Stars work overtime to beat Reign in Game 1

Photo: Andy Nietupski

Brian Flynn collected a loose puck and banged home the winning goal at 1:55 of overtime as the Texas Stars opened the 2018 Calder Cup Playoffs with a 4-3 victory over the Ontario Reign on Thursday night.

Game 2 of the teams’ Pacific Division semifinal series is set for Friday in Cedar Park.

Roope Hintz and Denis Gurianov worked down low to force a turnover in the Reign zone and Flynn potted the first goal of his AHL postseason career to give the Stars the win in a back-and-forth Game 1.

Gurianov, Sheldon Dries and Travis Morin also scored for Texas, Hintz finished with a pair of assists and Mike McKenna stopped 38 of 41 Ontario shots on the night.

Justin Auger, Jonny Brodzinski and Matt Moulson scored for the Reign, with Moulson’s goal tying things up with just 1:16 left in regulation.

Cal Petersen made 26 saves for the Reign.

Pacific Division Semifinals – Series “H” (best-of-5)
P2-Texas Stars vs. P3-Ontario Reign
Game 1 – Thu., Apr. 19 – TEXAS 4, Ontario 3 (OT)
Game 2 – Fri., Apr. 20 – Ontario at Texas, 8:00
Game 3 – Sun., Apr. 22 – Texas at Ontario, 6:00
*Game 4 – Tue., Apr. 24 – Texas at Ontario, 10:00
*Game 5 – Mon., Apr. 30 – Ontario at Texas, 8:00
*if necessary… All times Eastern