On Saturday night in front of an announced crowd of 6,408, the Texas Stars behind a 30 save from Wild killer Matthew Murray shut out Iowa 4-0. Mavrik Bourque and Logan Stankoven had a goal and two assists apiece. Long time Wild nemesis Curtis McKenzie pitched in with a goal and an assist.

In spite of outshooting the Wild by an 11-6 margin, the Stars were unable to get on the board in the first period. The Wild defense only allowed one shot in the high danger area. Both teams also came up empty on their only power play opportunity.

The Stars however struck twice early in the second period. After a turnover in the Wild end, McKenzie was able to beat Zane McIntyre in tight to give the Stars a 1-0 lead. Time of the goal was 1:33 with Bourque and Nicholas Caamano picking up helpers on McKenzie’s second tally of the year. Then at 4:26, the Stars caught the Wild pinching in and transitioned play into a three on one rush with Bourque putting a wrister by McIntyre for his fourth goal of the season. McKenzie and Stankoven picked up the assists. Texas once again outshot Iowa in the second period, 13-9.

Adam Beckman had a grade A chance off of a Stars turnover early in the third period but was foiled by Murray. The third period was uneventful until 12:28 mark when at the end of a Stars power play, Matej Blumel one timed a feed and beat McIntyre to his left. It was Blumel’s fourth goal of the season with Antonio Stranges and Lian Bichsel assisting. At 12:57, Riley Damiani took a cross checking penalty. Iowa pulled McIntyre for an extra attacker. In spite of a few flurries of shots in front of the net, the Wild could not put anything by Murray. With 2:33 left in the game, Stankoven directed a centering pass by McIntyre to make it a 4-0 game. Bourque and Bichsel picked up the assists on Stankoven’s sixth goal of the season. The Wild outshot the Stars in the third period 15-10.

Same two teams will be back at it on Sunday afternoon at Wells Fargo Arena for a 3 pm puck drop.

Three Stars of the Game

1. Murray
2. Bourque
3. Stankoven

Notes:

Pavel Novak took the ceremonial puck drop for the Wild to kick off Hockey Fights Cancer month. Novak dealt with Hodgkin’s lymphona that cost him the entire 2022-23 season. Novak was also acknowledged as the Hero of the Game during a third period TV timeout (usually reserved for a fan). The Wild will wear a Hockey Fights Cancer sticker on their helmet for the month of November.

Zane McIntyre became the Iowa Wild all time saves leader when he notched his 1,983rd save. The Texas Stars are celebrating their 15th anniversary in Texas in 2023-24. The Stars were at one time located in Des Moines where they were known as the Iowa Stars from 2005-2008.

Gamesheet

By Kevin Luckow