AHL Texas Stars

Gagnon's Hat Trick Leads Stars Past Rivermen 4-2

March 21, 2010 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Texas Stars News Release


Peoria, IL - The Texas Stars (40-23-3-4, 87 Points) defeated the Peoria Rivermen (33-29-2-8, 74 Points) 4-2 on Sunday in front of 4,795 fans at Carver Arena. Stars center Aaron Gagnon scored the second hat trick in team history as the Texas reduced its magic number to clinch a Calder Cup Playoff spot to eight points. Texas goalie Matt Climie (19-16-3) stopped 26 Peoria shots, as the Stars improved to 18-12-2-2 on the road this year.

Center Perttu Lindgren also tallied a goal as the Stars moved into second place in the AHL's West Division. Rivermen goalie Joe Fallon (18-14-1) made 26 saves in the loss. Texas continues a seven-game road trip in Milwaukee on Tuesday, March 23rd at 7:00 PM.

Texas jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a pair of first-period goals just over a minute apart by center Aaron Gagnon. The Stars claimed a 1-0 lead by capitalizing on a five-on-three power play at 4:45. Defenseman Garrett Stafford found Gagnon at the bottom of the left-wing circle. The Stars center snapped his 22nd goal of the year past Peoria goalie Joe Fallon for the 1-0 lead. Right wing Greg Rallo sprung Gagnon for a breakaway just 1:23 later. Gagnon moved in on Fallon and slipped the puck between the legs of the Peoria goalie for the 2-0 lead at 6:08.

Gagnon completed his hat trick at 15:22 of the second period. Defenseman Matt Stephenson sent a saucer pass to the Peoria slot. Gagnon picked up the puck and snapped his third goal of the night past Fallon for the 3-0 lead. The Rivermen cut the lead to 3-1 with a power-play goal at 18:32 of the second period. Rookie Brett Sonne slipped a rebound past Matt Climie with 1:28 left for his tenth goal of the year.

In the third period, the Stars regained their three-goal lead just 1:06 into the final frame. Center Perttu Lindgren blasted his 13th goal of the year past Fallon for a power-play tally and a 4-1 Stars lead. The Rivermen cut back into the Texas lead at 2:19. Right wing Pascal Pelletier scored off a two-on-one breakaway for Peoria. Brett Sonne set up Pelletier's 15 of the year for the 4-2 final.

Texas will continue a 14-day and seven-game road trip in Milwaukee with a 7:00 PM game against the Admirals on Tuesday, March 23rd. Texas returns to Cedar Park on Friday, April 2nd to take on the San Antonio Rampage. The first 3,000 fans will receive a Texas Stars puck. Also on Friday, Cedar Park Center will provide $2.00 domestic drafts and $1.00 hot dogs. All games can be heard on the Stars flagship station ESPNAustin 104.9 FM "The Horn" or ESPNAustin 1530-AM.

Tickets for any of the Stars 40 regular season home games at Cedar Park Center are on sale, starting as low as $9.00 a seat. Individual game tickets may be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000, by going online at www.ticketmaster.com or by visiting any local Ticketmaster outlet.

Season ticket packages to see the Stars play their Inaugural season at the Cedar Park Center are on sale now, starting as low as $12.00 a seat. For more information on Texas Stars season tickets call (512) GO-STARS (467-8277) or visit www.TexasStarsHockey.com. Anyone interested in purchasing season tickets, suites, group tickets or mini-plans may call the Texas Stars front office.

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American Hockey League Stories from March 21, 2010


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