Rookie the difference as Stars top Rampage

CEDAR PARK — A battle of Swedish goaltenders between Texas’ Cristopher Nilstorp and San Antonio’s Jacob Markstrom was decided by 21-year old Canadian rookie winger Reilly Smith as the Stars outlasted San Antonio 2-0 on Wednesday before 3,955 fans at Cedar Park Center.

That’s the way they roll in the AHL, which — two months into the NHL’s continuing labor dispute — is still the best hockey being played in North America.

Texas’ Smith, who is from Toronto by way of a collegiate stint at Miami (Ohio), scored the only goal the Stars would need at the 5:45 mark of the first period when he skated across the goal crease and flipped a backhanded shot over the left shoulder of Markstrom and into the net.

Smith added an assist in the third period on an insurance goal by fellow rookie Alex Chiasson.

“We were able to get an early goal and that put some added pressure on San Antonio,” Smith said. “They gave us some chances by being a little sloppy in the defensive zone and we were able to take advantage of them.”

Nilstorp was more than up to the task of stonewalling San Antonio, recording his third shutout and 10th win of the season while stopping 27 shots.

The Stars outshot San Antonio 7-6 in the first period and then 6-5 in the scoreless second period and – most importantly – were able to kill off a hooking penalty by Mike Hedden in the middle of the period without allowing the Rampage a good shot. That allowed Texas to hold onto its lead entering the third period.

Texas (14-8-2-2, 32 points and tied for second in the South Division) wasted no time adding to its advantage in the third period as Smith intercepted a poor clearing pass by Markstrom along the right half-boards and fed Chiasson at the front of the net. Chiasson ripped a shot between the goalie’s pads, giving the Stars a 2-0 lead just 1:02 into the period.

San Antonio (10-15-03, 23 points), tied for the worst record in the AHL and the fewest number of wins in the league, squandered a great chance to get back into the game during a 5-on-3 opportunity that began at the 5:01 mark of the third period. But the Rampage managed just two shots on goal in the power play.

Texas heads back to the ice with back-to-back games Friday and Saturday on the road against Oklahoma City and on Dec. 26 in Houston. The Stars return home to play Oklahoma City on Dec. 27.