Rolling Texas Stars take 2-0 series lead in Western Conference Finals

The Texas Stars are two wins away from the AHL's Calder Cup Finals after taking the first two games of the Western Conference Finals at H-E-B Center in Cedar Park over the weekend.
The Stars defeated Rockford, 4-2, in the first game of the series on Friday night and won the second game, 3-2, in overtime Sunday to take a 2-0 series lead over IceHogs, who had swept through the first two rounds of the postseason with a with a 7-0 record.
The Stars, who are 9-2 in the postseason, have won their last six games. The series now shifts to Rockford where Games 3, 4, and 5 are scheduled.

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"They are back to their home ice, and they have a tough building to play in," Texas captain Curtis McKenzie, who scored the overtime winner for Texas on Sunday, told media. "We've just got to try to play the same way. We've been good on the road. I don't think road or home have [affected] our confidence or how we play.
"We just have to stick with it and chip away at them."
Here's the latest on the AHL affiliate of the Dallas Stars.

Game 1: Texas 4, Rockford 2

Roope Hintz and Remi Elie both tallied one goal and one assist, and Mike McKenna stopped 31 shots as Texas defeated Rockford, 4-2, in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals in Cedar Park.
Elie's power-play goal off a scramble in the Rockford crease at 8:47 of the second period snapped a 2-2 tie and held up as the game-winner as the Stars handed the IceHogs their first loss of the postseason in eight games.
"It's a big win," Texas coach Derek Laxdal told media. "They have a very good hockey club and have been on a great run here. Tonight, we did what we do best. We grind, and we were resilient. Part of the speech before the game was, 'Be who we are.' We're not pretty, but we get it done."
Curtis McKenzie and Sheldon Dries also scored for Texas.

Game 2: Texas 3, Rockford 2 (OT)

Curtis McKenzie scored on the power play at 10:46 of overtime as the Texas Stars defeated Rockford, 3-2, Sunday to take a 2-0 series lead in the Western Conference Finals.
McKenzie, who drew the penalty that put Texas on the power play, put home the rebound of a Brian Flynn shot as the Stars won their sixth straight playoff game and improved to 5-1 in playoff overtime.
"All the guys wanted to score there," McKenzie said. "Just got a puck to the net and it found a way into the net."
Rockford took a 1-0 lead 6:09 into the game on a John Hayden goal, but Jason Dickinson tied it early in the second, and Brent Regner put Texas ahead 2-1 with a power-play goal at 8:15 of the second. Rockford's Chris DiDomenico tied it with a power-play tally less than three minutes after the Regner goal. And it stayed tied until McKenzie's overtime tally.
Mike McKenna stopped 24 shots for Texas, and Collin Delia turned away 34 shots for Rockford.

Notes

Texas Lineup

Here was the Texas lineup in the last game.
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

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Western Conference Finals schedule (Texas Leads 2-0)

Game 1 -Fri., May 18 - at Texas: Stars 4, IceHogs 2
Game 2 - Sun., May 20 - at Texas: Stars 3, IceHogs 2 (OT)
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.