CEDAR PARK, Tex. (May 8, 2014) — The Texas Stars defeated the Grand Rapids Griffins 5-2 in Game 1 of their best-of-seven Western Conference Semifinal series.
There was plenty of scoring early in the first period. The Stars scored two goals 13 seconds apart to take a 2-0 lead just 3:32 into the game. Brendan Ranford scored the first goal with Dustin Jeffery adding the second goal.
Cory Emmerton scored a power-play goal at the 4:42 mark to make it 2-1. Nathan Paestch recorded the lone assist on the goal. Mike Hedden added a power-play goal for the Texas Stars with 1:09 left in the first to give the Stars a two-goal lead heading into the first intermission.
The Griffins got within one goal again when Tomas Jurco scored his second of the playoffs 4:20 into the second frame. Ryan Sproul got the lone assist on the Griffins second goal of the game.
However, Texas would score two more times before the period would end. Curtis McKenzie scored just 1:21 after the Jurco goal, and then Jeffrey added his second of the night near the midway point of the period. It was the Stars second power-play goal of the night, too.
After the two teams combined for seven goals in the first 30:02 of the game, neither team would score again. Game 2 of the series is Saturday at 8:00 p.m. in Cedar Park.
