Stars Avenge Shootout Loss, Thrash Heat 7-2
Feb 9, 2014
ABBOTSFORD, B.C. – The Texas Stars matched a franchise record by scoring six goals in the second period as they rolled over the Abbotsford Heat 7-2 Sunday afternoon at Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre.
The game was not even a minute old when Texas got on the scoreboard. Dustin Jeffrey was promoted to the left wing of the first line today and the move instantly paid off when his centering feed found Colton Sceviour at the far side of the net just 53 seconds after the opening faceoff. It was Sceviour’s AHL-leading 28th goal of the season, assisted by Jeffrey and Travis Morin. The Heat leveled the score at 11:19 when Max Reinhart pounced on a loose puck in the crease that eluded goaltender Cristopher Nilstorp and poked it into the net just after an Abbotsford power play had expired.
The Heat grabbed the upper hand early in the second period, when defenseman Shane O’Brien knocked home a rebound for a shorthanded goal at 2:14. From that point on it was all Stars as Texas scored the next six goals to tie a franchise record for goals in one period. Brett Ritchie started the onslaught when he tied the game at two with a power play goal at 3:30, unleashing a scorching wrist shot from the left circle into the top shelf, beating goalie Olivier Roy. Ritchie’s goal, assisted by Justin Dowling and Derek Meech, ended a 0-for-14 power play drought for the Stars. Five minutes later Scott Glennie gave the Stars the lead when he finished off a beautiful cross-crease pass from Chris Mueller for a back-side open net tap-in and a shorthanded goal at 8:00. Glennie scored again at 10:53, this time going coast-to-coast and finding the net when his pass, intended for a teammate at the far post, redirected off Abbotsford defenseman Derek Smith and got past a helpless Roy.
After Glennie’s second goal, the Heat pulled Roy and replaced him with backup Joni Ortio. Texas had a rude welcome for the new goaltender as Jyrki Jokipakka blasted a shot into the top left corner of the net on the first shot Ortio faced to make it 5-2 Stars at 11:20. The power play then tacked on two more goals in the span of 22 seconds to put the game on ice. Mike Hedden turned in a pass from Dowling at 13:33 and then Sceviour added his second of the game from Mueller and Curtis McKenzie at 13:55.
Cristopher Nilstorp put in another strong performance for Texas, stopping 33-of-35 shots to record his 16th win of the season. Olivier Roy took the loss in goal for Abbotsford, allowing four goals on 24 shots in the first 30:53 of action. Joni Ortio gave up three goals on 17 shots in the final 29:07 of relief and had a no-decision. The Stars out-shot the Heat 41-35 and went 3-for-6 on the power play; Abbotsford was 0-for-5 on the man-advantage.
Texas will now pause for the AHL All-Star Break before getting back to action on Saturday, February 15th at 6:00 p.m. CT against the Hamilton Bulldogs at FirstOntario Centre. The Stars will return to Cedar Park Center on Friday, February 21st as they host the Charlotte Checkers at 7:30 p.m. The February 21st home game kicks off Pink in the Rink Weekend presented by Cedar Park Regional Medical Center and is a $3 Beer and $4 Robert Mondavi Private Selection Wine Night. Pro-rated full and partial 2013-14 Texas Stars Season Tickets are on sale now. For more information on Texas Stars season tickets call (512) GO-STARS (467-8277) or visit www.TexasStarsHockey.com.
Photo: Clint Trahan/Abbotsford Heat