Action near the fans gets heated.
Key to the victory was the stellar play of Houston goaltender Anton Khudobin who held the home team scoreless until midway through the final period. He turned aside 32 of 33 shots by the Stars, some of them magnificent efforts allowing him to gain increased confidence as the game wore on.
Houston opened the scoring just sixty-one seconds into the game when Justin Falk pounced on a rebound off Jon DiSalvatore’s shot from the right point. Falk sent the puck high over the glove of Stars goaltender Richard Bachman who
Bachman takes down another Houston sniper
The Stars had their best chance of the period at the ten-minute mark when Brandon Segal ringed a solid drive off the left post, beating Khudobin, but unable to tickle the twine. A few minutes later, Texas elevated their physical play when Travis Morin handled Cody Almond so hard, it made TSA blush. Almond crumpled to the ice near the penalty box and when the whistle blew to stop play, Morin took his seat in the sin bin.
Not long after the Stars killed the penalty and seemed to gain a little momentum, Houston struck for their second goal of the game. Jed Ortmayer sped through the neutral zone putting a well-placed shot on goal. While Bachman made the save, he failed to control the rebound which bounced right back to Ortmayer who made no mistake in slipping the puck into the open net glove side.
The period ended with no sustained pressure from Texas as Khudobin was magnificent, keeping the Stars at bay and getting stronger by the minute. Houston led in shots 13-10, but the totals were misleading.
Texas started the second period strong just two minutes in when Sean Backman launched a rocket from the right side that Khudobin steered into the corner wisely. Ninety seconds later, Brad Lukowich sent a shot toward the Aeros goal from the right point and despite three chances at the rebound by Luke Gazdic, Khudobin remained solid and the Stars were stymied again.
Five minutes into the period, Backman had another chance, this one with an open net on the right side after a shot from the left point. Khudobin was there again. Gazdic was denied at point blank range seven minutes into the period when Khudobin reacted swiftly with his blocker putting the puck well out of harm’s way into the corner.
Bachman pounces on the loose puck to prevent another Houston attempt.
Undaunted though, the home team continued the pressure with Brandon Segal taking a centering pass from behind the net, but being denied with a pad save. Perhaps the best chance of the period for Texas came at the eight minute mark when Sean Backman took a centering pass from behind the net. True to form, he found Khudobin’s right pad in the way of scoring the home team’s first goal.
As the period wore on, frustration seemed to get the best of Texas and with a little less than six minutes to go, Houston centerman Chad Rau directed an elbow to an unsuspecting Texas player and it set off the night’s first bout as Texas forward Cody Chupp decided to dance with Houston right wing Jean-Michel Daoust. The tussle seemed to bring the crowd back into the game.
With less than two minutes to play, Houston left wing Colton Gillies charged after a loose puck in on a clear breakaway when he was met by Bachman who charged out of the Texas net. The collision didn’t sit well with Texas defenseman Jordie Benn and the first gentleman’s fight of the game ensued.
All helmets and gloves were off in seconds and the area was cleared to make room for a heavyweight bout. Both combatants landed six to eight punches, each landing at precisely the same time before both fighters tuckered out and heading off the ice. Gillies was given an extra two-minute minor penalty for goaltender interference putting Texas on the power play.
Still, the Stars were never able to muster enough pressure to light their side of the scoreboard and the period ended with a 3-0 Houston lead with shots tied at 22. Khudobin remained the difference in the Houston goal.
As the third period began though, Texas mustered up additional pressure hoping to ride the wave of rekindled fan support with a barrage of shots. Khudobin turned them all aside until midway through the period when Colton Sceviour solved him.
Sceviour took a pretty centering pass from Brandon Segal who was behind the Houston goal to the left of Khudobin. Surprised with the quick pass, Sceviour buried it behind Khudobin and put the Stars on the board. Texas was back in the game, but with little time to make up the deficit.
Gillies skates off the ice after his bout with Jordie Benn late in the second period.
With less than five minutes remaining, Houston put the game out of reach when Cody Almond took a pass from Jon DiSalvatore who was behind the Texas goal. Almond buried it and the game was all but over with Houston leading 4-1, the final score.
Texas ended the game ahead in shots 32-27, many of them quality chances, but Khudobin shut down the Stars attack early and the home team never was able to recover.
In registering their fourth victory in a row, several Houston players had notable evenings. Jon DiSalvatore had assists on the three of the four goals while Patrick O’Sullivan and Cody Almond each chipped in a goal and an assist.
The victory sent Houston to the top of the West Division standings tied with Milwaukee and San Antonio, each with 64 points. The top seven teams in the division are separated by just six points with Texas remaining in sixth place. Houston improved to 30-19-1-3 while Texas dropped to 27-17-3-3. It should be an exciting seven weeks as teams battle for playoff position.
Thanks to Deena & Company for the images of this game.
Contact Dennis.Morrell@prohockeynews.com
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