San Diego Power Play Haunts Stars in 4-3 Loss

Jan 3, 2018

Boxscore Photos Video Three Stars: 1. Tropp (SD) 2. Markison (TEX) 3. Kerdiles (SD) Shots: Stars - 25 Gulls - 31 Goaltenders: W - Berra L - McKenna

CEDAR PARK, Texas - The top power play unit in the American Hockey League scored three times in the second period as the San Diego Gulls overpowered the Texas Stars in a 4-3 final on Wednesday night at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.

Corey Tropp scored all three power-play goals for the Gulls (16-13-1-0) in the second to turn a one-goal Texas lead into a 4-2 advantage. Curtis McKenzie scored his team-leading 15th of the season less than a minute into the third to pulled Texas within one, but that's as close as the Stars would get.

Texas (18-13-3-1) hosts the Bakersfield Condors Friday at 7:30 p.m. CST.

All three of Tropp's goals came at the front of the net at 7:39, 8:15 and 11:11 of the second for the natural hat trick. 

Austin Fyten had opened the scoring for Texas 7:50 into the first with his first of the season after Colin Markison forced a turnover in the corner on the forecheck and Samuel Laberge center the puck in front. Nic Kerdiles tapped home a loose puck off a Texas turnover just over two minutes later to even the score, but the Stars caught a friendly bounce late in the period to regain the lead. Gavin Bayreuther's slap shot from the point initially missed the net but bounced back in front and off San Diego goaltender Reto Berra for the rookie's second of the year.

Texas pulled the goaltender in the final two minutes and tried to equalize the game with a 6-on-4, two-man advantage but Berra and the Gulls defense held on.

Texas finished 0-for-4 on the power play. San Diego finished 3-for-4.

Photo Credit: Andy Nietupski/Texas Stars