10-03-26_TexasStarsVsIowaWild_AinsleyAsh_10The Texas Stars returned home after a four-game road trip to host the Ontario Reign at the H-E-B Center in Cedar Park, Austin, Texas. Texas entered on a five-game losing streak following its season-opening win over Iowa. With the game in the balance, Ontario pushed past Texas 5-3 to extend the losing streak to six games.
Texas’ loss to Ontario is just one instance in a long string of underperformance. The Stars now fall to 1-4-1-1. Texas’ struggles so far this season are not strange to this team, with a similar start last season before pulling back into the playoff race midseason.
“At this point, there’s few consolations that we’re taking right now,” head coach Toby Peterson said. “We’re all aware of it back there in the room. We know what’s going on, we’ve got to dig ourselves out of it.”
Puck drop was delayed 27 minutes because a pair of protective glass panels around the rink was broken. When the game finally started, scoring came much faster. Texas forward Michael Sgarbossa pushed the Stars to an early start, landing a puck in the back of Ontario’s net just 1:07 into the first period.
Despite the early jolt, both offenses fell silent for another period and a half, failing to create pressure as they struggled with turnovers in the second period. Ontario’s offense woke up first.
A trio of goals put the Reign in front 3-1 in a flash. The Stars fought to bring the game back to 3-3, but Ontario was able to net the lead-taking goal and an insurance goal shortly after, to hand Texas yet another loss.
“We know the guys in the room,” Texas forward Matthew Seminoff said. “We’ve got a good team, we’ve got all the pieces, we just got to put it together.”
Ontario controlled time of possession in the second and third periods, with the Stars struggling to control the puck in their defensive zone, as they have all season. Texas couldn’t seem to connect, sailing pucks past teammates, taking hard touches on incoming passes and turning the puck over.
Ontario capitalized, pushing three long-range shots past Texas goaltender Arno Tiefensee, including a shot from the left faceoff circle by Ontario forward Kenny Connors that snuck through and landed in the top-right corner of the net to extend Ontario’s lead.
Texas’ goaltender situation continues to be scary following the departure of goaltender Remi Poirier. Tiefensee allowed five goals on 27 shots, with the fourth being the straw that broke the Stars’ backs. This season, the Stars have allowed 31 goals in seven games, averaging 4.4 goals against.
“If you talked to (Tiefensee), I’m sure he’d love to have that goal back,” Peterson said. “I’m sure he’d love to have any goal back.”
Texas’ offense just cannot keep up with the pace. 19 goals in seven games have put the Stars in a small hole early in the season, and their offense has fallen apart in execution, hurting them big this season.
The Texas Stars return to face the Ontario Reign at the H-E-B Center on Saturday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m.
