Chicago gives Texas Their first Playoff Loss in 2OT, Ties series at 1-1

It was another OT Game in the West Division Final as the Chicago Wolves gave the Texas Stars their first playoff loss in team history to even up the series at 1-1. Unlike Friday Night where the Stars won quickly, this one took double OT as the Stars had to comeback late to get it there.

After going down 2-0 early in the 2nd period, Aaron Gagon got the scoring going for the Stars with just 1:14 left in the 2nd period as the Chicago Goalie Peter Mannino who was looking to blank the Stars for the first time this post-season.

Just a few minutes later early on in the 3rd period it was another quick strike with Anthony Stewart giving the Wolves a 3-1 lead on the PP that was set up fantasitacly step up by Tim Stapleton on the One Timer.

After Stars Defensemen Andrew Hutchinson made it 3-2, it looked like that time would runout on this day. But Warren Peters emerged from a scrum with less then a minute left to tie the game at 3-3 as the Offical Scorers had a hard time determing who to give credit for the goal.

Chicago were getting their chances as they out-shot the Stars 19-9 where Antony Stewart scored his 2nd of the game to tie the series at 1-1. The Series now shifts back to the Cedar Park Center for Game 3 on Tuesday Night.

Game Story from the Texas Stars Website: www.texasstarshockey.com

From Chicago, Illinois: The Texas Stars were defated by the Chicago Wolves 4-3 in OT in-front of a crowd of 3732 fans at the All-State Arena. Chicago's Anthony Stewart scored his second of the game of the night at 12:21 of the 2nd OT to lift the Wolves over the Stars and tie the best-of-7 series at 1-1. Texas scored twice in the last 8 minutes of play to erase a two-goal deficit, including a goal with 54 seconds left to force OT in Game 2 of the West Division Final. Stars Goalie Brent Krhan made 42 saves in his first loss of the playoffs.

Chicago Goalie Peter Mannino picked up the win with 35 saves for the Wolves. Stars forward Warren Peters and Aaron Gagon each scored in a game that lasted 97:21, the longest in the team's short history. Defensemen Andrew Hutchinson scored a goal and added an assist in the first loss of the post-season. With the Chicago win, the series will stretch at-least five games, with the next three at Cedar Park Center. Game 3 of the West Division Final is Tuesday Night at 7:30 PM @ Cedar Park Center.

For the first time in the Calder Cup Playoffs, the Texas Stars surrendered the first goal of the game. At 8:36 of the first period, Chicago held the puck in the Texas Zone for a lengthy cycle, working the puck to the left point for Arturs Kulda. The Chicago Defensemen blated a shot from the blue line to the Texas net. Wolves forward Spencer Machacek tipped the shot, beating Goalie Brent Krahn for his third goal of the playoffs for a 1-0 Wolves lead.

The two teams traded goals in the 2nd period, starting with Chicago scoring 3:51 into the middle frame. Off a face-off in the Texas Zone, Wolves defensemen Ivan Vishnevskiy fired a shot to the net was tipped by center Jason Krog. The Puck redirected past Brent Krahn for Krog's fourth goal of the playoffs and a 2-0 lead for Chicago.

Texas countered late in the 2nd period with 1:14 left in the frame. Right wing Greg Rallo worked in a give-and-go with defensemen Andrew Hutchinson into the Chicago Zone. Rallo snapped a shot to the net was blocked by Peter Mannino. The rebound bounced in the crease and Stars Center Aaron Gagon poked the puck into the net for his first goal of the playoffs at 18:46, trimming the Wolves lead to 2-1.

In the third period, Chicago expanded its lead to 3-1 after Anthony Stewart snapped a loose puck into the Texas Net, finishing off a Wolves power play just 92 seconds into the 3rd period. Brett Sterling and Tim Stapleton set up Chicago's third tally of the night. The Stars cut the Chicago lead to 3-2 at 11:57 of the 3rd period. Captain Landon Wilson set up behind the Wolves net, dropping a pass to the bottom of the left-wing circle. Defensemen Andrew Hutchinson ripped a one-timer past Mannino for his third goal of the playoffs to make it a 3-2 score.

The Stars pulled goaltender Brent Krahn for the extra attacker with 1:30 left in regulation. Texas tied the game off a scramble in the Chicago slot with under a minute left. Center Warren Peters snapped the puck to the Chicago Net. Goalie Peter Mannino made the first save, but the puck trickled in behind him for the game tying goal. Left wing Francis Wathier set up the goal that forced OT.

After a scoreless first OT, Chicago finally broke the drought and ended the game. Anthony Stewart jammed a puck from the pads of Krahn and the puck trickled in behind the Stars goalie for the game winning goal with 7:39 left in the 2nd OT. Brett Sterling and Ivan Vishnevskiy were given credit for the assist on the game-winning goal at 12:21, the sixth of the playoffs for Stewart.


West Division Final Update

Game 1, Texas Stars 4 Chicago Wolves 3 (OT)

Game 2, Texas Stars 3 Chicago Wolves 4 (2OT)

Game 3, 5/4: @ Texas 7:30 PM

Game 4, 5/5: @ Texas 7:30 PM

Game 5, 5/7: @ Texas 7:30 PM

Game 6, 5/9: @ Chicago 3:00 PM*

Game 7, 5/11: @ Chicago 7:00 PM*

*If Necessary

To purchase Calder Cup Playoff Packages, which offers fans for all 16 possible home games, fans may call 512-GO-STARS. To rent a suite for a home playoff game or book a group, those interestred may call 512-GO-STARS. Ind. Tickets for playoff games at Cedar Park Center also can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000, visiting any Ticketmaster outlet or the Cedar Park Center Boxoffice, or online at www.ticketmaster.com


Series Tied 1-1, Game 3 will be Tuesday Night in Austin, Texas.


Game Boxscore

Texas Stars 3 Chicago Wolves 4 (2OT) (0-1, 1-1, 2-1, 0-0, 0-1)

0-1 CHI: Spencer Machacek (Kulda, Sterling) 8:36 1st

0-2 CHI: Jason Krog (Vishnevskiy) 3:51 2nd

1-2 TEX: Aaron Gagon (Rallo, Hutchinson) 18:46 2nd

1-3 CHI: Andrew Stewart (PP) (Stapleton, Sterling) 1:32 3rd

2-3 TEX: Andrew Hutchinson (Wilson) 11:57 3rd

3-3 TEX: Warren Peters (Wathier) 19:06 3rd

3-4 CHI: Anthony Stewart (Sterling, Vishnevskiy) 12:21 2OT


Game Stats

SOG: TEX 38 CHI 46

PP: TEX 0/3 CHI 1/2

PIM: TEX 10 Minutes on 5 Penalties CHI 12 Minutes on 6 Penalties

Goalies: TEX Brent Krahn 42 SVS on 46 Shots CHI Peter Mannino 35 SVS on 38 Shots

ATT: 3732

3rd Star: Andrew Hutchinson (TEX)

2nd Star: Brett Sterling (CHI)

1st Star: Anthony Stewart (CHI)