Stars celebrate Sheldon Dries OT goal
PHOTO CREDIT: Derek Sparta/Texas Stars
CEDAR PARK, Texas – Sheldon Dries converted a Tucson Roadrunner turnover into the game-winning goal, giving the Stars a 2-1 playoff series lead. The goal came with 6:24 remaining in the first overtime period. Texas appeared to have the game well in hand, but lost a two-goal lead in the third.
“It was a weird bounce that got Hill out of position and forced that D-man to make a pressured pass,” Dries said. “I tried to get a quick shot off and I beat Hill.”
Mike McKenna stopped 33 of 37 shots in net to earn the win while Hill suffered the loss stopping 27 of 32. The goalies gave up nine goals after giving up just six goals through the first two games.
Roope Hintz opened up the scoring eight minutes into the game with his first career playoff goal on a rebound chance set up by Denis Gurianov on an odd-man rush. It was the fifth two-on-one for the Stars in the period.
Dakota Mermis tied the game just 34 seconds into the second period, but Jason Dickinson tipped in a shot from the point to give Texas the lead back just 37 seconds later. Brian Flynn followed up at 9:51 of the second with his league-leading sixth goal of the playoffs after a Roadrunners miscue left him alone in front of the net. But Carter Camper fired home his first of the series off a centering feed from behind the net with seven minutes remaining.
Gavin Bayreuther extended the Stars’ lead to 4-2 burying his own rebound. It was his first career playoff goal.
Tucson tied the game in the final period on a goals by Trevor Murphy and Mermis. The game-tying goal appeared to be one of the easiest save opportunities of the night for McKenna, but it slipped in over his right shoulder.
The series continues at the Cedar Park Center on Wednesday night.
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