Stars Burned by Heat, 6-2

Jan 26, 2018

Boxscore Photos Video Three Stars: 1. Pollock (STK) 2. Foo (STK) 3. Laberge (TEX) Shots: Stars - 22 Heat - 30 Goaltenders: W - Gillies  L - Bow

CEDAR PARK, Texas - It was a tie game entering the third period, but a four-goal outburst by the Stockton Heat put the finish touch on a 6-2 win over the Texas Stars on Friday night in front of a sellout crowd at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.

The loss snapped the Stars' three-game win streak and four-game point streak. Stockton's Brett Pollock tallied the first three goals of his career for a hat trick on the night. Jon Gillies earned the win with 20 saves on 22 shots. Landon Bow suffered the loss, stopping 24 of 29 for Texas.

The Stars (23-16-4-2) and Heat (20-14-2-3) face off again on Saturday before the AHL's All-Star Break.

With the game tied, Pollock stabbed home a rebound goal less than two minutes into the third to push the Heat in front 3-2. At 8:21, Texas coughed up the puck in the neutral zone to send Spencer Foo on a shorthanded breakaway for the rookie forward's second goal of the night, and Pollock struck again from the right cirle on the power play with five minutes remaining for his hat trick tally to make the score 5-2.

Colby Robak added an empty-net goal late in the game.

It didn't take long for Texas to get the scoring started as Samuel Laberge snapped home his fourth of the season from the slot just 2:32 into the game. Foo responded for the Heat with 2:23 remaining in the opening frame, but Brian Flynn tapped home Justin Dowling's centering pass seconds later to make it 2-1, Texas entering the break.

Texas finished 0-for-2 on the power play. Stockton was 0-for-5.

Photo Credit: Andy Nietupski/Texas Stars