In a series that was expected to be tight all the way, neither team held a lead of more than a single goal until the final minute of the contest when an empty netter secured the 5-3 win for the Stars in Game 1 of their first round playoff matchup in Rockford, Illinois.
Marian Studenic was the goal scorer on that empty netter, his second of the night after previously tying the game up at two in the second period. It was a matchup that saw Texas's transition game shine with the first and fourth goals both coming as the Stars hit the blue line with speed.