The Texas Stars looked like the opposite of their usual selves in all the good ways on Wednesday night in a 2-1 win over the Manitoba Moose.
The Stars opened the season as the worst power play team in the American Hockey League, and they also own the eighth-worst penalty kill. Tonight, they looked focused on both sides of the ice, picking each other up after any mistake and capitalizing on Manitoba’s blunders.
“A major point of emphasis for us going back a couple of weeks was our penalty kill, and our guys have responded,” Stars head coach Toby Petersen said.
With 5:10 left on the clock in the first period, the Moose entered a power play that continued until one minute into the second frame. Texas forward Christian Fitzgerald’s two penalties and defenseman Aram Minnetian’s roughing call led to the six-minute Moose advantage. The second Fitzgerald penalty was the Stars’ fourth of the first period.
The usual Stars, who have killed only 76% of opposing power plays this season, would have let a goal in during the first period. That’s just how the season has gone.
Instead, they defended the net flawlessly, with goaltender Brandon Halverson stopping all five shots he faced during that extended Moose advantage.
“Our killers just did a great job trying to mitigate their opportunities from the slot,” Petersen said. “Our goaltender was our best killer, which you always want.”
At 9:03 into the second period, the Stars defense finally cracked. Manitoba center Danny Zhilkin scored after his faceoff deflected Texas defenseman Kyle Burroughs’ skate into the net to put the Moose up 1-0.
However, just 90 seconds later, the Stars quickly reversed the momentum back to their side. Forward Dylan Hryckowian found forward Jack Becker on a breakaway to tie the game.
“First minute or two after any goal, we are paying attention to how our team is playing and making sure that we either keep the momentum if it’s our goal, or we stop their momentum if it was theirs,” Petersen said. “So that was huge.”
Late in the second period, the Stars continued to look like the antithesis of their performance so far this season. The AHL’s worst power play, which scores on just 10% of their tries, found the back of the net. This time, forward Artem Shlaine was the scorer, tipping in a forward Matthew Seminoff shot that was deflected into the air by Moose goaltender Thomas Milic, putting the Stars up 2-1.
In the third and final period, the Stars made one last defensive stand to complete their perfect game on the penalty kill, with Halverson stopping both shots he faced during Manitoba’s seventh power play of the game.
“He’s put in the time and practice,” Petersen said. “He’s let the play come to him. He’s made big saves, … kept us in and gave us a chance to get the two points.”
As the season progresses, the Stars need Wednesday night to be a turning point for their special teams. Texas will look to continue gaining momentum on Saturday when it makes a road trip to face the Tucson Roadrunners at Tucson Arena at 8 p.m. CT.
