Griffins Fly Past Stars, 5-1

Nov 11, 2017

Boxscore Photos Video Three Stars: 1. M. Puempel (GR) 2. J. Coreau (GR) 3. T. Morin (TEX)  Shots: Stars - 32 Griffins - 37 Goaltenders: W - J. Coreau L - M. McKenna

CEDAR PARK, Texas - Travis Morin scored his third goal of the season for the Texas Stars, but the Grand Rapids Griffins scored the final five goals to win 5-1 at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park with 6,468 fans in attendance Saturday night.

The Stars (7-7-0-1) had quality chances despite being outshot 37 to 32, but Jared Coreau kept the rest of the Stars off the board with 31 saves in the win.

"You look at the score and it doesn't look that great, but I thought we played pretty hard," Morin said. "I know we had a couple of good opportunities in front and they just didn't go. That's the way it goes sometimes."

Texas faces the San Antonio Rampage at home Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. CST before heading on a seven-game road trip.

Morin broke open the scoring at 11:03 of the first period with a goal from the front of the crease for his team-leading 17th point. Grand Rapids (7-7-0-1) responded at 13:53 as Matt Puempel sniped the puck into the upper right corner of the net. The Griffins took the lead less than two minutes later with Axel Holmstrom burying a glove-side wrist shot.

Puempel deflected in his second goal of the game at 9:21 of the second period, putting Grand Rapids up 3-1. Dillon Heatherington and Dan Renouf tangled in a fight, and tempers continued to flare after a cross-check by the Griffins’ Tyler Bertuzzi. A short-handed score with 22 seconds left by Matthew Ford made it 4-1.

The third period started with Landon Bow taking over for McKenna, who allowed four goals on 28 shots and took the loss. Eric Tangredi tapped a rebound past Bow’s left pad at 12:26 to put the Griffins up 5-1.

"We generated enough shots tonight, but just didn't capitalize on our chances," head coach Derek Laxdal said. "We have to be a little bit more poised with our play with and without the puck."

Texas finished 0-for-4 on the power play and Grand Rapids 0-for-3.