Stars Fall Short in Shootout Loss to Griffins, 3-2

Mar 28, 2018

Boxscore Photos Three Stars: 1. Street (GR) 2. Bow (TEX) 3. Holmstrom (GR) Shots: Stars - 20 Griffins - 41 Goaltenders: W - McCollum L - Bow

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - It was a tightly played contest all night long, and it took a five-round shootout before a winner was decided, as the Grand Rapids Griffins survived a 3-2 win over the Texas Stars on Wednesday night at Van Andel Arena in front of 8,406 fans in attendance.

Axel Holmstrom tallied the shootout-winner in round five after the Stars (34-23-7-4) had two chances to clinch the win but were stopped by Tom McCollum of the Griffins (37-24-1-7). Landon Bow stopped 39 of 41 shots in net for Texas.

Tied at 1-1 entering the third, Ben Street pushed the Griffins in front just 35 seconds into the period on a one-time blast from the left circle, but five minutes later Samuel Laberge deflected Niklas Hansson's point shot past McCollum for his seventh of the season and a tie game entering overtime.

Tyler Kelleher and Roope Hintz each scored for Texas in the shootout. Filip Hronek and Luke Esposito also scored in the shootout for Grand Rapids.

With 2:33 remaining in the first period, Hintz opened up the scoring on a breakaway to give the Stars a 1-0 lead on his 19th of the season.

The Griffins struck with the only goal of the second period to even the game on a counter-attack goal from Hronek at 11:57 from the slot.

Both teams finished 0-for-2 on the power play in the game.

Photo Credit: Grand Rapids Griffins