CEDAR PARK, Texas — It took an extra period, but the Texas Stars moved past the Rockford IceHogs 3-2 to take a 2-0 lead in the AHL Western Conference Finals Sunday.

The game-winner came at 10:46 of overtime from Curtis McKenzie, who knocked a rebound out of midair past Collin Delia to send the series back to Rockford, where three games are on the schedule.

The IceHogs got on the board first in the contest, when John Hayden collected a pass in the slot from Andreas Martinsen and slid it underneath Mike McKenna to grab a lead that lasted into the second period.

Texas responded with pressure in the middle frame, resulting in a game-tying goal by Jason Dickinson just two minutes into the action.

The go-ahead marker came from Brett Regner six minutes later to make it a 2-1 game.

Chris DiDomenico knotted things up with his league-high sixth goal and league-leading 14th playoff point with a wrist shot from the left hashmark that sailed over McKenna’s shoulder and under the crossbar. The power-play goal was assisted by Cody Franson and Adam Clendening, and the three have now combined for five of Rockford’s 17 power-play goals in the postseason. Clendening’s pair of assists on the night giving him 12 postseason points, second in league scoring trailing only DiDomenico.

The teams battled through a penalty-laden third period, but neither found twine until McKenzie’s game-winning effort in overtime. Rockford’s Delia finished with 34 saves, McKenna with 24.

Next Home Game
The Rockford IceHogs will host Game 3, Tuesday, May 22 at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at IceHogs.com, by calling 815-968-5222 or at the BMO Harris Bank Center Box Office. R.