The San Diego Gulls pulled within one on defenseman Andrew O’Brien’s third-period goal, but allowed the final two goals in a 6-3 loss to the Texas Stars Wednesday night at Valley View Casino Center.
O’Brien scored his third goal of the season with 11 minutes, two seconds to play. Texas, the Dallas Stars American Hockey League affiliate, regained a two-goal lead on Curtis McKenzie’s goal with 9:27 left.
Brett Ritchie scored an empty-net goal for the Stars with 2:24 remaining.
Texas left wing Remi Elie opened the scoring 9:30 into the first period. The Stars took a 2-0 lead on Matej Stransky’s power-play goal at 14:43 of the first period.
The Gulls twice pulled within a goal in the second period on goals by Chris Mueller and Ondrej Kase, but Texas responded both times on goals by Jason Dickinson and Cole Ully.
Kase had a goal and an assist in his first game after missing 42 consecutive games because of an upper-body injury.
Goaltender Matt Hackett made 29 saves for the Gulls (23-20-1-1) before a crowd announced at 5,947. Maxime Lagace made 42 saves as the Stars (31-18-3- 3) won their sixth consecutive game.
The Gulls were scoreless on all five of their power-play opportunities. Texas scored on one of its three power-play opportunities.
The Gulls, the Anaheim Ducks’ AHL affiliate, will next play Friday at Bakersfield, the Edmonton Oilers AHL affiliate. Their next game at Valley View Casino Center will be Saturday against the Ontario Reign, the Los Angeles Kings AHL affiliate.
— City News Service
