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THIRD PERIOD RALLY FALLS SHORT IN PHYSICAL GAME 1

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Texas grabs 1-0 series lead on Rockford

Cedar Park, Tex.- Down 2-0 against a goalie in which the Rockford IceHogs had scored just four goals in four regular season games was a tall task for Hogs in Game 1 of the West Division Semifinals.

It was a deficit to large to overcome against the Texas Stars and goalie Brent Krahn, as Rockford dropped Game 1 of the series 2-1 at Cedar Park Center on Friday.

Down a pair heading into the third period, Rob Klinkhammer put Rockford on the board when his shot from the goal line snuck behind Krahn at 7:56. The puck landed behind the goal line and bounced back out, but was ruled a goal. Pete MacArthur and Danny Richmond assisted the marker.

Rockford couldn’t solve Krahn the rest of the way, including with the empty net and an extra attacked on for nearly :90 to end the game. The IceHogs nearly tied the game in the final seconds when a Jack Skille shot snuck behind Krahn, but slid wide of the open Texas goal.

Texas grabbed the only first period goal on Friday night. Rockford’s Matt Keith coughed the puck up just inside the Stars blueline and rookie winger Jamie Benn picked up the loose change and beat Corey Crawford five-hole on a breakaway at 17:41 for the 1-0 lead.

In the second period, a late double-minor for high sticking on Kyle Greentree put the Stars on a four-minute power play and they would convert. With just under :09 remaining in the frame, Ray Sawada flipped a loose puck over the head of Crawford, and it hit Crawford back and rolled in the IceHogs goal to put Texas up 2-0 heading into the second intermission.

The IceHogs outshot the Stars 28-23 in the contest and Crawford was saddled with the loss after turning away 21 Stars shots.

Game 2 of the IceHogs-Stars West Division Semifinals series is set for 7 p.m. Saturday night at Cedar Park Center.

Next Home Game: Wednesday, April 21 vs. Texas Stars. Game Three of the West Division Semifinals. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m. The West Division Semi’s shift north as the IceHogs and Stars return to Rockford for Game Three of the Calder Cup Playoff’s opening round at the MetroCentre.