
Stars Comeback Falls Short in Bakersfield
November 4, 2018 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Texas Stars News Release
BAKERSFIELD, California - The Texas Stars, American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL's Dallas Stars, completed their California road trip with a 4-3 defeat at the hands of the Bakersfield Condors from Rabobank Arena. The Stars tallied a pair of goals in the third period but the comeback fell short after 60 minutes of play.
The Condors opened the game with a big push from the opening faceoff, tallying a pair of goals before the first five minutes had come off the game clock. Joe Gambardella and Evan Polei found the net for Bakersfield forcing the Stars into a 2-goal deficit. Goaltender Landon Bow came into the game for only 16 seconds as Colton Point exited the contest after the second goal. Point returned to the crease for the remainder of the game and made 25 saves.
Texas was out-chanced in the first period and went to the intermission with a 10-3 shot differential. The Condors added another early in the second period from Braden Christoffer to put the stars on their heels. The response came from Joel Hanley on the power play a little less than six minutes into the middle frame. The defenseman strode off the bench and caught a pass from Denis Gurianov at the top of the left circle. His shot beat goaltender Al Montoya to put the Stars on the board. Montoya earned the win in the end with 27 saves.
Later in the period, the Condors added a power play goal of their own. Cameron Hebig walked into the circle from the right point and tallied his team leading fifth goal of the season. Both teams finished the game 1-for-4 on the power play as Bakersfield took the 4-1 advantage into the third period.
The Stars charged forward in the third period, outshooting the Condors 16-2 in the final 20 minutes of play. The work paid off on the scoreboard as Erik Condra redirected a shot into the net at 12:45. The forward moved into the crease as Colin Markison fired a shot toward the net. After a pair of deflections, the puck banked off his chest and into the open cage. Texas would then pull Point from the net for an extra attacker. In the final second of the game, Michael Mersch notched his fifth goal of the season to move the score to the 4-3 final.
Texas returns home and has a full week without games before facing the San Antonio Rampage on Saturday, Nov. 10.
Box Score
3 Stars presented by Dahill Office Technology Corporation
1. Evan Polei (BAK)
2. Joe Gambardella (BAK)
3. Braden Christoffer (BAK)
The Texas Stars are the primary development affiliate of the NHL's Dallas Stars, return home on Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. to battle the San Antonio Rampage at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park for the first time this year. Full-season, 24-game and 12-game ticket packages for the 2018-19 campaign are on sale now. For more information, call (512) GO-STARS (467-8277) or visit TexasStars.com.
American Hockey League Stories from November 4, 2018
- Condors Earn Weekend Sweep, 3-2, over SA - Bakersfield Condors
- Griffins Score Six Goals in Third Period for Comeback Win over Monsters - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Iowa Falls to Rockford 4-2 - Iowa Wild
- Pack Takes Hershey to Extra Time, but Falls in Shootout - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Milner Shines in Goal, Bears Rally Past Wolf Pack - Hershey Bears
- Monsters Tripped up by Griffins, 8-4 - Cleveland Monsters
- Anaheim Ducks Recall Carrick - San Diego Gulls
- Aston-Reese Nets Hat Trick in Penguins Loss at Bridgeport - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Ho-Sang ties franchise record with four assists, while Dal Colle and Bellows each score twice - Bridgeport Islanders
- Aaron Ness Re-Assigned to Hershey - Hershey Bears
- Condors Host Undie Sunday at 5 Pm Today - Bakersfield Condors
- Sens Return Two to Brampton - Belleville Senators
- Game Preview: Wolf Pack at Bears, 5:00 p.m. - Hershey Bears
- Stars Comeback Falls Short in Bakersfield - Texas Stars
- Tucson Grounded Late in Lopsided Loss to Colorado - Tucson Roadrunners
- Reign Win 4-2 - Ontario Reign
- Condors Shine over Stars, 4-3 - Bakersfield Condors
- Binnington, Rampage Blank Stockton - San Antonio Rampage
- Gulls Felled at Ontario 4-2 - San Diego Gulls
- Four-Goal Third Period Launches Eagles to 5-1 Win over Tucson - Colorado Eagles
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