The Chicago Wolves scored three consecutive goals in the third period, but the Texas Stars’ Jason Dickinson delivered the game-winning goal with 17 seconds to play in overtime as the Stars defeated the Wolves 6-5 Saturday at H-E-B Center.
Wolves defenseman Shea Theodore netted two goals while right wing Tyler Wong scored his first professional goal and forward Tomas Hyka recorded his first North American professional goal.
Dickinson accounted for two goals and an assist to pace the Stars (2-0-0-0).
The Wolves (0-1-1-0) opened scoring just 4:23 into the first frame when Theodore blasted a shot from the center point while Alex Tuch was screening Stars goaltender Mike McKenna (2-0-0).
Skating with a 5-on-3 advantage in the latter stages of the first period, Gavin Bayreuther tied the game for the Stars). Then, just 1:53 into the second session, Dickinson netted the go-ahead marker for the 2-1 Stars lead.
Less than five minutes later with the teams skating 4-on-4, the Wolves controlled play in the offensive zone when Teemu Pulkkinen found Theodore alone in the slot. Theodore’s quick release got past McKenna for the equalizer.
In the second half of the period, Texas tallied twice – at 10:06 and 17:37 – to stretch its lead to 4-2.
Wong started Chicago’s rally at 1:52 of the third. Beau Bennett chipped the puck out of the right offensive corner behind Stefan Matteau in the slot, who tapped it along to Wong on the doorstep.
The Wolves struck again at 11:55 to tie the game. Paul Thompson drew the Stars defenders into the left offensive corner and slipped the puck back to T.J. Tynan, who fed it out of the corner to Hyka at the front of the net.
Exactly 30 seconds later, Jake Bischoff settled down a bouncing puck at the right point and slapped it at the net. It grazed Bennett in front and found its way past McKenna for the 5-4 Wolves lead.
However, with 3:22 to play, Matt Mangene eluded a Wolves defender and skated low into the left circle for an easy goal to knot the game at five.
Chicago had many chances early in the extra session, but Dickinson took advantage of the Wolves pinching and scored on a breakaway for the win.
In his fist American Hockey League game since the 2014-15 campaign, rookie netminder Oscar Dansk (0-0-1) turned aside 30 shots in his Wolves debut. McKenna made 35 saves for his second victory in as many games.
The Wolves return to action for their 24th home opener on Saturday, Oct. 14, against the Ontario Reign at Allstate Arena in Rosemont.
