Stars Secure Playoff Berth and Defeat Admirals

It was a doubly good night for the Texas Stars.  They officially clinched a spot in the Calder Cup Playoffs before taking the ice against the Milwaukee Admiral.  They then went on to defeat the Admirals by a final score of 3-to-1. 

The Admirals’ Adam Wilsby opened the scoring midway through the opening frame.  Texas’ Emilio Pettersen evened the score a minute later, and Kyle McDonald gave the Stars a 2-to-1 lead headed into the first intermission. 

Tempers flared in the opening minutes of the middle period, beginning with a goaltender interference penalty, followed shortly with roughing and fighting penalties. 

Texas regained composure in the final period, culminating with Petterson’s second goal of the game on a power play. 

Texas’ defense looked solid, holding the Admirals to single-digit shots in each period, and unleashed a barrage of 35 total shots-on-goal. 

Texas goalkeeper Matt Murray skated home with the win, making 18 saves against 19 shots-on-goal. Milwaukee net-minder Yaroslave Askarov endured the loss, allowing three goals on 35 shots. 

“Real good response from our group.  We were focused on what we needed to do,” said Stars head coach Neil Graham.  “We were better with our puck management.  We were better with our communication, both on the ice and on the bench.” 

Graham spent considerable time in the post-game interview talking about the newness of the roster, as the team makes ready for the playoffs. 

“We’re going to present to plan to win.  We’re going to try to win every shift, win every period.  Sometime you lose.  And through that you have a chance for growth,” said Graham.  “You have to put players in a position to succeed or fail.  Failure isn’t the end of the world, it’s how you grow.  Without failure there is no growth.”