TEXAS 5, HAMILTON 0
Former Eddie Shore Award winner Andrew Hutchinson notched a goal and two assists, keying a four-goal second period as Texas cruised to a 5-0 win over Hamilton at Copps Coliseum on Tuesday in the opener of a five-game road trip.
Hutchinson, who captured the AHL’s top defenseman award with Hartford in 2007-08, netted his fifth goal of the season early in the second frame and then assisted on power play strikes by Aaron Gagnon and Mathieu Beaudoin.
Trevor Ludwig also tallied a second-period goal for the Stars, while Warren Peters opened the game’s scoring with a power play marker late in the first frame. Raymond Sawada chipped in two assists for Texas.
Making his first AHL appearance since Dec. 12, rookie goaltender Richard Bachman earned the shutout by stopping all 17 shots sent his way.
The Stars (30-18-3-4, 66 points) snapped a three-game losing skid and jumped into third place in the West Division, one point ahead of idle Milwaukee.
North Division-leading Hamilton, which suffered just its second shutout of the season, is now winless in three straight games (0-2-0-1).
WORCESTER 3, SPRINGFIELD 0
Worcester grabbed a 3-0 lead before the game was 10 minutes old and rolled to a 6-0 road win over Springfield on Tuesday at the MassMutual to finish 7-0-1-0 against the Falcons this season.
T.J. Trevelyan scored 2:23 after the opening face-off for Worcester, Steven Zalewski converted a power play at 7:25, and Dwight Helminen made it 3-0 just 1:38 after Zalewski’s marker.
Zalewski lit the lamp again in the second period, and the Sharks also got goals from rookies Dennis McCauley and Brandon Mashinter in the victory.
Dan DaSilva and rookie Benn Ferriero each chipped in two assists, and Sharks first-year goaltender Alex Stalock made 21 saves to pick up his second shutout and league-leading 30th win of the season (30-12-1).
Worcester improved its winning streak to three games – during which the Sharks have outscored opponents 17-3 – and extended its lead atop the Atlantic Division to three points over second-place Manchester.
MANITOBA 6, ROCHESTER 3
Manitoba racked up four goals in a span of 6:20 during the second period and went on to post a 6-3 road win over Rochester on Tuesday at the Blue Cross Arena in the opener of a seven-game road trip.
Marco Rosa paced the Moose with two goals – both in the second period – and an assist for a game-high three points.
Forwards Dan Sexton and Matt Pettinger posted a goal and a helper for the Moose, as did Nolan Baumgartner in his first game back following an NHL stint with parent-club Vancouver.
Manitoba defenseman Nick Boynton earned two assists, fellow rearguard Travis Ramsey was a team-best plus-4 on the night, and goaltender Cory Schneider (23-16-1) stopped 32 of 35 shots between the pipes.
Winner of three of their last four games, the Moose moved back into a tie with Abbotsford for third place in the North Division, four points back of second-place Rochester.
Jeff Taffe, Shawn Matthias, and Michael Duco all scored for the Amerks, who stumbled to 2-6-0-0 in their last eight games.
