CEDAR PARK, Texas — Two things happened in the Western Conference finals opener at the HEB Center last night. The Texas Stars kept their home ice advantage and they dominated a team that hadn’t tasted a loss in the playoffs.
“It’s a big win,” Texas Head Coach Derek Laxdal said. “They’ve got a very good hockey club and they’ve been on a great run. Tonight we did what we do best. We grind and we’re resilient. We’re not pretty, but we get the job done.”
Mike McKenna commits theft
Photo Credit: Andy Nietupski/Texas Stars
Goaltender Mike McKenna stopped 31 of 33 shots, including a point blank “sure goal” in the second period that changed the entire face of the game.
The Stars opened the scoring when Curtis McKenzie knocked in a rebound at 4:22 of the first period.
Rockford tied the game on Carl Dahlstrom’s power play goal later in the period, but the Stars regained the lead when Roope Hintz took a tape-to-tape pass from Dennis Gurianov, leading to a breakaway goal and a 2-1 lead.
“Those two players bring great speed,” Laxdal said. “To make that play and to make it full speed just shows you the NHL talent (they have). They’re a big part of the future for the Dallas Stars.”
Rockford came out on fire in the second period. Chris DiDomenico tied the score at two. DiDomenico had a goal and an assist for his fourth multi-point playoff game. He leads the AHL with 13 points in eight games.
Remi Elie celebrates power play goal
Photo Credit: Andy Nietupski/Texas Stars
The stars took a lead they would never give up when Remi Elie tapped in a power play goal at 8:47. Both teams were one-for-four on the power play.
Texas put the game away in the third when Sheldon Dries put an uncontested backhand shot past a surprised Collin Delia, who lost his first game of the playoffs.
Game two is Sunday afternoon at 5 PM at the HEB Center. The Stars will try to take a two-nothing lead in the series into Rockford.
Mitch Cooper is the Editor-in-Chief and covers the Texas Stars for PHN. Contact him at mitch.cooper@prohockeynews.com
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