Stars Roll Over Rampage in 8-1 Rout
Nov 10, 2018
CEDAR PARK, Texas – The Texas Stars, American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL’s Dallas Stars, returned home to the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park with an exclamation point tonight and topped the San Antonio Rampage 8-1 in their first meeting of the season. Erik Condra led the way notching a hat-trick and tallying an extra assist.
The Stars flew out of the gate, notching four first period goals against the Rampage. Gavin Bayreuther returned to the lineup after missing seven games and made an impact immediately. A long shot from the defenseman was deflected into the net less than a minute into the contest as Condra tallied his first of a career high four points in the game.
Colton Hargrove helped the Stars extend the lead five minutes later, notching his third goal of the season. Joel L’Esperance cut toward the net and had his try blocked but his winger was right there to swat the puck into the net. The Stars then relied on their power play to score a pair of goals less than two minutes apart. L’Esperance was rewarded with his team leading sixth goal of the season on the man advantage at 14:14 of the period and Bayreuther added his second of the year on the next advantage for a 4-0 Stars lead.
The lead chased Rampage goaltender Ville Husso from the net with nine saves. Jordan Binnington had trouble with the Stars offense as well, making 11 saves on 15 shots in relief.
The Rampage came out in the second period and scored two and a half minutes into the frame. However, Justin Dowling quickly countered with his third of the season. Defenseman John Nyberg fired a hard pass to the front of the net for Dowling to redirect it into the yawning goal.
Stars netminder Landon Bow was spectacular in the game making 30 saves on the Rampage to notch his fourth win of the season. The third-year goaltender made a pair of saves on a shorthanded breakaway along and helped the Stars hold San Antonio off the board on four power plays.
Condra added a pair of goals in the third period including a laced slap shot from the right circle that rang off the left post and in at 3:46 of the final period. Colin Markison’s wrap around goal in the final six minutes of the contest put an exclamation point on one of Texas’ biggest wins in franchise history.
Texas and San Antonio will meet again tomorrow and 13 more times in the 2018-19 season. The Stars travel to the AT&T Center for a 3 p.m. rematch with the Rampage.
Box Score
3 Stars presented by Dahill Office Technology Corporation
- Erik Condra (TEX)
- Justin Dowling (TEX)
- Landon Bow (TEX)