Heat Top Stars in Overtime, 4-3

Apr 4, 2018

Boxscore Photos Video Three Stars: 1. Smith (STK) 2. Dickinson (TEX) 3. McMurtry (STK) Shots: Stars - 20 Heat - 29 Goaltenders: W - Rittich L - Bow

CEDAR PARK, Texas - Jason Dickinson scored a pair of goals for the Texas Stars, but Colin Smith's two goals on the night had the greater impact as the Stockton Heat took a 4-3 overtime win on Wednesday night at H-E-B Center to stay alive in the chase for the final playoff spot in the Pacific Division.

Smith opened the scoring and then finished the night with the winner 14 seconds into overtime for his ninth of the season. One of Dickinson's two goals was a shorthanded tally in his first game since late February for Texas (35-24-8-4). Despite the loss Texas (.577) remains ahead of the Heat (32-25-2-4, .555) in a race for the final playoff spot.

Texas hosts the Rockford IceHogs in a weekend set beginning Friday at 7:30 p.m. CST.

Twice the Stars took a lead in the game only to see the Heat respond moments later with a power-play goal to pull the game to even. After Denis Gurianov's goal late in the second tied the score at 1-1, Dickinson struck shorthanded from the left circle with 2:13 remaining in the frame to move Texas in front. Just over a minute later, former Star Mike McMurty scored to even the game again.

Midway through the third, Dickinson added his second of the night from the right circle to make it 3-2, Texas, but less than two minutes later Hunter Shinkaruk struck again for the visitors to tie the game at 3-3 and force overtime.

Stockton's Colin Smith deflected home his seventh of the season just over a minute into the game to open the scoring with the first period's only goal.

Landon Bow suffered the loss with 25 saves. David Rittich earned the win stopping 17 of 20.

Stockton was 2-for-5 on the power play while Texas went 0-for-4.

Photo Credit: Andy Nietupski/Texas Stars