CEDAR PARK, Texas – The Texas Stars defeated the Manitoba Moose 5-2 on Tuesday night in front of 3,217 fans at Cedar Park Center. Rookie forwards Sean Backman and Cody Chupp had multi-point nights with a goal and an assist, leading the Stars to a three-goal win over the Moose. Forwards Raymond Sawada, Francis Wathier and Greg Rallo also tallied goals in the victory as Texas improved to 10-5-1-1 at home. Texas goalie Richard Bachman (9-4-1) stopped 26 of 28 shots for the win. Manitoba goalie Tyler Weiman (5-4-1) stopped 18 of 22 shots in the loss.
The Moose gained an early 1-0 lead with a rebound goal by center Cody Hodgson at 6:06 of the first period. Left wing Bill Sweatt and defenseman Chris Tanev assisted on the lone first-period goal.
Midway through the second, Texas tied the game 1-1 with a goal by left wing Francis Wathier at 7:28. Wathier blasted a shot from the high-slot, beating goalie Tyler Weiman for his ninth goal of the year. Defenseman Maxime Fortunus and left wing Ondrej Roman set up the goal. The Stars scored again 44 seconds later to take a 2-1 lead. Forward Cody Chupp netted a wraparound goal at 8:12 for his third tally of the year. Forwards Luke Gazdic and Sean Backman both helped with the goal for the Stars first lead of the night. Manitoba tied the game 2-2 at 11:53 after defenseman Evan Oberg scored his fourth goal of the year. Texas jumped back in front with a goal by right wing Sean Backman. Backman put in a rebound for his third goal of the year off a Dan Spang shot. Cody Chupp added an assist on the goal ending the second period with Texas leading 3-2.
Just 3:24 into the third period, right wing Raymond Sawada continued the scoring for Texas, giving the Stars a 4-2 lead. Sawada scored his third goal of the year with a top-shelf shot past goalie Tyler Weiman. With only seven seconds remaining in the third, Texas right wing Greg Rallo scored an empty-net goal for his seventh goal of the year. Left wing Fabian Brunnstrom and center Travis Morin both assisted on the goal giving Texas a 5-2 win.
Prior to the game, the Dallas Stars announced that the club has assigned left wing Francis Wathier back to the Texas Stars, Dallas’ primary minor league affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL). Wathier, 26, has played in 23 games for Texas so far this season, ranking second on the team in goals (eight) and tied for third in points (11). In 2009-10, he recorded 40 points (19g, 21a) in 76 games with Texas and helped the Stars reach the Calder Cup Finals in the club’s inaugural season. Wathier also ranked second on the club in penalty minutes during the regular season (101). The St. Isidore, Ontario native made his NHL debut last season with Dallas, appearing in five games and recording five penalty minutes. Wathier was drafted by Dallas in the sixth round (185th overall) at the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.
The Texas Stars go on the road to face the Rockford IceHogs on Wednesday, December 8th at 6:35 pm. The Stars will also make stops in Grand Rapids and Milwaukee on their four-game road swing. Texas returns home to take on the Manitoba Moose on Tuesday, December 14th
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