GRAND RAPIDS, Mich – The Stars were defeated by Grand Rapids 4-2 in front of 3,373 fans on Sunday afternoon at Van Andel Arena. Grand Rapids forward Tomas Tatar scored at 14:03 of the third period, breaking a 2-2 tie and giving Griffins a lead they never surrendered. Despite 37 saves, Stars goalie Tyler Beskorowany (3-2-0) suffered the loss. Texas right wing Raymond Sawada scored in the defeat, extending his points streak to six straight games. Center Travis Morin netted his team-leading 12th goal of the year, as Texas finished its four-game road trip 2-2-0-0. Griffins goalie Joey MacDonald (5-3-1) stopped 22 shots in the loss.
Texas claimed a 1-0 first-period lead with the only goal of the opening frame. Stars right wing Greg Rallo found center Travis Morin in the Griffins slot for a shorthanded goal at 4:46. Morin fired his 12th goal over the left shoulder of Grand Rapids goalie Joey MacDonald for the 1-0 lead.
The Griffins countered to tie the game 1-1 at 2:57 of the middle period. Right wing Francis Pare snapped a wrist shot to the Texas net. The puck deflected off Stars defender Trevor Ludwig and past Tyler Beskorowany for Pare’s seventh goal of the year.
In the third period, the Stars pushed in front when defenseman Trevor Ludwig snapped a pass to center ice, springing right wing Raymond Sawada for a breakaway at 9:21. Sawada beat MacDonald with a backhand shot, extending his points streak to six straight games. Right wing Colton Sceviour also picked up an assist as Texas claimed a 2-1 lead. The Griffins countered 1:30 later, as defenseman Doug Janik finished off a centering pass from Jan Mursak at 10:51, tying the game 2-2. Grand Rapids claimed its first lead of the night at 14:03, when Tomas Tatar redirected a shot by defenseman Derek Meech. Tatar’s seventh goal of the year made it 3-2 with 5:57 remaining. Center Jamie Johnson sealed the victory with an empty-net goal at 19:29 for the 4-2 final.
Texas returns home to take on the Manitoba Moose on Tuesday, December 14th at 7:30 pm
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