AUSTIN, TX – The Iowa Wild battled back from a three-goal deficit to tie the Texas Stars late in the third, but the Stars scored two goals in the final four minutes to earn a 6-4 victory. The Wild finally got through to Matthew Murray, scoring four goals, but Jesper Wallstedt gave up five. Adam Beckman had two goals for the Wild.

After a scoreless first period, Texas looked like they would blow this game open, scoring three goals within the first 10 minutes of the second. Kyle McDonald delivered a power-play goal 34 seconds into the second frame to put the Stars on top by a goal. Logan Stankoven passed the puck to McDonald in slot, who slid the puck through the legs of Wallstedt for his 13th goal of the season.

Just after the eight-minute mark, Mavrik Bourque extended the lead to two. Curtis McKenzie passed the puck to Bourque at the left face-off circle, who blew a one-time or by the Wild netminder.

Just 74 seconds later, Texas was back on the board. Matej Blumel fired a shot from the point that deflected off Derrick Pouliot and past Wallstedt for his seventh goal of the year, extending the Stars lead to three.

Iowa was in serious trouble, but Steven Fogarty scored with 2:42 left in the second to give Iowa a little momentum heading into the locker room. The play was set up by Kevin Conley, who delivered a crushing blow behind the Texas net. That freed the puck in front, where Fogarty gained control, putting it past Murray for his 11th goal of the year.

The Wild continued to pressure, cutting the deficit to one when Sammy Walker scored his 10th goal of the season a little over six minutes into the third. Walker left a drop pass for Nic Petan, then broke for the net. Petan found his teammate, as Walker redirected the puck past Murray to make it 3-2.

Blumel looked like he had sealed the victory for Texas at 8:39 when he scored his 20th goal of the season. Fredrik Karlstrom gained control of the puck in his own end, then sent a perfect feed onto the stick of Blumel, sending him in on a breakaway. Blumel approached Wallstedt, beating him with a forehand to the far corner to make it 4-2.

The Stars held that two-goal advantage for five minutes, but Beckman scored back-to-back goals to knot the game at four. The first game at 13:31 when Beckman scored on the power-play. Fogarty made a perfect pass across the slot to the back door, where Beckman redirected the puck past Murray for his 11th goal of the season.

Almost exactly 4 minutes later, Beckman scored his second goal of the night. After winning the draw inside the Texas end, Beckman blasted a shot that Murray never reacted to.

Iowa had made a great comeback, but Pouliot dashed their hopes with exactly 4 minutes left in the game when he notched his second goal of the night. Pouliot took a pass from Karlstrom and lifted a wrist shot that beat Wallstedt to make it 5-4. With 28 seconds left in the game, Karlstrom scored an empty net tally to close out the scoring.

Fogarty had a goal and an assist for Iowa and Petan added two assists. Karlstrom and Blumel each had a goal and two assists for the Stars.

These two teams will square off again on Saturday in Austin. The puck drops at 7:00.

Gamesheet

by Robert Pannier