Stars Shine Bright, Snag Game One Victory Over Admirals

The Texas Stars drew first blood in the Central Division Finals, skating to a decisive 4-2 victory over the Milwaukee Admirals on Thursday night at a roaring H-E-B Center. Despite an aggressive showing from the Admirals, who racked up five penalties, the Stars remained composed and capitalized on their opportunities to secure the pivotal Game One win.

The Stars drew first blood early in the opening period. Just over three minutes into the contest, Matthew Seminoff pounced on a loose puck in front of the Milwaukee net, tucking it past Admirals netminder Matt Murray. Milwaukee responded with a power-play tally of their own just over five minutes later, Cal O’Reilly converting a rebound. However, in the dying seconds of the first frame, Justin Hryckowian restored the Stars’ lead, his shot deflecting off Murray and just inside the post for a 2-1 advantage heading into the first intermission.

Hryckowian continued his stellar performance early in the second period, notching his second goal of the night on the power play. He expertly tapped in a backdoor pass from Kole Lind, extending the Stars’ lead to 3-1.

The Stars further solidified their lead early in the third period when Luke Krys connected with Matej Blümel, who powered down the slot and fired a shot past Murray’s blocker. Milwaukee responded just under five minutes later with a powerful slap shot from Mark Friedman, but it wasn’t enough to spark a comeback.

Stars’ netminder Magnus Hellberg stood tall, turning away 23 of 25 shots to secure the victory. Reflecting on the win, Stars head coach Neil Graham acknowledged the ebb and flow of the game. “It’s a game of momentum,” Graham stated, praising his team’s ability to regain control after Milwaukee’s equalizer. He also highlighted the importance of discipline, noting the Admirals’ penalties and emphasizing the need for his team to “play between the whistles” in the long series ahead.

Looking forward, Graham stressed the importance of resetting for Game Two. “We know they are a great team,” he said, anticipating a strong response from the Admirals. The Stars will look to carry their momentum into the next matchup as they aim to take a commanding 2-0 series lead.