Stars Stage Comeback Victory on Opening Night

Oct 2, 2026

CEDAR PARK, Texas— The Texas Stars, American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL’s Dallas Stars, forced overtime in the waning seconds of regulation and defeated the Iowa Wild 4-3 in a shootout Friday in the season opener at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.

Texas wasted no time opening the scoring as Jack Anderson fired a slap shot from the blue line just four minutes into the first frame that flew past William Rousseau. 
 
The Stars doubled their lead just over four minutes later as Christian Fitzgerald slid a backhand pass from the goal line to Kyle Looft in the slot, who wristed it into the net. Iowa responded with six minutes remaining in the first period as Rieger Lorenz lit the lamp for the first time in his professional career. 

Adversity hit the Stars early in the second as they had to play down two skaters four minutes into the frame. Hunter Haight took advantage of a rebound to tie the game on the power play. 
 
Lorenz added another in the third period as he snapped home a loose puck in the slot to put Iowa ahead 3-2 with under 12 minutes left in regulation.

Texas pulled Brandon Halverson for an extra skater, and Dylan Hryckowian found a loose puck in the crease for the game-tying goal with 21.6 seconds remaining.

The game went to overtime, but neither team could find the back of the net. In the shootout, Michael Sgarbossa scored in the second round and Halverson stopped all three Iowa attempts to secure the win for the Stars.

Halverson made 33 saves in the win, while Rousseau stopped 29 of 32 shots and one of two shootout attempts in the loss.
 
The two teams meet again Saturday at 7:00 p.m. at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park. Tickets are on sale now at www.texasstars.com/tickets.
 
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: Andy Nietupski

Game Info	Shots	Goaltenders	3 Stars (Ubeo Business Services)
Boxscore	TEX: 36	W: Halverson (TEX)	1: Hryckowian (TEX)
Photo	IA: 36	SOL: Rousseau (IA)	2: Lorenz (IA)
			3: Sgarbossa (TEX)