CEDAR PARK, Texas – The Iowa Wild scored three unanswered third period goals to stave off a Texas Stars rally and earn a 5-2 win at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park on Tuesday night. Hunter Haight scored twice while Ben Jones (0-3=3) and Gerry Mayhew (1-2=3) recorded three-point games.
Iowa opened the scoring 2:58 into the contest when Nicolas Aubé-Kubel spun a turnaround feed through the crease for Haight to slam past Remi Poirier (19 saves). Ben Gleason picked up a secondary assist on Haight’s goal.
The Wild outshot the Stars 8-7 in the first period.
Jones and Mayhew combined to find Kiersted in the high slot to double the lead 4:26 into the middle frame.
Harrison Scott answered for Texas with a backhand shot over the blocker of Cal Petersen (26 saves) 3:08 later.
Iowa outshot Texas 18-13 through 40 minutes.
Jack Anderson scored his first AHL goal and tied the game 2:38 into the third period.
The Wild responded on the power play and took the lead for good at 6:52 when Mayhew drove into the slot and fed Haight at the back post.
Gleason provided a crucial insurance goal with 6:46 remaining with a wrister under the bar from the top of the right circle with assists from Jean-Luc Foudy and Jones.
Jones set up Mayhew for an empty-net goal with a minute to play.
Texas outshot Iowa 28-24. The Wild finished 1-for-4 with the man advantage while the Stars went 1-for-3 on the power play.
Iowa and Texas face off again on Wednesday, Apr. 8 at 7 p.m. at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.
