IOWA FALLS 4-3 IN SHOOTOUT TO TEXAS IN SEASON OPENER
Oct 2, 2026CEDAR PARK, Texas - The Iowa Wild nearly put the Texas Stars away late, but a disallowed empty-net goal was followed by a game-tying tally by Dylan Hryckowian and a shootout winner from Mike Sgarbossa that sent Iowa to a 4-3 defeat in the 2026-27 season opener.
The Stars opened the scoring 4:04 into the game when Jack Anderson blasted a slap shot past a screened William Rousseau (32 saves).
Kyle Looft doubled the advantage 4:44 later when he beat Rousseau under the crossbar from the high slot.
Rieger Lorenz answered with his first professional goal with 6:01 remaining in the opening frame. After Tyler Pitlick drove the net, Lorenz jumped on a rebound and snapped the puck over a sprawling Brandon Halverson (33 saves).
Iowa outshot Texas 9-8 in the first period.
Hunter Haight tied the contest with a wrister over Halverson from the bottom of the left circle on the power play 4:28 into the middle frame. Ben Dexheimer and Dylan Gambrell picked up assists on Haight’s goal.
The Wild outshot the Stars 21-20 through 40 minutes.
Iowa found a 3-2 lead 8:40 into the third period on Lorenz’s second goal of the game. After Haight and Pitlick combined to enter the attacking zone, Lorenz picked up the puck and snapped a shot past the blocker of Halverson.
The Wild appeared to take a two-goal lead by scoring on the empty net with a minute to play, but an icing whistle brough the ensuing face-off to center. Hryckowian scored for the Stars with 22 seconds remaining.
Following a scoreless overtime, Halverson stopped all three Iowa shooters while Sgarbossa found the back of the net in the second round of the shootout to earn Texas the extra point.
Each team finished with 36 shots. Iowa went 1-for-4 with the man advantage and killed all three Texas power plays.
Iowa and Texas meet again at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 7 p.m.
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