Stars Fall to Rockford in Game 1, 4-2
April 24, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Texas Stars News Release
CEDAR PARK, Texas - Three third period goals for the Rockford IceHogs was the difference in a comeback win over the Texas Stars to take Game 1 by a 4-2 final on Friday night in front of 4,375 in attendance at Cedar Park Center.
Spencer Abbott scored a pair of power play goals for the IceHogs, including the game-tying marker. Texas picked up goals from Curtis McKenzie and Julius Honka. Jussi Rynnas stopped 33 shots in net for Texas, while Michael Leighton made 33 saves in the win for Rockford.
Game 2 is Saturday night at Cedar Park Center at 7 p.m.
Abbott opened up the game's scoring with the only goal of the first, snapping a wrist from the slot at 6:23 for his first of the playoffs.
In period two, Curtis McKenzie knotted things up for the Stars at 16:37, finishing off a rebound goal in a scrum at the front of the net with assists from Greg Rallo and Honka.
Honka put Texas in front, 2-1, burying a slap shot from the top of the right circle at 4:24 of the third for his first of the postseason, but the IceHogs would score three straight to overtake the Stars in the win. Abbott added his second of the night from the bottom of the left circle during a two-man advantage at 8:31. Kirill Gotovets tallied the game-winner on a one-timer at 12:19 from a behind-the-net pass by Phillip Danault.
Ryan Hartman added an empty-net goal for the 4-2 final.
The Stars went 1-for-4 on the power play while the IceHogs finished 2-for-6. The win snapped an eight-game playoff losing streak for Rockford.
The Texas Stars entered the 2014-15 season as the AHL's defending Calder Cup Champions. Single-game tickets for the remainder of the 2015 Calder Cup Playoffs are on sale now, and fans can now place season ticket package deposits for the 2015-16 campaign. For more information, call (512) GO-STARS (467-8277) or visit TexasStarsHockey.com.
• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...
American Hockey League Stories from April 24, 2015
- Late Surge Lifts Hogs to 1-0 Series Lead - Rockford IceHogs
- Stars Fall to Rockford in Game 1, 4-2 - Texas Stars
- Comets Head Home with a Split Series vs Chicago - Utica Comets
- Wolves Square Series with 2-1 Triumph - Chicago Wolves
- Penguins Take Down Crunch in Game 1, 5-1 - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Sharks Drop Game 1 to the Bears 4-1 - Worcester Sharks
- Bears Power Past Sharks Late, Grab Series Opener - Hershey Bears
- Crunch Fall to Penguins, 5-1, in Game 1 - Syracuse Crunch
- Griffins Face Marlies in Western Conference Quarterfinals - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Wings Return Pulkkinen to Griffins - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Lauridsen Excited to Represent Denmark at 2015 Hockey World Championship - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Dallas Signs Janmark to Entry-Level Deal - Texas Stars
- IceCaps Annual Stick Sale Saturday - St. John's IceCaps
- Penguins Reassign Ruopp to Wheeling - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Barons Take Game One, 5-2 - Oklahoma City Barons
- Pirates Fall to Monarchs 5-2 in Game One - Portland Pirates
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
