Shorthanded Stars lose in OT

Published on January 3, 2007 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Iowa Chops News Release


HAMILTON, ONTARIO, CANADA - The Iowa Stars and the Hamilton Bulldogs kicked-off the 2007 portion of their AHL schedule with a game on Wednesday night at Copps Coliseum. For the first time in four overtime games, the Stars were unable to obtain the victory, ultimately falling 4-3 in the extra session. They did pick-up a point in the standings by going to overtime. Iowa played the game without five of their six leading scorers (three injured, two recalled to Dallas).

Iowa's Scott May gave the Stars an early 1-0 lead with his second goal of the season. May collected the puck in the high slot, and fired a turnaround shot that beat Hamilton netminder Yann Danis at 3:22. Defenseman Nicklas Grossman and Forward Marius Holtet registered the assists on the lone goal of the first period.

Janos Vas spotted the Stars a two-goal lead early in the second period. With the puck behind the Hamilton goal, Jamie Johnson directed the puck to John Lammers. Lammers sent the puck back behind the net to a waiting Vas. Vas collected on the right side and caught Danis leaning to the left side of the net. The power-play goal was Vas' fourth goal of the season. Twenty-six seconds later, Duncan Milroy cut the Stars lead in half with his 16th of the season. With the Bulldogs on the power-play, the Stars regained the two-goal lead. Rookie Mark Fistric skated down the right wall and sent the puck towards the Hamilton goal. The puck glanced-off a Bulldogs player and found its way to the back of the net, and gave Fistric his first professional goal. The Stars ninth shorthanded goal of the season came at 6:12. Collecting the rebound and going nearly coast-to-coast, Andrei Kostitsyn wristed a shot glove-side and over the shoulder of Iowa netminder Dan Ellis. The goal at 14:55 pulled Hamilton to within one goal.

Fistric had his bid for his goal to be the game-winning goal when Hamilton evened the score with 6:04 left in the third period. Mikhail Grabovski split the Iowa blueliners and evened the score when his shot sailed past Dan Ellis. The score remained deadlocked and went into the five-minute sudden-death overtime.

The Stars applied plenty of pressure on the Hamilton goal, with Yann Danis making a key save. The rebound went to Maxim Lapierre who went end-to-end on a two-on-one, faked a pass, and gave the Bulldogs the 4-3 overtime win with 2:24 gone in the five minute overtime.

It was the first time in four overtime games the Stars failed to register the win. Dan Ellis finished with 21 saves in between the pipes for Iowa.

Shots: IOWA: 22; HAMILTON: 25; Attendance: 3,742

Game Sheet - http://stats.theahl.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1002696

IOWA STARS INFO: The Stars remain on the road for another game in Hamilton, Ontario on Friday and in Toronto on Saturday. Iowa returns to Wells Fargo Arena on Friday, January 12th for a 7:00 PM face-off with the Houston Aeros. Friday's game is KCWI Date Night and will have a 7:00 PM face-off. One lucky couple will win round trip airfare to Las Vegas courtesy of Allegiant Air and couples can purchase two tickets, two hot dogs, and two cokes for just $23! The following evening, the Toronto Marlies make their only trip to Des Moines. The first 1,500 fans through the turnstiles will receive a FREE Iowa Stars stocking cap! Doors open for all home games one hour before face-off. Bring a group or hold your child's birthday at a Stars game! All ticketing information can be obtained by calling 515-23-STARS or by visiting IowaStarsHockey.com.

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American Hockey League Stories from January 3, 2007


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