Stars Smack Around Moose in 6-4 Win

Mar 17, 2018

Boxscore Photos Video Three Stars: 1. Markison (TEX) 2. Dries (TEX) 3. Kelleher (TEX) Shots: Stars - 26 Moose - 30 Goaltenders: W - McKenna L - Phinney

CEDAR PARK, Texas - Three days after falling to the top team in the Western Conference, a pair of rookies broke out to lead the Texas Stars to a 6-4 win over the Manitoba Moose on St. Patrick's Day in a rematch to close out the season series in front of 5,510 fans at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.

Sheldon Dries and Tyler Kelleher both tallied a goal and two assists for the Stars (33-22-7-3), who took three of four games against the Moose (38-18-4-4) this season with the win. Colin Markison also recorded three assists and Texas scored a pair of power-play goals for the second straight game as Texas maintained their hold on the fourth and final playoff spot in the Pacific Division.

Texas closes out their four-game homestand on Friday against the San Antonio Rampage at 7:30 p.m. CST.

Leading entering the second, the Stars jumped out to a 3-0 lead thanks to some secondary scoring as Kelleher set up Roope Hintz in the slot for a power-play goal at 1:41. SHeldon Dries followed it up four minutes later by poking in a loose puck in the goal crease for his 16th of the season.

Manitoba stopped the bleeding on a man-advatnage goal by Michael Spacek at 6:34, but Andrew O'Brien buried his second as a Star from the left point with just under eight minutes left in the second.

Moments later, Charles-David Beaudoin scored the Moose to cut into the Texas lead.

Denis Gurianov scored a rebound chance 3:59 into the third to push the Texas lead to 5-2. Curtis McKenzie added a power-play goal midway through before Manitoba struck twice late to cap off the scoring.

Mike McKenna earned the win with 26 saves in his return from the NHL.

For the second straight game, Tyler Kelleher scored just over a minute into the contest to give Texas a 1-0 lead, which the Stars carried into the break.

Photo Credit: Derek Sparta/Texas Stars