Stars Fall To Barons 7-4
Feb 2, 2014
Mike Hedden scored his 100th career pro goal, his 50th in the AHL, but the Texas Stars came up short against the Oklahoma City Barons 7-4 Sunday afternoon in front of 3,916 fans at Cedar Park Center.
The Barons struck first on a power play when Anton Lander found Ryan Hamilton backdoor for a tap-in goal to give Oklahoma City the 1-0 lead. Ryan Button answered for the Stars, picking up a rebound to the right of Baron’s goalie Richard Bachman and sliding a backhand through traffic and under the fallen Bachman to knot things up at one. Oklahoma City responded just 25 seconds later with Austin Fyten launching a low angle shot from the goal line that squeaked past Texas goalie Cristopher Nilstorp, putting the Barons back ahead 2-1.
The Stars tied the game again early in the second when Mike Hedden redirected a Derek Meech blast into the back of the net to make it 2-2. Hedden’s goal was the 50th of his AHL career and the 100th of his professional career. Oklahoma City took the lead back a mere 58 seconds later, as Matthew Ford put a wrist shot from the right faceoff circle past Nilstorp. Brett Ritchie netted an equalizer for the Stars, ripping a wrist shot that beat Bachman glove side at 3:34. The back and forth play continued with Roman Horak blasted in a one-timer off the post and in to put the Barons ahead 4-3. Oklahoma City added another goal on a Will Acton wrist shot that found its way in and then tripled their lead when defenseman Brad Hunt beat Nilstorp with a quick wrister from the right circle, giving the Barons a 6-3 advantage.
Texas cut into the deficit at 4:23 into the third period when rookie Curtis McKenzie took a pass from the corner via Colton Sceviour and buried the puck to make it 6-4 for his 16th goal of the year. Oklahoma City then countered with another goal of its own, on a Mark Arcobello wrist shot to put the final at 7-4.
Oklahoma City goalie Richard Bachman had 41 saves on 45 shots and earned his 10th win of the season. Cristopher Nilstorp stopped 25-of-32 shots faced and took the loss in goal for Texas. The Stars outshot the Barons 45-32 and went 0-for-4 on the power play. Oklahoma City was 2-for-3 with the man-advantage.
The Stars will finish their current seven-game home stand by taking on the Oklahoma City Barons on Tuesday, February 4th for a 7:30 p.m. face off at Cedar Park Center. Tuesday’s game is another HEB 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.