McKenzie and Stars Power Play Blow Out Gulls, 6-2
Nov 7, 2017|
Three Stars: Shots: Goaltenders: |
CEDAR PARK, Texas - The Texas Stars had been waiting for their power play to start producing and it finally happened on Wednesday with a 6-2 win over the San Diego Gulls at Valley View Casino Center.
The Stars struck three times on the man-advantage, two courtesy of Curtis McKenzie. The Texas forward finished with a hat trick and a career-high five points in the road win. Travis Morin finished with four assists in the game for the Stars (6-6-0-1). Brian Flynn also tallied a goal and two assists for Texas.
Texas returns home this weekend against Grand Rapids beginning Friday at 7 p.m. CST.
Overshadowed by McKenzie's performance, Landon Bow stopped 13 of 15 shots in net to earn his first win of the season. McKenzie's five points tied a franchise record and the Stars won their third game over the Gulls in four meetings this season.
Colin Markison opened up the scoring for the Stars with his second of the season at 2:58 of the first on a 2-on-1 rush. Flynn added a power-play goal seven minutes later from the slot for his fourth of the season, and his third goal in the last four games.
Texas went back to work in period two with a pair of goals from McKenzie. Justin Dowling set up McKenzie in the slot for his first of the night at 11:21 on the power play. McKenzie also tipped home Roope Hintz's shot less than two minutes later for his fifth of the season and a 4-0 Texas lead.
Andy Welinski scored on the power play late in the second to put the Gulls on the board.
Ninety-four seconds into the third, Max French drove down the slot and redirected McKenzie's centering pass past San Diego's Kevin Boyle for the first goal of his pro career. Giovanni Fiore added another power play goal for the Gulls four minutes later to make it a 5-2 game.
Midway through the third, McKenzie deflected Morin's point shot on the power play for his hat trick goal and his sixth of the season overall.
Boyle finished 29 of 35 in net for San Diego in the loss.
Texas finished 3-for-6 on the power play. San Diego went 2-for-5.