Texas Steals Game 2 to Even Series Heading Home

May 4, 2018

Boxscore Photos Three Stars: 1. McKenna (TEX) 2. Hill (TUC) 3. McKenzie (TEX) Shots: Stars - 32 Roadrunners - 33 Goaltenders: W - McKenna L - Hill

TUCSON, Ariz. - The Texas Stars scored a pair of early goals and then withstood a third-period onslaught to steal Game 2 of their Pacific Division Series against the Tucson Roadrunners in a 4-1 final on Friday at Tucson Arena.

Curtis McKenzie and Sheldon Dries scored the first-period goals Texas needed, and Mike McKenna made the rest hold up stopping 32 of 33 shots in net, including 18 of 19 in the third period alone.

The series now shifts to H-E-B Center at Cedar Park for Game 3 on Monday at 7 p.m. CST with Stars (4-2) and Roadrunners (4-2) knotted up at 1-1.

The scoring began with two late goals from the Stars in period one to take a 2-0 lead into the locker room. Remi Elie's shot from the slot was tipped by Sheldon Dries for the rookie's second of the playoffs with four minutes to play. Curtis McKenzie then deflected home his first of the playoffs from Gavin Bayreuther's shot with 38 seconds remaining.

Despite no offense, the second period took a wild turn on both sides. The Roadrunners took four penalties in a five-minute span to hand Texas two extended back-to-back power plays, including two segments of 5-on-3 hockey. The Stars failed to add to their lead through the early power play stretch, and also squandered a fifth man-advantage chance in the second after a full altercation broke out during a stopped with 8:08 to play.

After all the craziness settled down, Tucson earned a late power-play chance of their own which was shut down by Texas, and the Stars maintained their two-goal lead into the third. The Roadrunners also saw a goal disallowed after it was tipped in with a high stick midway through the period.

The Roadrunners made their third period push, outshooting Texas 19-5 in the frame, and found the scoresheet eight minutes in on a wrist shot from Lane Pederson between the top of the circles. McKenna continued to push back the rest of Tucson's efforts long enough for Brian Flynn to add a pair of empty-net goal for Texas in the final 90 seconds of play.

Texas was 0-for-5 on the power play. Tucson finishe 0-for-2.

Photo Credit: Tucson Roadrunners