SYRACUSE, NY –Texas was defeated by the Crunch 1-0 in a shootout on Friday night at the Oncenter War Memorial. Syracuse goalie J.P. Lavasseur (9-20-3) stopped 34 Texas shots in regulation and overtime for the shutout. The Crunch netminder also stopped two of five shootout attempts to preserve the win. Texas goalie Richard Bachman (22-14-5) made 25 saves in regulation, but only stopped one of five attempts in the shootout loss. Syracuse forward Patrick Maroon scored the decisive goal in the shootout.
The teams skated scoreless through 65 minutes of action, forcing a shootout. Stars skaters Colton Sceviour, Greg Rallo and Aaron Gagnon each scored in the shootout for Texas. Crunch skaters Patrick Maroon, Josh Green, Kyle Palmieri and Nick Bonino each scored in the shootout for Syracuse.
Prior to the game, the Texas Stars announced that forward Michael Neal has been recalled on an emergency basis from the Idaho Steelheads, Texas’ ECHL affiliate.
Neal is in his second pro season after spending the bulk of his rookie season with Idaho. Neal has played in 15 games for Texas this year, scoring three goals and totaling 12 penalty minutes. This season, the Whitby, ON native has played in 37 games for the Steelheads, scoring six goals and totaling 13 points. Last season, Neal played in 57 games for the Steelheads, posting 15 points on five goals and ten assists. The 21-year old also skated in six games for the Texas Stars without registering a point. Neal was drafted in the fifth round (#149 overall) in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft and he is the younger brother of Pittsburgh Penguins forward James Neal.
Texas continues a four-game road trip on Saturday, March 12th in Hamilton at 4:00 PM (CT). Texas returns home to face the Houston Aeros on Tuesday, March 22nd at 7:30 PM
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