Power Play Push Wild Past Stars

The Iowa Wild converted on two of three power plays to push past the Texas Stars by a final score of 4-to-3. The game winning goal came on a power play in the final five minutes of the game. 

“We made mistakes on that first shift that were grave mistakes,” said Texas Stars head coach Neil Graham.  “At the end of the day you got to give them credit.  But at the end of the day we have to find areas to push through.”

The Wild caught the Stars sleeping when Turner Elson scored just 34 seconds into the game.  The Stars regroup and evened the score with Curtis McKenzie’s goal three minutes later.  Iowa capitalized on a power play midway through the period, eventually taking a 2-to-1 lead into the first intermission. 

Texas showed some resolve with Matej Blumel’s goal 45 second into the middle period.  The expected momentum shift was squelched with Elson’s second goal of the evening less than a minute later. 

Both the Stars and the Wild fought in the first ten minute of the third period.  The game swung in Texas’ favor with Matthew Seminoff’s game-tying score at 11:19.  The Wild were undeterred and eventually regain the lead on Cadean Bankier’s power play goal.   

New personnel were a factor in the team’s performance.  Three of the skaters on the ice had been with the team fewer than three games, and veteran Gavin Bayreuther has only played seven total games all season after returning from injury. 

Commenting on the situation, Texas head coach Neil Graham said,  “you recognized all the new bodies.  We’re getting guys in rhythm here.  There are moments of good, I know there is another gear we need to take it to.”