Stars Close 2015 with 6-1 Thrashing of San Diego
Dec 31, 2015
Boxscore
Photos
Postgame Video
Shots:
Stars - 44
Gulls - 27
Rallo Extends Point Streak to Seven Games for Texas
CEDAR PARK, Texas -- The Texas Stars offense opened up a 3-0 first period lead and never looked back in a 6-1 victory over the San Diego Gulls in front of 4,387 fans at Cedar Park Center on New Year’s Eve.
Gemel Smith scored twice for the Stars (17-13-2-2). John Muse earned his ninth win in net with a 26-save performance, and Greg Rallo extended his point streak to seven games with a second period assist.
The Stars hit the road to open up 2016 on Saturday against the Stockton Heat to start a three-game road trip at 6 p.m. CST.
The Stars ignited the New Year’s Eve party 3:58 into the game with Esa Lindell and Curtis McKenzie finding Brendan Ranford, who was racing in towards Gulls’ netminder Anton Khudobin and finished for his eighth goal of the year. After a Mattias Backman tripping minor, Jason Dickinson picked the puck away from Brandon Montour of the Gulls at the blue line and finished off a two-man breakaway with McKenzie at 5:45 of the first for his sixth of the season and the Stars’ second shorthanded goal in as many games. At the 14:25 mark, Derek Hulak located a loose puck at the right side of the crease to snap home his seventh of the year and push the Stars out to a commanding 3-0 lead entering the break.
The Texas offense continued to roll midway through the second as Remi Elie finished off a 3-on-2 rush off touch passing between Justin Dowling and Rallo. Following a face off from the right circle, Julius Honka teed off a point shot and Smith tipped home his first of the night at the 16:47 mark to make it 5-0 after two.
San Diego found the scoreboard off an Andrew O’Brien power play goal at 13:14 of the third. Smith added his second, with a minute to play in the game, on the power play for the Stars off a Cole Ully centering feed to seal the final score.
Khudobin played the first 40 minutes of the game stopping 25 of 30 and suffering the loss. Matt Hackett stopped 13 of 14 shots in the final period for the Gulls.
Texas finished 1-for-7 on the power play and scored a man-advantage goal for the fourth straight game. San Diego finished 1-for-4.
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. Jason Dickinson (TEX) 2. Curtis McKenzie (TEX) 3. Gemel Smith (TEX) |
Goaltenders: W - Muse L - Khudobin |
Photo Credit: Christina Shapiro/Texas Stars