The Texas Stars handed the Toronto Marlies their first home playoffs defeat with a 2-1 victory in Ricoh Coliseum yesterday.
This was the first time the Marlies had lost at home since Mar. 24. They had won 13 straight at home including eight in the playoffs … until today.
— Mark Stepneski (@StarsInsideEdge) June 3, 2018
Mike McKenna saved 21 of 22 shots to lead the T-Stars to the win. Captain Curtis McKenzie tied the Marlies’ early lead with his second-period goal:
Check out our goal from period 2!
🚨: McKenzie
🍎: Heatherington
🍎🍎: Regner#TEXvsTOR #txstars pic.twitter.com/1a3i2DTTMX— x – Texas Stars (@TexasStars) June 3, 2018
And defender Gavin Bayreuther netted the GWG on the power play in the third:
Here’s Bayreuther with the tie-breaking one timer! Stars now lead 2-1.#TEXvsTOR #txstars pic.twitter.com/bSAVXJLO6L
— x – Texas Stars (@TexasStars) June 3, 2018
The series is knotted 1-1 as both teams head south for three games in H-E-B Center. Stephen Meserve has the full recap at 100 Degree Hockey.
Texas Stars Take Game 2 on Gavin Bayreuther’s Power Play Bomb, 2-1 https://t.co/viygOAkjGB #txstars pic.twitter.com/tuyMOT5Buo
— 100 Degree Hockey (@100degreehockey) June 3, 2018
Game 3 begins at 7 p.m. CDT tomorrow night, and that means three games in a row on FOX Sports Southwest.
The Stars take Game Two and even the series with a 2-1 victory. The asterisk comes off of Game Five. We’ll see you from Cedar Park on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday on @FOXSportsSW.
— Josh Bogorad (@JoshBogorad) June 3, 2018
But has the AHL missed an opportunity to market its own product? Check this thread.
Despite NHL Network and TSN2 coverage of Calder Cup Finals games, I think the league is making a mistake by not making AHL Live free for the finals. Here’s why.
— 100 Degree Hockey (@100degreehockey) June 2, 2018
More Stars
Looking for more info on the Dallas Stars’ new head coach? Josh Friemel of The Dallas Morning News digs up 10 fun facts about Jim Montgomery.
10 things you might not know about Dallas Stars head coach Jim Montgomery @Josh_Friemel | #GoStars https://t.co/mMkCL8JRD0
— SportsDay Stars (@dmn_stars) June 2, 2018
Around the League(s)
All was quiet in the Stanley Cup Finals last night, but the series resumes tonight at 7 p.m. CDT on NBC. The Washington Capitals host Game 4 in Capital One Arena; they lead the Vegas Golden Knights 2-1 in the series.
Caps fans are trying to beat D.C. gridlock by riding the Capital Metro to the games – and even T.J. Oshie and Matt Niskanen are joining in.
Oshie, Niskanen ride Metro with Capitals fans to Game 3 of Cup Final https://t.co/qq4LQGWndX via @NHL
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) June 3, 2018
Golden Knights owner Bill Foley has used his military training, and his experience in breathing new life into troubled companies, to plan a season that surprises him least of all.
“I’m not being egotistical, but … we really had it figured out. It was hard work. Nothing we’ve done was by accident.”
There’s no detail too small, no Stanley Cup dream too big for Golden Knights owner Bill Foley. @THNKenCampbell files from Washington: https://t.co/bY6biiYrcG pic.twitter.com/iHbHovkMRb
— The Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) June 3, 2018
Should Canadian fans be rooting for the Caps? There’s an odd correlation between Eastern Conference Cup wins and Canada’s stock market.
The mysterious link between the Stanley Cup finals and Canada’s stock market https://t.co/qu1j3Qsgih pic.twitter.com/Qzj1J835dN
— Hockey Night in Canada (@hockeynight) June 3, 2018
Also at THN: Matt Larkin joins the speculation on where Caps blueliner John Carlson will land, and how the next expansion draft could change even if the rules don’t.
New ASK ME ANYTHING MAILBAG: Where will John Carlson end up? Would the Rangers really chase Erik Karlsson? And more: https://t.co/V7NoiiY5WQ pic.twitter.com/12loAJBGnG
— Matt Larkin (@THNMattLarkin) June 1, 2018
In non-playoffs news, the Arizona Coyotes say they’ll go all-in to re-sign star defender (and 2019 UFA) Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
Chayka: Coyotes will do whatever possible to re-sign Ekman-Larsson https://t.co/lUvKEAydIq pic.twitter.com/VhnJDlNqbx
— theScore NHL (@theScoreNHL) June 3, 2018
Finally
Yes, Jamie Benn really has been a star for this long. Enjoy.
Talked to an NHL draft prospect today who told me his favorite player growing up was Jamie Benn…
— Sean Shapiro (@seanshapiro) June 2, 2018