The Texas Stars staged a dramatic comeback to defeat the San Diego Gulls 6-5 in overtime on Saturday night at the H-E-B Center in Cedar Park. Trailing by two goals late into the second period, the Stars rallied in the final twenty minutes, erasing the deficit and pushing the game beyond regulation time with strong offensive efforts.
Key Moments and Contributions Fueling the Comeback
Kole Lind scored the decisive overtime goal, securing the late victory for Texas. Despite a challenging night in goal—allowing five goals on 23 shots—goaltender Arno Tiefensee was supported by a relentless offensive attack that fired 35 shots at San Diego’s Tomas Suchanek. The persistent pressure helped Texas force overtime and ultimately prevail.
Lind experienced an unusual night, marked by multiple mishaps such as a broken stick and turnovers, but redeemed himself with the winning goal, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Feels like the story of the year for me,
Kole Lind said.
Just not getting balance or breaking my stick throughout time. … The rest of the team did a heck of a job to keep us in that game and give us a chance to go win it in overtime.
Back-and-Forth Battle Intensifies with Goals From Both Sides
The game featured an intense exchange of goals. San Diego gained a 4-2 advantage with quick strikes from forward Yegor Sidorov and defenseman Nikolas Brouillard late in the second period. However, Texas forward Artem Shlaine responded with two crucial goals in the third period, leveling the score and forcing overtime.
Penalty Challenges and Special Teams Play Impact the Game
Both teams struggled with discipline, combining for nine penalties during the contest, including several offsetting infractions. Special teams played a significant role with three of five power plays resulting in goals. Notably, Gulls defenseman Tyson Hinds scored a shorthanded goal, adding to the excitement.
The Stars ended a franchise-record two-game power play drought that dated back to their win over Milwaukee on February 20. The unanswered stretch had coincided with two of Texas’s losses during an otherwise strong February.
We called (a power play meeting) this morning but there wasn’t much to touch on,
Lind stated.
It’s kind of tough in those situations when you don’t get one for a long time, (you) feel like sometimes you lose your touch. But the guys did a great job, went out there and buried one right away.
Looking Ahead: Upcoming Series Against Chicago Wolves
After this hard-fought Texas Stars comeback victory, the team will prepare to visit the Chicago Wolves for a two-game series. The first matchup is scheduled for March 7 at 7 p.m. at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois, where Texas hopes to build momentum from Saturday’s thrilling win.
Coach Praises Team’s Resilience in Difficult Situations
Stars head coach Toby Peterson highlighted the team’s recurring ability to overcome adversity throughout the season, emphasizing their determination to fight back even when facing challenges.
Proud of the guys. We’ve seen this storyline quite a few times this year,
Peterson said.
We get our backs against the wall and we find ways to plow our way back.
