute later on a slap shot in the right circle, but Gurianov struck again at 6:49 on another 2-on-1 rush with Payne's crossing feed to make it 4-2.
San Antonio's Adam Werner suffered the loss with 22 saves in net.
The scoring began on AJ Greer's power-play goal with eight minutes to play in the first to give the Rampage a 1-0 lead.
The Stars swung the game in their favor in the second with a pair of quick goals to take a 2-1 lead. Andrew O'Brien snapped home his third of the season from the left circle after stickhandling through a Rampage defender for a power-play goal with 6:14 to play. Two minutes later, Denis Gurianov banged home a rebound goal in the slot for his 18th of the season.
McKenna picked up an assist on O'Brien's tally and Michael Paliotta's point shot set up Gurianov's strike.
Texas finished 1-for-3 on the power play. San Antonio went 1-for-6.
Photo Credit: Darren Abate/San Antonio Rampage