Stars Overpowered by Tucson in 5-2 Loss

Feb 9, 2018

Boxscore Photos Video Three Stars: 1. Dauphin (TUC) 2. Morin (TEX) 3. Gaudet (TUC) Shots: Stars - 18 Roadrunners - 27 Goaltenders: W - Bow L - Miska

CEDAR PARK, Texas - In a matchup of the top two teams in the AHL's Pacific Division, Laurent Dauphin's two power-play goals in the second period proved to be the difference as the Tucson Roadrunners topped the Texas Stars, 5-2, on Friday night at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park to maintain their hold on the top spot.

Dauphin struck 43 seconds apart on his two goals to turn a one-goal game into a 4-1 Tucson lead. The Stars tied a franchise record with just 18 shots on goal in the loss. Greg Rallo and Travis Morin each scored for the Stars.

The Stars (25-18-4-2) and Roadrunners (26-14-2-1) close out their weekend set at 7 p.m. on Saturday.

Rallo began the night's scoring just over a minute into the game when he tipped Justin Dowling's centering pass through the leg pads of Hunter Miska for his second of the year. Dyson Mayo answered back at 6:51 on a blast from the blue line that beat Texas starter, Landon Bow, and Tyler Guadet jabbed home a loose puck with a second remaining in the first to push the Rodrunners in front.

Consecutive minor penalties by the Stars midway through the second set up Dauphin's chance to open up the game. the Tucson forward struck from the top of the right circle to beat Bow for his eighth and ninth goals of the season.

Travis Morin stopped the bleeding for the Stars less than three minutes into the third with a one-time shot from the right circle for his seventh of the season, but Lane Pederson added an empty-net goal for the visitors to seal the win.

Miska finished with 16 saves in the win. Bow stopped 18 of 22 shots before getting pulled late in the second for backup Mike McKenna, who came on to stop the four shots he faced.

Texas finished 0-for-4 on the power play. Tucson was 2-for-4.

Photo Credit: Andy Nietupski/Texas Stars