CEDAR PARK, Texas – Despite a late goal by defenseman Jeremie Blain, the Chicago Wolves suffered a 3-1 loss to the Texas Stars on Friday night at Cedar Park Center.
Blain, who joined the team on Tuesday, scored with 56 seconds left to ruin the shutout bid of Stars rookie goaltender Phillippe Desrosiers. Texas (18-14-3-3) scored a power-play goal early in each of the first two periods to build a working margin against the Wolves (16-14-1-2).
Texas took the lead on Travis Morin’s power-play goal 3:03 into the game. Morin flashed back-door from the right circle, accepted center Greg Rallo’s backhand pass through the slot and found the top-right corner of the net.
The Stars scored again at 7:07 on Rallo’s 13th goal of the year. Center Jason Dickinson drew the attention of both defensemen in the lower left circle, which left Rallo uncovered on the other side just outside the crease in front of an open net.
Texas boosted its lead to 3-0 at 4:44 of the second on Julius Honka’s power-play goal. Dickinson’s cross-ice pass set up Honka to blast a one-timer from the left circle.
Blain, making his season debut with the Wolves, delivered a blast from the right circle at 19:04 of the third. Ty Rattie’s cross-ice pass set him up and Scooter Vaughan also earned an assist on the play.
Wolves goaltender Jordan Binnington (8-6-2) stopped 29 of 32 shots as his two-game winning streak came to a close. Desrosiers, a 20-year-old rookie, posted 23 saves to earn his first AHL win.
The Wolves play the Stars again at 7 p.m. Saturday before traveling to Rockford for an Illinois Lottery Cup game on Tuesday. Chicago returns to Allstate Arena to face the Iowa Wild at 7 p.m. Friday and Lake Erie Monsters at 7 p.m. Saturday. To find the best ticket deals, visit ChicagoWolves.com or call 1-800-THE-WOLVES.
STARS 3, WOLVES 1
Chicago 0 0 1 — 1
Texas 2 1 0 — 3
First Period—1, Texas, Morin 11 (Rallo, McKenzie), 3:03 pp; 2, Texas, Rallo 13 (Dickinson, Hulak), 7:07. Penalties—Schmaltz, Chicago (hooking), 1:39; Texas (too many men, served by Smith), 8:51.
Second Period—3, Texas, Honka 7 (Dickinson), 4:44 pp. Penalties—Chicago (too many men, served by Trupp), 0:44; Blain, Chicago (tripping), 3:03; Schmaltz, Chicago (hooking), 16:08.
Third Period—1, Chicago, Blain 1 (Rattie, Vaughan), 19:04. Penalties—Trupp, Chicago (hooking), 9:55; Stransky, Texas (holding the stick), 9:55; Mangene, Texas (hooking), 11:14; Lindbohm, Chicago (boarding), 16:04; McKenzie, Texas (roughing), 16:04; Rattie, Chicago (goaltender interference), 16:54.
Shots on goal—Chicago 8-4-12—24; Texas 15-9-8—32. Power plays—Chicago 0-2; Texas 2-5. Goalies—Chicago, Binnington (29-32); Texas, Desrosiers (23-24). Referee—Mark Lemelin. Linesmen—Mike Winslow and Carl Sasyn.
