CEDAR PARK, Texas – The Chicago Wolves poured a season-high 50 shots on goal, but fell short to the Texas Stars, 5-2, Saturday night at the Cedar Park Center. Despite being on the short-end of the shot count, 50-27, the Stars completed a weekend sweep of the Wolves, capturing the season series (3-1-0-0) in the process.
Chicago (16-15-1-2) received scoring from Zack Torquato and Riley Brace, who scored their first goals as Wolves. Both players joined the team on Dec. 29. Danny Kristo finished with nine shots, a team season high.
Brett Ritchie scored twice while Justin Dowling compiled three points (goal, two assists) and Matt Mangene added two assists for Texas (19-14-3-3).
The Stars opened scoring just 3:12 into the first period, when Ritchie skated into the left circle, applied the brakes, then executed a pull-and-drag move to lift the puck over the shoulder of goaltender Pheonix Copley. The teams traded goals to end the period. Torquato redirected a pass across the slot from Yannick Veilleux at 11:08 while Cole Ully snapped a low shot into the net from close range at 14:35.
The second period produced three more goals. Ritchie added his second tally with a redirect on the doorstep at 5:16, followed by Derek Hulak’s backhander at 8:02, which resulted from a Chicago turnover behind the net. Brace answered with a power play goal at the 11:15 mark, collecting a loose rebound in the slot and ripping a shot past goaltender Philippe Desrosiers.
The Stars added an empty net goal from Dowling when Copley was pulled for an extra attacker late in the third period.
Copley (8-9-1) finished with 22 saves, as teammate Jordan Binnington was reassigned by St. Louis earlier in the day. Desrosiers (3-1-1) stopped 48 shots.
The Wolves return to Allstate Arena to face the Iowa Wild next Friday (Jan. 15) at 7 p.m. To find the best ticket deals, visit ChicagoWolves.com or call 1-800-THE-WOLVES.
STARS 5, WOLVES 2
Chicago 1 1 0 — 2
Texas 2 2 1 — 5
First Period—1, Texas, Ritchie 8 (Dowling, Mangene), 3:12, pp; 2, Chicago, Torquato 1 (Veilleux, Schmaltz), 11:08; 3, Texas, Ully 2 (Backman, Mangene), 14:35.
Penalties—Welsh, Chicago (slashing), 1:40; Lindell, Texas (cross-checking), 7:28.
Second Period—4, Texas, Ritchie 9 (Elie, Dowling), 5:16; 5, Texas, Hulak 8 (Dickinson), 8:02; 6, Chicago, Brace 1 (Harrold, Cannone), 11:15, pp.
Penalties—Hulak, Texas (tripping), 2:48; Lindell, Texas (holding), 10:53; Harrold, Chicago (interference), 16:50.
Third Period—7, Texas, Dowling 9 (unassisted), 17:35, en.
Penalties—Veilleux, Chicago (slashing), 0:17; Trupp, Chicago (high-sticking), 2:45; McKenzie, Texas (hooking), 5:00.
Shots on goal—Chicago 16-18-16—50; Texas 6-12-9—27. Power plays—Chicago 1-4; Texas 1-4. Goalies—Chicago, Copley (22-26); Texas, Desrosiers (48-50). Referees—Mark Lemelin. Linesmen—Christopher Gates and Randy Sappo.
