Streaking Stars Stay Hot, Beat Griffins 6-4 in a Wild One

Jan 13, 2012

Texas to Play in Milwaukee on Saturday at 7:00 p.m.

Grand Rapids, MI - The Texas Stars (17-16-1-2, 37 points) defeated the Grand Rapids Griffins (15-14-4-3, 37 points) 6-4 in front of 8,791 fans at the Van Andel Arena on Friday night. Rookie Scott Glennie scored twice, including 21-seconds into the third period to break a 4-4 tie. Glennie also added an assist, propelling Texas back over .500 for the first time since November 11, 2011. Right wing Colton Sceviour added three assists, as the team extended its Points streak to five games (3-0-1-1). In all, five Texas skaters and four Griffins finished with a multi-point night, as the two teams combined for six goals in the opening period. Francis Wathier (1g,1a), Brad Lukowich (2a) and Ryan Garbutt (1g,1a) helped Texas improve to 9-9-0-1 on the road this season. After allowing four goals in the first period, Stars goalie Andrew Raycroft (3-0-1) stopped 23 shots in the final two periods to pick up the win. Grand Rapids goalie Tom McCollum (6-4-0) stopped 31 of 36 Texas shots in the defeat. Texas travels to Milwaukee for a game on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. to face the Admirals.

In a wild first period, the two teams combined for six goals. Grand Rapids opened the scoring at 2:23, as Willie Coetzee tallied his eighth goal of the season for the 1-0 Griffins lead. Texas countered on a major power play, scoring the first goal at 6:29 for the 1-1 tie. Forward Ryan Garbutt picked up his ninth goal of the year off a deflection. Defensemen Brad Lukowich and Maxime Fortunus each had an assist on the Stars first goal. The Griffins answered back at 8:41, as Joakim Andersson scored a shorthanded goal, his ninth tally of the year, pushing Grand Rapids in front 2-1. The Stars picked up their second power-play goal of the period at 8:54. Rookie Scott Glennie finished off a cross-ice feed from Colton Sceviour. Lukowich added an assist on Glennie’s seventh goal of the year. The Griffins picked up two more goals prior to the end of the period, starting at 17:30. Chris Conner picked up his ninth goal of the season from Coetzee, giving the Griffins a 3-2 lead. Grand Rapids closed out first-period scoring at 18:43. Gustav Nyquist potted a rebound with 1:17 left in the period, scoring his tenth goal of the year and giving the Griffins a 4-2 lead after one period of play. 

The Stars did all the scoring in the second period, starting with a shorthanded goal at 2:59. Rookie Matt Fraser snapped in his 20th goal of the season on a cross-ice pass from Garbutt, pulling the Stars within a goal at 4-3. Texas tied the game 4-4 at 7:05 of the second period. Colton Sceviour and Scott Glennie cycled the puck in the Grand Rapids zone. Glennie found Francis Wathier in the slot for a one-timer, his eighth goal of the year. 

In the third period, Glennie scored his second goal of the night just 21-seconds into the final frame, giving Texas a 5-4 lead. Wathier and Sceviour each had an assist on Glennie’s eighth goal of the year. Texas center Travis Morin added an empty-net goal with one second remaining for a 6-4 final. Ryan Garbutt and Mike Hedden each had an assist on Morin’s fifth goal of the year, his first goal since November 6, 2011.

Texas is in the middle of a four-game road trip with the next stop in Milwaukee. The team will also make stops in Chicago and Rockford before returning to Cedar Park Center. Texas will return home on Friday, January 20th to host Peoria at 7:30 p.m. The first 2,500 fans to Friday’s game will receive a player magnet courtesy of Time Warner Cable. Friday is also 3-2-1 night presented by Community Impact featuring $3 domestic drafts, $2 sodas and $1 hot dogs. The Stars take on the Houston Aeros at home on Saturday, January 21st at 7:00 p.m. The first 2,500 fans to Saturday’s game will receive a player card set compliments of Goodwill. Saturday is also a State Farm Family Four Pack night consisting of four tickets, four sodas and four hot dogs starting at $48.

Individual tickets for all games are on sale now. Tickets are available online at www.TexasStarsHockey.com or by calling 512.GO.STARS (467.8277). 

2011-12 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. Anyone interested in purchasing season tickets, suites, group tickets or mini-plans may call the Texas Stars front office.

--Texas Stars--