Cedar Park, Tex.- A change of venue didn’t help the Rockford IceHogs against the Texas Stars. It was the same story for the IceHogs on Friday night as the Stars knocked them off 4-2 at the Cedar Park Center.

Both of Rockford’s goals were responded quickly with Texas goals, and the Stars scored three straight markers to finish off the IceHogs. Rockford is now 0-3-1-0 against Texas in 2009-10 and won’t have to wait long for another crack at the West Division’s top team. The two clubs match-up again on Saturday.

Rockford grabbed the 1-0 lead with the first of two power-play goals in the opening frame. Daryl Boyle finished off a Kyle Greentree centering pass with his third goal of the season at 15:08. Mark Cullen also figured in on the scoring. Greentree extended his point streak to eight straight games, an IceHogs season high.

Texas came back nearly three minutes later to tie the game at 1-1. Francis Wathier flipped in a Greg Rallo pass over Joe Fallon at 17:59.

On another power play, the IceHogs and Greentree took the lead back. Greentree beat Matt Climie short side for his seventh goal of the season at 19:00. Cullen set up the Greentree marker.

But once again the Stars came right back to tie the game. Dan Jancevski snuck his first goal of the season through traffic and under Fallon with less than a second remaining in the frame.

In the second period Mathieau Beaudoin remained hot as he finished off a breakaway to give Texas a 3-2 advantage. Beaudoin’s seventh goal of the season came at 12:47 and was set up by Brad Lukowich and Travis Morin.

The Stars added an insurance marker in the third period to ice the game. While on power play Rallo snuck his team-leading 12th goal of the season under the cross bar at 18:14.

Rockford outshot the Stars 37-30, but Climie made 35 saves in the win. Rockford finished 2-4 on the power play while Texas went 1-4.
 
Next Home Game: Friday, Dec. 18 vs. Chicago Wolves. Game time is 7:05 p.m. The IceHogs welcome the rival Chicago Wolves into the Rockford MetroCentre for their seventh of ten meetings on the 2009-10 season.  The first 2,500 fans will pick up an IceHogs Christmas Stocking courtesy of the Rockford Park District and WXRX. 

If you like the daily news of the Raw Feed, SUBSCRIBE TODAY to the nation's only alternative professional sports magazine, SZ, with original features and great action photography in baseball, hockey, basketball, and football. Just $11.99 per year for an e-zine like you’ve never seen!