AHL Texas Stars

Morin's Natural Hat Trick Gives Texas Ninth Straight Home Victory

January 11, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Texas Stars News Release


CEDAR PARK, Texas - Travis Morin scored a natural hat trick and Colton Sceviour also tallied three points to lead the Texas Stars to a 5-3 win over the Utica Comets Saturday night in front of 6,028 fans at Cedar Park Center.

It was on Travis Morin Mini-Bobblehead night at Cedar Park Center and the "Star of Honor," center Travis Morin, did not disappoint. Morin opened up the scoring early in the first frame with a goal assisted by right wing Colton Sceviour at 15:23. The forwards came into the zone two-on-one rush, exchanging passes before Sceviour gave Morin a beautiful return feed that he one-timed through the legs of Comets goalie Joe Cannata. Morin doubled the Stars lead just under four minutes later forcing a turnover and taking the puck to the slot where he fired a laser shot to the top left corner, over the blocker on Cannata.

At 4:53 of the second period Morin continued his personal rally with an unassisted, short-handed goal giving him a natural hat trick. The AHL's points leader created his own turnover, raced up the ice and beat Cannata with a fierce wrist shot from the left faceoff circle lodging the puck in the top right corner of the net to give Texas a 3-0 lead. It was also the first shorthanded goal every allowed by Utica in their brief franchise history. Nearly ten minutes later Sceviour made it 4-0 with a goal of his own, picking up the puck in the slot on a turnover and beating Cannata from a sharp angle. Following the fourth Texas goal, Utica made a goaltender change replacing Cannata with backup Mathieu Corbeil, giving the young goalie his AHL debut. With 1:43 left in the middle frame the Comets got on the board when Cal O'Reilly knocked in a loose puck in the crease.

Utica cut the Stars lead to two at 8:03 of the third period as O'Reilly found Alexandre Grenier in the slot for a one-timer. Just under two minutes later, the Comets struck again, this time Brandon Defazio tapped in a rebound off a Yann Sauve shot from the point to trim the Texas lead to 4-3. The Stars dug in and held off the charging Utica comeback and with 45 seconds left in regulation Curtis McKenzie sealed the game with an empty net goal for a 5-3 Texas win.

Cristopher Nilstorp stopped 30-of-33 shots faced and got the win in goal for Texas, his 12th of the season. Joe Cannata started for Utica, playing the first 34:21 of the game and stopping 17-of-21 shots on goal, taking the loss. Backup Mathieu Corbeil logged 25:34 of action and finished with a perfect 17 saves on 17 shots in a no-decision. The Stars out-shot the Comets 39-33 in the game and went 0-for-2 on the power play; Utica was 0-for-3 with the man-advantage.

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