CEDAR PARK, TEXAS – The Texas Stars defeated Grand Rapids 5-4 in overtime in front of 4,716 fans at the Cedar Park Center on Wednesday. Stars’ forward Michael Forney scored the game-winning-goal at 2:03 of overtime. Left wing Mike Hedden, Francis Wathier, Luke Gazdic and center Travis Morin scored for the Stars. Three Texas defensemen had multi-point nights. Jordie Benn, Dan Spang and Brenden Dillon each registered two assists in the win. Texas goalie Tyler Beskorowany (10-14-0) stopped 31 of 35 shots as the Stars improved to 15-9-2-1 at home.
Center Landon Ferraro, defenseman Travis Ehrhardt, center Chris Conner and left wing Chris Minard each scored for the Griffins in the third period, erasing a four-goal defecit and forcing overtime. Grand Rapids goalie Ty Conklin (5-2-0) stopped 19 of 24 shots as the Griffins fell to10-11-3-2 on the road.
The Stars scored the lone first-period goal with 2:29 left in the frame. Left wing Mike Hedden put in a shot from defensemen Brenden Dillon and Dan Spang. The goal rounded out the first twenty minutes of play with a 1-0 Texas lead.
Texas extended its lead just 22 seconds into the second period with a power-play goal from left wing Francis Wathier. Right wing Colton Sceviour and defenseman Jordie Benn each added an assist Wathier’s 14th goal of the year and the 2-0 tally. The Stars continued the scoring as center Travis Morin found the back of the net at 5:14. Defenseman Jordie Benn registered his second assist of the night on the 3-0 lead. Texas scored its third goal of the second frame as left wing Luke Gazdic knocked the puck past Conklin with 6:14 remaining. Defenseman Brenden Dillon and center Angelo Esposito helped on Gazdic’s ninth goal of the year and the 4-0 Texas lead.
Grand Rapids got on the board late in the game at 2:46 of the third period. Defenseman Travis Ehrhardt slipped the puck past Beskorowany, making the score 4-1. Defenseman Gleason Fournier assisted the play. The Griffins cut into Texas’ lead two minutes later with a goal from center Landon Ferraro at 4:34. Forwards Chris Minard and Fabian Brunnstrom set up the goal and the 4-2 tally. Grand Rapids dug into Texas’ lead once again with 8:10 left in the final frame. Center Chris Conner bounced the puck to the back of the net, pushing the Griffins within one goal at 4-3. Defenseman Brian Lashoff assisted on the goal. Grand Rapids struck again with 53 seconds remaining in regulation with a goal from left wing Chris Minard, tying the game 4-4. Center Chris Conner and left wing Fabian Brunnstrom each added an assist, forcing overtime.
Texas answered at 2:07 of overtime with a goal from forward Michael Forney, his first goal of the year and of his AHL career. Defensemen Drew Schiestel and Dan Spang each provided an assist on the game-winning goal and the 5-4 final.
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