Stars Come Up Short to Reign, 4-2

Dec 13, 2017

Boxscore Photos Video Three Stars: 1. Gravel (ONT) 2. McNeill (TEX) 3. Moulson (ONT) Shots: Stars - 31 Reign - 29 Goaltenders: W - Campbell L - Bow

CEDAR PARK, Texas - Both teams combined for four power-play goals, but Kevin Gravel's man-advantage tally midway through the third period held up as the game-winner for the Ontario Reign in a 4-2 win over the Texas Stars on Wednesday night at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.

Gravel's point shot beat a screened Landon Bow to give the Reign a 3-2 lead. Matt Moulson finished with four assists in the game for the visitors to help snap the Stars' three-game win streak. Mark McNeill and Curtis McKenzie each scored for the Stars (16-10-0-1) in the loss. Travis Morin tallied an assist for Texas to extend his point streak to five games.

Texas wraps up its five-game homestand on Saturday against the Cleveland Monsters at 7 p.m. CST.

McNeill opened the scoring for the Stars with a 5-on-3, power-play goal from the left circle three minutes into the game. Paul LaDue responded for Ontario (11-10-0-1) on the man-advantage at 8:52 of the first to make it a 1-1 game.

Both teams traded goals in period two to keep the game even. Matt Mangene and Morin used a touch pasing play across the Ontario zone to set up McKenzie in front for his 11th of the year at 10:44 on the power play. With two minutes remaining, Mike Amadio buried his fifth of the year off a Stars turnover in the slot.

Gravel's power-play strike at 11:58 of the third was his third of the season. Sam Herr also added an empty-net goal with 30 seconds to play for the Reign to seal the win.

Bow finished 26 of 29 in net in the loss. Jack Campbell turned aside 29 of 31 shots against his former club to earn the win.

Texas finished 2-for-8 on the power play and has 17 power-play goals in their last 16 games. Ontario was 2-for-5 on the man-advantage.

Photo Credit: Andy Nietupski/Texas Stars