Iowa rally past Stars for 2-1 win

CEDAR PARK, TX – The Iowa Wild (13-20-1-1, 28 points) defeatedthe Texas Stars (15-12-8-0, 38 points) 2-1 in front of 4,785fanson Friday night at Cedar Park Center. Right wing Brett Bulmer scored 8:32 into the third period, lifting Iowa to its first victory at Texas in team history and ending a seven-game losing streak to the defending champs (dating back to Nov. 2013). Iowa goalie Johan Gustafsson (7-13-1) was nearly perfect, stopping 35 of 36 shots in the win. Defenseman Stu Bickel also scored, as Iowa handed Texas only its third home loss of the season en route to securing two straight road wins. Leading scorer Michael Keranen set up both Iowa goals. Stars goalie Jack Campbell (3-8-3) made 19 saves and Greg Rallo scored the team’s lone goal in the loss. Iowa concludes a four-game road trip in San Antonio on Saturday at 7 p.m.

Texas scored the only goal of the first period, striking for the 1-0 lead at 5:56. Left wing Derek Hulak found right wing Greg Rallo on the back-door set up. Rallo beat Gustafsson for his 10th goal of the season. Center Travis Morin also picked up an assist on the play as the Stars carried a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

Iowa tied the game 1-1 at 5:38 of the second period as defenseman Stu Bickel evened the score with his first goal of the season. Assigned by Minnesota earlier in the afternoon, Bickel joined the play and jammed in a rebound, squeezing the puck past Jack Campbell. Forwards Marc Hagel and Michael Keranen each had an assist on the team’s first goal.

8:32 into the third period defenseman Danny Syvret led a rush into the Texas zone, finding Keranen with a drop pass. Keranen blasted a one-timer from the high slot that Campbell initially stopped. The rebound kicked out to Brett Bulmer, who snapped in a wrist shot from his second goal of the year and a 2-1 Iowa lead.