NOT-SO-STARRY NIGHT

GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 4 at Texas Stars 1

Jan. 25, 2014

CEDAR PARK, Texas — The Grand Rapids Griffins reclaimed the Western Conference from the Texas Stars with a 4-1 win Saturday at the Cedar Park Center.

It was the second game in as many days between the top two Western Conference teams, with each team winning one game apiece. The Griffins (28-12-1-2) will round out their three-in-three at 5 p.m. on Sunday at the AT&T Center against the San Antonio Rampage.

The Griffins had an opportunity to take the lead about 13 minutes into the first period, but the referees waved a goal by Louis-Marc Aubry off. Andrej Nestrasil threw a pass into the danger zone in front of Josh Robinson, and Aubry eventually swatted the puck into the net, but it was ruled a high stick and the game remained scoreless for the remainder of the period.

The Stars (27-12-2-3) opened scoring at 1:51 of the second period, but the Griffins were quick to respond. Scott Glennie dropped a pass in the right circle to Chris Mueller, who buried a one-timer into the top shelf.

Less than a minute and a half later at 3:06, Mitch Callahan evened the game with his 17th goal of the season. Calle Jarnkrok won a faceoff in the Stars zone and passed to Callahan, who controlled the puck around the left circle perimeter before snapping a shot from a tight angle.

About midway through the period, the teams were playing four-on-four after the Stars got called for too many men while Adam Almquist’s interference penalty dwindled down. Nestrasil took a faceoff to the left of Robinson and slammed the puck as soon as it hit the ice directly into the net at 9:00.

Just 43 seconds later while on the power play, Landon Ferraro found himself open in the right circle and put away a feed from Teemu Pulkkinen to extend the Griffins’ lead.

At 15:08, Ferraro struck again for his second multi-goal game this season. He and Jordin Tootoo exchanged a give-and-go while rushing down the ice, and Ferraro redirected a pass from Tootoo in the slot for the goal.

The third period was scoreless, and Tom McCollum finished the game with 33 saves. Opposite him, Robinson turned away 28 of 32.

Three Stars: 1. GR McCollum (W, 33 saves); 2. GR Ferraro (two goals); 3. TEX Mueller (goal)