Stars Beat Griffins Again to Take 2-0 Series Lead

May 5, 2025

GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan – The Texas Stars, American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL’s Dallas Stars, grabbed a 4-2 win over the Grand Rapids Griffins in Game Two of the Central Division Semifinals on Monday night at Van Andel Arena. The Stars now have a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series, which heads to Texas for Game Three on Friday at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.

As they did in Game One, the Stars jumped out to an early lead again in Game Two, taking a 2-0 advantage into the first intermission. Just 3:49 into the contest, Justin Hryckowian found Luke Krys skating in with speed and fed him a pass. Krys ripped a shot from the top of the right circle that beat Jack Campbell on the glove side. Arttu Hyry extended the lead just over nine minutes in, when he pounced on a loose puck during a scramble in the Grand Rapids crease and shoveled it into the net to make it 2-0.

Hryckowian extended the Texas lead just 1:35 into the second period on the power play. Skating across the slot, Hryckowian created a moving screen and redirected Kyle Capobianco’s point shot into the net. At the 12:13 mark, Matthew Seminoff connected with Curtis McKenzie on an outlet pass, springing him on a breakaway. McKenzie skated in and fired a shot high over Campbell’s glove to make it 4-0. Grand Rapids finally broke through with just over four minutes remaining in the period, scoring their first goal of the series on the power play. Sheldon Dries buried a rebound in front off the left pad of Remi Poirier, cutting the Texas lead to 4-1 heading into the final intermission.

Michael Brandsegg-Nygård cut the Texas lead to two just 5:20 into the final frame, taking a pass from Dominik Shine, who found him alone at the bottom of the slot from behind the net. The Stars held off the Griffins’ push for the remainder of the period, locking down the 4-2 win and securing a 2-0 series lead.

Poirier earned the win for the Stars, stopping 17 of the 19 shots he faced. Campbell took the loss for the Griffins, allowing four goals on 31 shots.

The Stars will have a chance to clinch the series as they return home to host the Griffins for Game Three on Friday at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Tickets are on sale at www.texasstars.com/tickets. If necessary, Game Four would be Saturday at
7:00 p.m. in Cedar Park.

The Texas Stars are the primary development affiliate of the NHL’s Dallas Stars. For more information, call (512) GO-STARS (467-8277) or visit TexasStars.com.   

Photo Credit: Grand Rapids Griffins

Game Info	Shots	Goaltenders	3 Stars (Ubeo Business Services)
Boxscore	TEX: 31	W: Poirier (TEX)	1: Hryckowian (TEX)
Photo	GR: 19	L: Campbell (GR)	2: Brandsegg-Nygård (GR)
			3: Capobianco (TEX)