Andrew Bodnarchuk slides the game winner through Kevin Boyle
Photo courtesy of the Texas Stars
CEDAR PARK, TEXAS — The Texas Stars only lead of the game came with 90 seconds remaining in overtime when Andrew Bodnarchuk beat San Diego goaltender Kevin Boyle through the five hole.
“It was a little bit of luck,” Bodnarchuk said. “I was getting on the ice on a change and my foot got caught on the bench. I was panicking to get back into the play, but I caught up to it. Right place at the right time.”
San Diego jumped out to a 2-0 lead with first period goals by Julius Nattinen and Alex Dostie. But Texas goals by Jason Dickinson and Curtis McKenzie tied it up.
The game was advertised as Star Wars Night, but near the end of the first period, it looked more like mixed martial arts. With 51 seconds left in the period, Gulls’ players Stu Bickel and Scott Sabounin lost sight of reality and accumulated 50 minutes in penalties.
Bickel received five minutes for fighting and three ten-minute game misconducts. Sabounin received five for fighting and a ten-minute game misconduct. The Stars were not penalized. Despite a five-minute five-on-three advantage for the Stars, they were unable to score.
San Diego took a 3-2 lead with a Mitch Hults goal, but Sheldon Dries tied it for Texas three minutes later. The teams traded goals in period three, sending it into overtime tied at five.
San Diego went 1-5 on the power play and now have a power play goal in seven straight games. Texas finished 0-5, including their five-minute two man advantage.
Contact the writer at: mitch.cooper@prohockeynews.com
@phnhockeyeditor
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