Stars Fall Short to Bulldogs in 5-2 Loss
December 21, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Texas Stars News Release
HAMILTON, Ontario -- A late power play goal in the third period by Greg Rallo gave the Texas Stars life, but an empty-net goal for the Hamilton Bulldogs put the finishing touch on a 5-2 final at FirstOntario Centre on Sunday afternoon to close out the Texas three-game weekend.
Working with a four-minute power play late in the third, Rallo buried a rebound goal at 13:23 to make it a 4-2 deficit for the Stars. Staying on the power play for another two minutes, the Stars (11-9-8-0) opted for the extra attacker to try and cut the deficit to one, but Drayson Bowman scored an empty-net goal with 2:24 left in regulation to seal the win for the Bulldogs (14-11-5-0).
Curtis McKenzie tallied an assist in his return to the Texas lineup after being reassigned by the NHL's Dallas Stars on Friday. Matt Mangene had an assist for his second straight game after signing with the Stars on Saturday.
Jack Campbell took the loss, stopping 22 shots. Dustin Tokarski was 29-of-31 in net for the Bulldogs in the win.
Texas visits the San Antonio Rampage on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Darren Dietz opened up the scoring with a wrist shot from the point at 5:05 of the first period to give Hamilton the early lead.
In the second, Connor Crisp made it a 2-0 deficit for the Stars, deflecting a point shot by Davis Drewiske past Campbell at 10:04. 10 seconds later Justin Dowling responded for Texas after driving the right circle and snapping a wrist shot home for his eight of the season. Derek Hulak set up Dowling for the rush on a cross-ice feed at center ice to earn the assist.
The Bulldogs jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the third as Jake Dowell scored on a shorthanded break at 2:51, and then Maxime Macenauer added his fourth of the year nearly five minutes later.
The Stars finished 1-for-7 on the power play and held the Bulldogs scoreless on five opportunites. Texas has given up just three power play goals in their opponents' last 44 chances.
Derek Meech tallied a point for the second straight game for the Stars, assisting on Rallo's goal.
Three Stars:
1. Jake Dowell (HAM)
2. Greg Rallo (TEX)
3. Darren Dietz (HAM)
The Texas Stars entered the 2014-15 season as the AHL's defending Calder Cup Champions. Single-game tickets and season ticket packages for the 2014-15 campaign are on sale now. For more information, call (512) GO-STARS (467-8277) or visit TexasStarsHockey.com.
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