Still shining: Texas Stars advance to Western Conference Finals

For the third time in their nine-season history, the Texas Stars are heading to the American Hockey League's Western Conference Finals.
Joel L'Esperance scored 8:43 into overtime as Texas defeated Tucson, 3-2, in Cedar Park Friday to win the Pacific Division Finals, 4-1.
"It was a hard-fought series," Texas coach Derek Laxdal told reporters. "A lot closer than 4-1."

L'Esperance, who assisted on Texas' first goal of the game, scored on the rebound of a Gavin Bayreuther shot from the right point to send the Stars to their second overtime win in the series and their fourth in nine games during the first two rounds of the playoffs.
"Gavin made a nice shot from the point, nice and low for a rebound and it popped right out to me. There was nobody around, and I just whacked it in," L'Esperance told reporters after the game.
Texas will face Rockford in the conference finals beginning Friday, May 18 in Cedar Park. Rockford, which defeated Manitoba in the Central Division Finals, has swept its first two playoff series and is 7-0 in postseason play.
Colin Markison and Travis Morin also scored for Texas Friday, and Mike McKenna stopped 37 of 39 shots in goal.
Markison gave Texas a 1-0 lead at 5:20 of the first period, scoring on the rebound of a Joel L'Esperance shot off the rush. Tucson answered at 14:57 of the first on a goal by Lawson Crouse who scored from close range with the Roadrunners on the power play.
Texas went ahead again late in the second when Morin scored from the top of the right circle at the 16:21 mark with the Stars on a power play. The Stars went on another power play 30 seconds later, but Tucson's Ryan MacInnis scored shorthanded to tie the game 2-2 at 17:29 of the second.
It stayed a 2-2 game until L'Esperance scored in overtime to send the Stars to the Western Conference Finals.

Notes

Watch: Youtube Video

Texas lineup

Travis Morin - Justin Dowling - Curtis McKenzie
Jason Dickinson - Sheldon Dries- Remi Elie
Denis Gurianov - Roope Hintz- Brian Flynn
Samuel Laberge - Joel L'Esperance - Colin Markison
Dillon Heatherington - Brent Regner
Andrew Bodnarchuk - Reece Scarlett
Gavin Bayreuther - Matt Mangene
Mike McKenna
Landon Bow

Pacific Division Finals (Texas wins 4-1)

Game 1 - Wednesday, May 2 - at Tucson: Roadrunners 2, Stars 1 (OT)
Game 2 - Friday, May 4 - at Tucson: Stars 4, Roadrunners 1
Game 3 - Monday, May 7 - at Texas: Stars 5, Roadrunners 4 (OT)
Game 4 - Wednesday, May 9 - at Texas: Stars 2, Roadrunners 0
Game 5 -Friday, May 11 - at Texas: Stars 3, Roadrunners 2 (OT)

Western Conference Finals schedule

Game 1 - Fri., May 18 - Rockford at Texas, 7 p.m. CT
Game 2 -Sun., May 20 - Rockford at Texas, 5 p.m. CT
Game 3 - Tue., May 22 - Texas at Rockford, 7 p.m. CT
Game 4 -Thu., May 24 - Texas at Rockford, 7 p.m. CT
\Game 5 - Fri., May 25 - Texas at Rockford, 7 p.m. CT
\Game 6 - Mon., May 28 - Rockford at Texas, 7 p.m. CT
\Game 7 -Tue., May 29 - Rockford at Texas, 7 p.m. CT
\if necessary
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Mark Stepneski is an independent writer whose posts on DallasStars.com reflect his own opinions and do not represent official statements from the Dallas Stars. Follow him on Twitter @StarsInsideEdge.