Stars Blank Roadrunners in Game 4 to Lead Series, 3-1
May 9, 2018|
Three Stars: Shots: Goaltenders: |
CEDAR PARK, Texas - Curtis McKenzie and Andrew Bodnarchuk provided the offense in the second and Mike McKenna shut the door in the third as the Texas Stars shut out the Tucson Roadrunners on Wednesday, 2-0, in front of 5,192 in attendance at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.
Brian Flynn assisted on both Texas goals to now lead the Calder Cup Playoffs with 10 points, and McKenna turned in a 27-save performance for his second shutout of the postseason as the Stars (6-2) pushed the top-ranked Roadrunners (4-4) to the brink of elimination.
Game 5 will be Friday at 7 p.m. CST at H-E-B Center as Texas leads the best-of-seven series, 3-1.
The scoring began in period two on the power play for Texas as Justin Dowling set up McKenzie in the slot for his second of the playoffs with 7:52 remaining. Bodnarchuk then added a rebound goal for his first of the playoffs to make it a 2-0 score three minutes later.
After giving up a pair of third period goals in Game 4, Texas kept the pressure on in the third to hold off a late push from the visitors. Tucson opted for the extra-attacker and a two-man advantage on a late power play chance, but McKenna and the Stars weathered the storm to pull within one win of a trip to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2014.
Tucson's Adin Hill suffered the loss, stopping 26 of 28 shots in net. It was the first time all playoffs that Texas outshot their opponent in a game, and the Stars have scored five second-period goals over last two games of the series -- both wins.
Texas was 1-for-3 on the power play. Tucson was 0-for-2.
Photo Credit: Andy Nietupski/Texas Stars