In the American Hockey League, every goal matters, and tonight was no different as the Texas Stars and Manitoba Moose game came down to a shootout. Texas entered the matchup having lost both prior games this season to the Moose, and tonight brought more of the same in a 3-2 loss.
“In the end, (it) came down to a shootout and we were on the wrong side of it,” head coach Toby Petersen said. “But I’m proud of the way the guys battled back.”
Penalties and strong goaltending performances defined the night, with nine total penalties between the two teams. Texas goaltender Brandon Halverson recorded 31 saves, while Manitoba goaltender Domenic DiVincentiis had 38.
The first penalty of the game was a tripping call on Texas forward Ayrton Martino, resulting in a power-play goal by Moose forward Danny Zhilkin. Both teams traded places in the penalty box, with three more penalties called in the period.
“We took too many penalties,” Petersen said. “We don’t mind the aggressive penalties, but it’s the undisciplined ones, and there was a couple tonight that we didn’t love.”
The Moose had the upper hand on penalties, ranked No. 10 in power plays and No. 12 in penalty kills this season. On the flip side, the Stars were ranked No. 31 in power plays and No. 27 in penalty kills. Manitoba extended its lead with a top-shelf wrist shot by defenseman Isaak Phillips, leaving the Stars scoreless through the first period.
The Stars struggled to stay out of the penalty box in the second period, but that didn’t stop them from gaining momentum. Texas’ first goal of the game came at the seven-minute mark by forward Charlie Paquette, his first of the season. Despite the Stars taking two more trips to the penalty box, Halverson held off the Manitoba offense for the rest of the period.
Texas continued its momentum into the third period, with forward Ellis Rickwood scoring an early goal to tie the game. Late in the period, Manitoba forward Nikita Chibrikov was called for high-sticking, resulting in a four-minute double minor and giving the Stars a power play for nearly the remainder of regulation. Neither team scored again, forcing the game into overtime. It marked the first time this season that Texas did not allow a goal in the third period.
Both teams had opportunities to score in overtime, but ultimately neither could find the back of the net. Halverson made a key glove save to keep the game tied and send it to a shootout. Manitoba scored twice after missing its first goal, clinching the win after Texas was unable to score.
“This was definitely a game that we can use as a launch pad,” Petersen said. “You’ve got to take the baby steps, and that’s what we’re doing.”
The Stars will close out their double-header Wednesday against the Moose at 7 p.m. at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.
