Lagace's Shutout Performance Leads Stars to 3-0 Win
Jan 27, 2016
Boxscore
Photos
Postgame Video
Shots:
Stars - 36
Barracuda - 35
Texas Stars Played a Hockey Game Against a Team and Won
CEDAR PARK, Texas -- Maxime Lagace’s 35-save performance was the difference on Wednesday night as the rookie goaltender led the Texas Stars to a 3-0 shutout win over the San Jose Barracuda to take over second place in the AHL’s Pacific Division in front of 4,175 in attendance at Cedar Park Center.
It was the first career shutout for Lagace, who has given up just six goals over his last four games for Texas (24-16-3-3). Curtis McKenzie paced the Stars offense with a pair of goals and finished with a three-point night. The win was the third straight for Texas, and their 10th in the last 15 games.
Texas hits the road for a weekend set against the Lake Erie Monsters beginning Friday at 6 p.m. CST.
Texas struck 6:15 into the first period on a rush led by Brendan Ranford, who drove the right side of the goal crease and set up McKenzie for a one-time wrist-shot from the left circle to make it 1-0. Texas and San Jose (18-13-5-3) traded power play chances before the Stars capitalized on their second man-advantage of the period. McKenzie won the faceoff in the right circle, and Julius Honka fed a cross-ice pass to Brett Ritchie in the left circle for his 10th of the year off a sharp angle with just over a minute remaining in the period.
It was all the offense Lagace would need as the Stars carried their 2-0 lead through the middle frame and into period three. Just 12 seconds into a power play after the Barracuda were whistled for tripping, Esa Lindell generated a rebound chance off a wrist shot from the left circle and McKenzie stuffed in his second of the night at 8:15 for his ninth of the season and the 3-0 final score.
Lagace held off a late push from the Barracuda as the third was his busiest period of the night with 14 of his 35 saves coming in the final frame.
Texas finished 2-for-5 on the power play while San Jose was scoreless in five opportunities. Aaron Dell stopped 33 shots in the loss for San Jose.
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. Maxime Lagace (TEX) 2. Curtis McKenzie (TEX) 3. Aaron Dell (SJ) |
Goaltenders: W - Lagace L - Dell |
Photo Credit: Christina Shapiro/Texas Stars