CEDAR PARK, TX -- Chris Mueller scored his 20th goal of the season in overtime and goalie Atte Engren stopped 37 shots to give the Milwaukee Admirals a 4-3 overtime victory over the Texas Stars at Cedar Park, TX Tuesday.
Taylor Beck carried the puck into the Stars zone along the right wing boards. He circled the net and put a shot on goal from the slot. Goalie Tyler Beskorowany made the save but Mueller, standing above the crease, slapped a backhander into the net for his second OT winner of the season.
Engren earned his fifth win of the season. The goalie from Rauma, Finland was starting Milwaukee’s second straight game, something he hadn’t done since joining Milwaukee late in the 2010-2011 season.
The Admirals goalie had to face the Texas heat early. The Stars outshot Milwaukee 14-0 before the Admirals got their first shot on goal with 7:53 remaining in the first period. Fortunately, for the Admirals, the shot went into the net for forward Beck.
Standing behind his goal, Stars defenseman Dan Spang passed the puck to the left wing. Admirals forward Mark Van Guilder knocked the pass down and it deflected to Beck for a backhander into the net for his ninth goal of the season. Van Guilder notched the lone assist, his first point since Dec. 28.
Milwaukee’s second shot came at 14:50 of the first period and it also found the back of the net. Joel Champagne led a 3-on-2 into the Stars zone. He passed from the right wing to Van Guilder in the slot. Van Guilder fired a one-timer past goalie Tyler Beskorowany for his tenth goal of the season and first goal since Dec. 26.
The Stars outshot Milwaukee 15-4 in the first period.
The Stars domination in shots on goal continued in the second period and they finally put a couple into the net. The first came on the power play at 4:24 of the second period. The Admirals couldn’t clear the zone and Francis Wathier put a slapshot on goal from the middle of the blue line. Engren kicked the rebound into the slot where Colton Sceviour gained possession and shot it into the net.
The Stars tied the game at 8:38 of the second period. Texas center Travis Morin controlled the puck behind the Milwaukee net. He tried to feed a pass into the slot but it bounced off Admirals defenseman Jon Blum into the net for Morin’s seventh goal of the season.
Texas outshot the Admirals 12-5 in the second period.
The Stars took the lead for the first time at 5:29 of the third period when Sceviour lifted the puck high in the air from the red line. It took a bad bounce and went past Engren to make it 3-2 for Texas.
The Admirals tied the game with 5:25 to play. Scott Valentine sent the puck behind the Stars net. Beck carried it to the left post and knocked it to Ryan Thang. Thang snapped a wristshot over the right shoulder of Beskorowany from the bottom of the left circle for his 12th goal of the season.
Beck recorded his first professional three-point game in the win.
Milwaukee plays a rematch with Texas Wednesday night at 7:30 pm.