Griffins End Stars’ Seven-Game Streak with Late Power-Play in All-Star Return

Dominik Shine scored twice, including an empty‑netter, and Austin Watson’s power‑play tip five minutes into the third gave the Grand Rapids Griffins a 4-2 victory over the visiting Texas Stars at Van Andel Arena on Feb. 13, 2026, ending Texas’ seven‑game winning streak in the Griffins’ first game back from the AHL All‑Star break.

Texas opened the scoring 3:22 into the game on the power play when Kole Lind fired from the right circle and Harrison Scott redirected the shot past Grand Rapids goalie Michal Postava for a 1-0 lead. Amadeus Lombardi answered just over three minutes later by skating down the right wing and throwing a puck into the crease that glanced off a Stars defenseman and into the net to tie the game 1-1. Only 1:29 after Lombardi’s marker, Luke Krys collected a rebound off the boards and beat Postava to restore the Stars’ edge; that was Krys’s fourth goal of the year. Dominik Shine tipped a point shot before the period ended to knot the score at 2-2.

The middle frame produced no goals as both teams tightened defensively and goaltending mattered. Remi Poirier denied an open‑slot chance just past the midway point when Ian Mitchell skated alone toward the net and Poirier stretched out his right pad to keep the game tied. Poirier finished with 19 saves on 22 shots in the start for Texas.

Texas was whistled for a holding penalty five minutes into the third, putting Grand Rapids on the man advantage. Michael Brandsegg‑Nygård snapped a shot from the center point and Austin Watson tipped it through traffic to give the Griffins their first lead at 3-2. The Stars had two power‑play opportunities in the second half of the third period but could not convert, and with Poirier pulled for an extra attacker late, Shine tapped home an empty‑netter to seal the 4-2 final.

Dominik Shine’s two‑goal night carries context beyond the scoreboard: Shine, identified as the winner of the 2025 Bruce Boudreau Award, provided veteran finishing when Grand Rapids needed it in the All‑Star break return. Watson’s tipped power‑play goal and Brandsegg‑Nygård’s point shot showcased set‑play execution that flipped the momentum in the third period, while Poirier’s 19-of-22 effort kept Texas within striking distance until Grand Rapids’ late special‑teams edge.

The result has immediate competitive and operational implications. The loss halted Texas’ seven‑game surge just as the Stars began their third‑longest road trip of the season; that streak had lifted Texas into third place in the division and out of the first‑round play‑in as the schedule restarts. For Grand Rapids, winning at Van Andel Arena in the first game back from the All‑Star break sharpens the Griffins’ position in the division and rewards a roster that leaned on veteran leadership to close out a streaking opponent.

Culturally and commercially, the game underlines what AHL clubs sell to local markets: high‑stakes moments led by recognizable names. Shine’s award and two goals, Watson’s go‑ahead special‑teams finish, and Poirier’s work in goal are narratives the Griffins and Stars can leverage for ticketing and community engagement as the league moves toward the final run of the regular season. On the ice, the game reinforced scheduling realities in this league: long road trips, late penalties and a single power‑play swing can decide streaks and, by extension, playoff positioning.