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AHL Texas Stars

Honka's Two Goals Power Stars to 5-4 Win Over Ontario

October 28, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Texas Stars News Release


CEDAR PARK, Texas - Julius Honka scored a pair of goals, and the Texas Stars penalty kill held up in the game's final minute to secure a 5-4 win over the Ontario Reign on Friday night at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.

For Texas, Honka scored the opening goal and the game-winning goal in the game, and Travis Morin also scored the 200th goal of his professional career. The Stars snapped their four-game winless skid with the win, and ended a seven-game drought against the Reign (2-1-1-0) dating back to the start of last season. Maxime Lagace earned his third win in net with 27 saves.

Texas began the scoring 5:25 into the first period when Honka fired a shot from the right circle that found the back of the net behind rookie netminder, Jack Flinn, who finished with 26 saves in his AHL debut to suffer the loss.

The Reign answered back 34 seconds later as forward Michael Mersch pushed the puck through traffic and past Lagace. Ten minutes later, forward Justin Auger gave Ontario their first lead of the night with a power play goal on a rebound chance in close.

In period two, Texas forward Matej Stransky needed just 42 seconds of play to tie the game again at 2-2 on a loose puck in front. Then defenseman Andrew Bodnarchuk gave the home-team their second lead of the night on a power-play shot from the point at 11:19. The Reign responded with another power play goal from Auger at 12:23 to knot the game at three.

Morin's milestone goal proved to be a valuable one as it gave Texas a 4-3 lead with just under four minutes to play in the period, but with 24 seconds left in the second Vincent LoVerde's shot was deflected through three players in front and past Lagace to tie the game once again.

Honka's game-winner came just over three minutes into the third from the right circle again to make it 5-4. From there, Lagace and the Stars defense kept the Reign in check to seal the win. Texas played the final minute of the third on the penalty kill and Ontario pulled Flinn for the extra attacker and two-man advantage.

Both teams finished with 31 shots on net. Texas went 2-for-2 on the power play. Ontario finished 2-for-3.

Honka extended his point streak to five games. Morin, Stransky and Cole Ully each extended their point streaks to four games for Texas.

Weekday home games (Monday-Thursday) are H-E-B night with the Texas Stars where fans can donate a non-perishable item at the box office and save five dollars on their ticket purchase. Every Saturday is a Texas Lottery Lucky Row Night where the first Stars player to score wins free scratch-off tickets for a lucky row of seats at H-E-B Center. Fans can also enjoy Coke Zero Family Four-Packs every Saturday with four tickets, four hot dogs and four soft drinks starting at just $16 per person.

The Texas Stars are the primary development affiliate of the NHL's Dallas Stars, and are currently playing their eighth season at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park. Full season, 24-game, 12-game and six-game ticket packages for the 2016-17 campaign are on sale now. For more information, call (512) GO-STARS (467-8277) or visit TexasStars.com.

Three Stars:

1. Julius Honka (TEX) 2. Justin Auger (ONT) 3. Andrew Bodnarchuk (TEX)

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American Hockey League Stories from October 28, 2016


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