Texas Edges Hershey in the Final Minute

In a night where the Stars never trailed in the game, it still took a goal in the final minute by Travis Morin to knock off the Bears to prevent OT. And go up 2-0 as the Series shifts to the Cedar Park Center on Monday Night for Game 3 as the Stars will now look to win the Calder Cup Championship on home ice this week.

Other Texas Goals were scored by Aaron Gagnon in the first, Garrett Stafford in the 2nd and Mathieu Beaudoin in the 3rd to take 1 goal leads in all three instances.

For the Hershey Bears, these were the first 2 home losses in the playoffs after going 8-0 in the first 3 rounds as they saw off the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, Albany River Rats & the Manchester Monarchs in the playoffs. Goals for the Bears came from Andrew Gordon, Steve Pinizzotto & Francois Bouchard in this game.

One note for the Games at the Cedar Park Center: If your going to any of the games at the Cedar Park Center, be sure to wear white as the team will look to have a whiteout for all 3 games (If Necessary) next week as the Stars are now getting into striking distance for their first ever league championship.

Austin American Statesman: www.statesman.com/sports/pro/stars-beat-hershey-take-2-0-cup-lead-729924.html

Hershey Bears Website: www.hersheybears.com/news/detail.php?bp=index.php&id=3250

Hershey Newspaper: http://blog.pennlive.com/patriotnewssports/2010/06/texas_two-step_the_hershey_bea.html

Hundred Degree Hockey: http://hundreddegreehockey.blogspot.com/2010/06/stars-take-2-0-series-stranglehold-on-4.html


From the Texas Stars Website

In Hershey, Pennsylvania: The Texas Stars defeated the Hershey Bears 4-3 on Saturday Night in front of 10,872 fans at the Giant Center in Game 2 of the Calder Cup Finals. Texas forward Travis Morin scored the game winning goal with 46 seconds remaining in the contest, giving the Stars the victory and a 2-0 series lead heading home for Game 3 on Monday at Cedar Park Center.

Forwards Aaron Gagnon and Mathieu Beaudoin also scored as Texas improved to 8-4 on the road in the playoffs. Stars defensemen Garrett Stafford also netted a goal, as Texas handed Hershey the first set of back-to-back regulation losses at home this year (playoffs and regular season). Texas Goalie Matt Climie made 25 saves, helping the team to its fourth straight road victory.

Hershey forwards Steve Pinizzotto, Andrew Gordon and Francois Bouchard each scored in the loss. Hershey Goalie Michal Neuvirth stopped 19 Texas Saves in the defeat. Texas will host Game 3 of the Calder Cup Finals on Monday Night at 7:30 PM at Cedar Park Center.

In the first period, Texas struck for the game's opening goal just one minute into the contest. Right wing Colton Sceviour tipped the puck at center ice to Aaron Gagnon. The Stars center took off on a breakaway and snuck a shot between the legs of Hershey Goalie Michal Neuvirth for his seventh goal of the playoffs and a 1-0 lead.

Hershey countered with a shorthanded goal at 7:40. Winger Steve Pinizzotto picked a puck at the Hershey Blue-line and lead a two-on-one rush back into Texas Territory. Pinnizzotto evened the scoring with a slap-shot from the top of the right-wing circle, beating Stars Goalie Matt Climie for his fifth goal of the playoffs. The shorthanded goal tied the game at 1-1.

In the 2nd period, the teams traded goals once again. Texas pushed in front with the first power-play goal of the series at 11:03 of the middle frame. Stars defensemen Garrett Stafford blasted a shot that deflected off a Hershey defender and into the Bears Net for the 2-1 Texas Lead. Stars defensemen Andrew Hutchinson and forward Perttu Lindgren assisted on Stafford's fourth goal of the playoffs.

Hershey countered to tie the game 2-2 at 11:49. Forward Francois Bouchard blasted a one-timer from the high slot, beating Texas Goalie Matt Climie on the stick side for his fourth goal of the playoffs. Hershey defensemen Patrick Wellar and forward Ashton Rome picked up the assist on the Bears second goal of the night.

In the 3rd period, the Stars pushed ahead with a 3-2 lead after a goal by Mathieu Beaudoin at 3:18 of the final frame. Center Perttu Lindgren split the defense and slipped a pass to Beaudoin. The Texas winger finished off the play, beating Michal Neuvirth for his fourth goal of the playoffs and the team's third tally of the night.

The Bears tied the game for the third time of the night at 10:44. Andrew Gordon put in a rebound off a Patrick Wellar shot, netting his 11th goal of the playoffs and tying the game at 3-3. Texas charged back to take the lead in the last minute. Forward Scott Mcculloch threw the puck into the Hershey zone, banking the puck off the boards.

Stars forward Travis Morin scooped up the puck and snapped the backhand shot to the Hershey net. The puck deflected off Bears Goalie Michal Neuvirth and into the net for the game-winning goal and a 4-3 final.


Calder Cup Finals Update

Game 1: Texas Stars 2 Hershey Bears 1 (0-0, 1-1, 1-0)
http://theahl.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1007318

Game 2: Texas Stars 4 Hershey Bears 3 (1-1, 1-1, 2-1)
http://theahl.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1007319

Game 3, 6/7: Hershey Bears VS. Texas Stars 7:30 PM

Game 4, 6/9: Hershey Bears VS. Texas Stars 7:30 PM

Game 5, 6/11: Hershey Bears VS. Texas Stars 7:30 PM*

Game 6, 6/14: Texas Stars VS. Hershey Bears 6:00 PM*

Game 7, 6/16: Texas Stars VS. Hershey Bears 6:00 PM*

*If Necessary



Texas Stars Lead Series 2-0


Game 2 Boxscore

Texas Stars 4 Hershey Bears 3 (1-1, 1-1, 2-1)

1-0 TEX: Aaron Gagnon (Sceviour, Benn) 1:00 1st

1-1 HER: Steve Pinizzotto (SH) (Unassisted) 7:40 1st

2-1 TEX: Garrett Stafford (PP) (Lindgren, Hutchinson) 11:03 2nd

2-2 HER: Francois Bouchard (Wellar, Rome) 11:49 2nd

3-2 TEX: Mathieau Beaudoin (Lindgren) 3:18 3rd

3-3 HER: Andrew Gordon (Wellar, Aucoin) 10:44 3rd

4-3 TEX: Travis Morin (Mcculloch, Rallo) 19:14 3rd


Game Stats


SOG: TEX 23 HER 28

PP: TEX 1/6 HER 0/4

PIM: TEX 10 Minutes on 5 Penalties HER 14 Minutes on 7 Penalties

Goalies: TEX Matt Climie 25 SVS on 28 Shots HER Michal Neuvirth 19 SVS on 23 Shots

ATT: 10872

3rd Star: Patrick Wellar (HER)

2nd Star: Perttu Lindgren (TEX)

1st Star: Travis Morin (TEX)