Stars Blank Wolves 3-0 on Oettinger’s 32-Save Shutout
Dec 22, 2019
ROSEMONT, Illinois – The Texas Stars, American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL’s Dallas Stars, shutout the Chicago Wolves 3-0 in their final game of a three-in-three weekend. Jake Oettinger dazzled in a 32-save shutout to fuel the Stars victory and earn his fourth win in his last six starts.
Texas dominated the first period with nine shots, two of which found the back of the net on special teams. Michael Mersch converted on the power play seven minutes into the contest to open the scoring with his 10th goal of the year. Jason Robertson controlled the puck in the right circle and put it in front of the net. The shot then deflected off Mersch and behind Garret Sparks. It was one of five power plays the Stars had in the period and the team went 1-for-6 on the man advantage overall.
With one-minute remaining in the period, Nick Caamano net the Stars’ first shorthanded goal of the season. Rhett Gardner peeled the puck away from Brandon Pirri at the line and tossed it to Caamano. The forward hustled down the ice on a breakaway and beat Sparks five-hole to extend Texas’ lead to 2-0.
The Stars continued to light the lamp early in the second as Adam Mascherin and Brad McClure teamed up for the team’s third goal. Mascherin carried the puck behind the net and made a heads-up pass to McClure who was waiting on the doorstep. Through a pair of Wolves defenders, McClure tallied his fourth of the season.
Chicago battled with a game-high 12 shots in the final period, but Oettinger and the Stars held off the Wolves to seal the shutout victory. Oettinger worked until the final second of the game for 32 saves in his second career shutout, making several highlight-reel stops in the effort. On the other end of the ice, Sparks suffered his ninth consecutive loss after surrendering three goals on the Stars’ 19 shots. The Stars also killed off three penalties in addition to scoring a shorthanded goal.
The Stars break for the holiday and will return to action on Friday, Dec. 27 at AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas to begin a weekend series with the San Antonio Rampage at 7 p.m. The team then returns home on Saturday night to H-E-B Center at Cedar Park for their final home game of the 2019 calendar year at 7 p.m.
Written by Stevie Golding
Photo Credit: Chicago Wolves
| Game Info |
Shots |
Goaltenders |
3 Stars (Xerox Business Solutions Southwest) |
| Boxscore |
TEX: 19 |
W: Jake Oettinger (TEX) |
1: Jake Oettinger (TEX) |
| Photo |
CHI: 32 |
L: Garret Sparks (CHI) |
2: Michael Mersch (TEX) |
| Video |
|
|
3: Nick Caamano (TEX) |