STARS STRUCK

Texas Stars 4 at GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 3

Nov. 18, 2016

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Griffins built a 3-1 lead on the strength of three power play tallies before the Texas Stars stormed back with a trio of goals in the game’s final 23 minutes to steal a 4-3 win at Van Andel Arena on Friday.

The visitors scored late in the second period to make it a 3-2 game, then goals by Travis Morin with 7:16 remaining and Matej Stransky with 2:40 left enabled the Stars to earn a split of their two-game set in Grand Rapids, following the Griffins’ 6-3 victory on Wednesday.

The Griffins (9-5-0-0), who saw their season-high four-game winning streak come to an end, will have a rare weekend off before getting back to action on Wednesday when they visit the Milwaukee Admirals at 8 p.m. EST.

A fluky goal gave the Stars (8-6-1-0) the lead 4:56 into the opening period. After an errant Texas pass caromed off the boards at center ice and slid toward Jared Coreau, the netminder attempted to poke-check it away from a charging Denis Gurianov, only to see the puck ramp off his own stick blade and flutter over his shoulder. Jason Dickinson, who triggered the pass 150 feet from the Grand Rapids net, was credited with the goal as the last Stars player to touch the puck.

Unfazed, the Griffins answered with a power play goal at 9:58, marking the fifth consecutive game they’ve scored during a man-advantage, their longest run of conversions since another five-game streak late last season (Feb. 23-March 2). Taking a pass from Matt Lorito above the right circle, Ben Street fired a puck on net that was redirected past Maxime Lagace’s glove by Tomas Nosek, who had set up shop at the right hashmarks.

Grand Rapids added two more power play tallies in the second period to go on top 3-1, the first coming during a 5-on-3 advantage. Nosek’s try from the left post skidded harmlessly through the crease behind Lagace, but Lorito was waiting on the other side to bank a shot off the goalie’s backside and across the line at 7:18. Lorito then secured his second straight three-point game at 12:46, setting up Martin Frk for a patented one-timer from the left circle.

The Stars trimmed their deficit back to one before the period was out. A wraparound attempt by Dickinson slid across the goal mouth to Gemel Smith, who quickly slipped a shot past Coreau at the 17:44 mark.

Exactly 15 minutes of playing time later, with 7:16 remaining in the third frame, Texas pulled even when Morin stickhandled down the ice, pulled up in the left circle and whipped a wrist shot inside the left post. The Stars maintained their momentum and notched the game-winner at the 17:20 mark. The puck came out from behind the net to Stransky, who roofed it through a sea of Griffins from the slot to complete the comeback.

Grand Rapids was unable to fully capitalize on a 44-30 advantage in shots, with Lagace’s 41 saves topping Coreau’s 26 stops. As a result, Texas snapped a 10-game losing streak to the Griffins that had dated to the 2013-14 season.

Notes: Lorito, whose 16 points (6-10—16) now tie for fourth in the AHL’s scoring race, is the first Griffin to record consecutive three-point nights since Andy Miele nearly one year ago (Nov. 25-27, 2015)…Grand Rapids’ power play has gone 9-for-27 over its five-game run, while the Griffins’ penalty killers have not allowed a goal in the last seven complete games, going 26-for-26 over their last 23 periods.

Three Stars: 1. TEX Stransky (game-winning goal); 2. GR Lorito (power play goal, two assists); 2. TEX Dickinson (goal, assist)