Texas Tops Peoria 5-2
Jan 5, 2013
Sceviour and Fraser Form Deadly Combo As Stars Take Two Points From Rivermen
CEDAR PARK, TX – Colton Sceviour notched a shorthanded goal and a between-the-legs assist and Matt Fraser tallied two goals to lead the Texas Stars to a 5-2 victory over the Peoria Rivermen Saturday night at Cedar Park Center.
Texas got the ball rolling early thanks to defenseman Jamie Oleksiak. The Stars’ rookie set up shop on the right point and blasted a slap shot past the glove of Peoria goaltender Jake Allen, off the right post and into the mesh at 4:40 for a 1-0 lead. Texas found themselves on a five-on-three penalty kill with nearly three minutes remaining in the period, but flipped the script on the Rivermen. After killing the five-on-three, Colton Sceviour gobbled up a Peoria turnover near center ice and out-skated the defense down the left wing. Sceviour then abused Allen’s glove upstairs once again, beating him to the back of the net with a wrister at 18:16 to tally a shorthanded goal and put the Stars in front 2-0. Texas attempted 12 shots in the opening period and did not register a power play opportunity, while the Rivermen fired 11 shots and went 0-for-3 with the man advantage.
The Stars started off slowly in the middle frame, but used the energy from their first power play of the night to extend the lead. Seconds after the man advantage expired, captain Maxime Fortunus collected his own rebound in between the hash marks and deposited the puck into the net at 7:30 to increase the margin to 3-0. Texas cashed in on their second power play of the period when Sceviour and Matt Fraser connected on one of the prettiest goals of the season thus far. Sceviour gathered the puck along the goal line just to the left of the net and whipped a sensational no-look, between-the-legs, backhand pass through the crease and right onto the stick of Fraser to bury a one-timer at the back door at 18:40. Toby Petersen also assisted on Fraser’s goal as the Stars took a 4-0 lead. Texas kept the visitors off the scoreboard through forty minutes thanks to some inspired play by starting netminder Jack Campbell.
The Rivermen spoiled Campbell’s shutout bid early in the final period. Adam Cracknell took a T.J. Hensick centering pass on a rush and finished glove-side at 3:43 to close the gap to 4-1. Peoria made things interesting almost five minutes later when they made Texas pay with a shorthanded goal of their own as Brent Regner beat Campbell to cut the lead to 4-2. Peoria pulled Allen with 2:31 left to play for the extra attacker, but Campbell held strong and Matt Fraser potted an empty net goal, his second of the night, to wrap up a 5-2 victory.
Texas goaltender Jack Campbell stopped 36-of-38 shots to earn his fifth win of the year, while Peoria starter Jake Allen denied 30-of-34 shots in the loss. The Rivermen finished the contest on top of the shot column 38-35 and went 0-for-3 on the power play; the Stars finished 1-for-4 on the man advantage. The victory brought Texas’ record on the season when scoring first to 9-0-0-1.
Texas gets back to work on Sunday, January 6th as they host the Houston Aeros for an afternoon faceoff at 5:00 p.m. at Cedar Park Center. Sunday is also the second Stars Player Magnet Giveaway. Pro-rated full and partial 2012-13 season seat packages are on sale now. For more information on Texas Stars season tickets call (512) GO-STARS (467-8277) or visit www.TexasStarsHockey.com.