CEDAR PARK, Texas – The Stars were defeated by Grand Rapids 4-2 in front of 8,457 fans at Van Andel Arena on Tuesday. Griffins forward Joakim Andersson registered a hat trick and helped Grand Rapids stay in the playoff hunt with a two-goal win.
Despite making 16 saves in the first period and finishing with 30 for the game, Texas goalie Jack Campbell (3-3-0) suffered the defeat. Stars forwards Matt Fraser and Shawn Weller each scored, as the team fell to 13-21-0-1 on the road this season. Grand Rapids forward Francis Pare set up three goals, while defenseman Logan Pyett set up two. Griffins goalie Tom McCollum (10-12-0) stopped 17 shots for the win.
Texas goalie Jack Campbell stopped 16 of 17 first period shots, as the Stars were outshot 17-6 in the opening frame. Grand Rapids forward Joakim Andresson jammed in a rebound, giving the Griffins the first goal of the night at 19:05. Francis Pare and Logan Pyett each had an assist on Andersson’s 19th goal of the year.
The two teams traded goals in the second period, with Grand Rapids pushing in front 2-0 just 2:07 into the middle period. Joakim Andersson blasted a one-timer past Stars goalie Jack Campbell for his second goal of the night and 20th of the season. Griffins forwards Tomas Tatar set it up with help from Francis Pare. Texas countered at 3:23 with Shawn Weller’s 12th goal of the year, his second as a Star. Texas forwards Michael Forney and Angelo Esposito picked up the assist on the goal, as the Stars trimmed the Grand Rapids lead to 2-1.
In the third period, the Griffins expanded their lead to 3-2 at 7:34 as defenseman Garnet Exelby scored his sixth goal fo the year. Exelby put in his own rebound with assists coming from Chris Conner and Jamie Johnson. Texas countered less than a minute later, rookie Matt Fraser scored his team-leading 34th goal of the year at 7:34. Fraser cut the lead to 3-2 with a goal right off a faceoff in the Griffins zone. Center Travis Morin and winger Austin Smith each had an assist on the play. Joakim Andersson completed the hat trick and finished the scoring with his third goal of the night and 21st of the season at 14:59. Logan Pyett and Francis Pare added to their assist total for the game, helping the Griffins to a 4-2 lead.
Texas travels to Peoria for a meeting with the Rivermen on Thursday, April 5th at 7:00 p.m. The Stars return home on Tuesday, April 10th for a 7:30 p.m. faceoff against the Chicago Wolves.
Comment@prohockeynews.com
You must be logged in to post a comment.