Texas Stars advance in Calder Cup Playoffs

The Texas Stars are moving on to the next round in the AHL's Calder Cup Playoffs after winning Games 3 and 4 in their first-round series with Ontario.
The Stars won 5-4 in double overtime Sunday in Ontario to take a 2-1 series lead and then wrapped up the first-round matchup with a 1-0 win Tuesday in Ontario. Texas will play either Tucson or San Jose in the next round.

Game 3: Texas 5, Ontario 4 (2OT)

Samuel Laberge scored with 2:22 left in the second overtime as Texas defeated Ontario, 5-4, and took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series.
The Laberge goal came moments after Texas goaltender Mike McKenna came up with a sprawling poke check save on Ontario's Michael Mersch. Stars defenseman Gavin Bayreuther gathered up the loose puck, skated to open ice and then sent a long pass to Laberge who scored from the slot off the rush.
McKenna was huge for Texas, stopping all 44 shots he faced after taking over for Landon Bow midway through the second period with Texas down 4-3.
Remi Elie, Justin Dowling, Colin Markison, and Travis Morin also scored for Texas which overcame 2-0, 3-1, and 4-3 deficits in the game.
Watch: Youtube Video

Game 4: Texas 1, Ontario 0

McKenna stopped 47 shots, and Denis Gurianov scored the lone goal as Texas won 1-0 at Ontario and took the best-of-five Pacific Division Semifinal series, 3-1.
The game was scoreless through the first two periods and early into the third when Roope Hintz picked off a Kurtis MacDermid pass, skated into the Ontario zone, put a shot on net, and Gurianov scored on the rebound at the 6:54 mark.
It was the Mike McKenna show after that. The Texas netminder made 22 of his 47 saves in the third period as the Stars held on for the win and moved onto the next round of the playoffs.
MORE COVERAGE: [Mark Stepneski gives his prospect observations from Round 1 of the Calder Cup Playoffs]

Series notes

Texas lineup

Here is the Texas lineup in the last game.
Travis Morin - Justin Dowling - Curtis McKenzie
Jason Dickinson - Roope Hintz - Denis Gurianov
Remi Elie - Sheldon Dries - Brian Flynn
Samuel Laberge - Joel L'Esperance - Colin Markison
Dillon Heatherington - Brent Regner
Andrew Bodnarchuk - Matt Mangene
Gavin Bayreuther - Reece Scarlett
Mike McKenna
Landon Bow

ECHL: Idaho Steelheads rally from 0-3 series deficit, force Game 7

The Idaho Steelheads, the ECHL affiliate of the Stars, is on the verge of quite a comeback in its first-round playoff series. The Steelheads lost the first three games of their Mountain Division semifinal series against the Allen Americans, but have won the last three games to force a seventh and deciding game in Boise on Wednesday. Dallas goaltending prospect Philippe Desrosiers has stopped 101 of 106 shots in the three Idaho wins. Desrosiers has started four of the six games in the series and is 3-1-0 with a 2.03 goals against average and .937 save percentage. Dallas forward prospect Cole Ully leads Idaho in scoring with seven points (one goal, six assists) in the series.
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. You can follow him on Twitter @StarsInsideEdge.