Texas Stars Complete Weekend Sweep of Chicago Wolves in Shootout Thriller

Trailing by two goals entering the third period at Allstate Arena, the Texas Stars scored three times in less than four minutes, survived a late Chicago equalizer, and outlasted the Wolves 7-6 in a shootout Sunday to complete a perfect road trip and a weekend sweep in Rosemont, Illinois.

The game didn't waste any time establishing its tone. Antonio Stranges lifted the puck into the net from the slot 1:16 in, sending Chicago netminder Amir Miftakhov sprawling on his back. Just 26 seconds later, Cross Hanas ripped a shot from the left wing half-wall to put Texas up 2-0 inside the first two minutes. The two-goal burst was made more notable by the fact that it was Hanas' first game back after missing seven straight with an injury.

What followed were five lead changes across 60-plus minutes of hockey that would, as one observer noted, keep most defensive coaches up at night. Lukas Tiefensee struggled early in net for Texas, surrendering three goals on six shots before being pulled at the 14:36 mark of the first period. His replacement, Poirier, steadied things considerably.

The third period is where this game found its identity. Just 12 seconds into the frame, Seminoff slid a shot past Miftakhov for his second goal of the night. Curtis McKenzie followed shortly after, beating Miftakhov high on the blocker side to tie the contest. Then Michael Karow collected a rebound off Miftakhov's pads and buried it at 3:47 of the third, giving Texas a 6-5 lead and capping one of the more breathless stretches of the season.

Chicago refused to fold. Late in the game, the Wolves went on the power play in the final minutes and pulled Miftakhov for a sixth attacker. Skyler Brind'Amour capitalized on the extra-attacker situation, tying the game and forcing overtime.

Poirier kept Texas alive in the extra period, stopping two shots to carry the Stars into the shootout. Cameron Hughes and Kole Lind both converted for Texas, while Poirier stopped two of three Chicago attempts to seal the extra point and the win.

Poirier finished with 26 saves on 29 shots. Miftakhov stopped 31 of 37 in the loss. The announced attendance at Allstate Arena was 15,902.

Texas was without Tuomaala and Wheatcroft due to injury, and Ertel and Bertucci were scratched, making the depth of the effort all the more significant. The win gave the Dallas Stars' AHL affiliate a perfect road trip, with back-to-back victories against the Wolves serving as the exclamation point.