Stars top Wolves, tie series 2-2

AUSTIN, Texas - The Chicago Wolves and Texas Stars traded goals for 50 minutes before the Stars took the lead for good and claimed a 3-2 victory in Game 4 of the West Division Finals at Cedar Park Center on Wednesday night. The best-of-seven series is now tied at 2-2.

Left wing Brett Sterling scored both of the Wolves' goals. Travis Morin had 2 of the Stars' 3 goals.

"We played one solid period of hockey, and then they killed off a five-minute power play to get the momentum and controlled the game the rest of the way," said Wolves coach Don Lever.

The Stars (6-2) got on the board first, 6:23 into the game, when Morin intercepted the puck and beat goaltender Peter Mannino on a breakaway.

The Wolves (6-5) needed just nine seconds on their first power play to tie the score at 11:12 of the first period. Defenseman Nathan Oystrick fired a shot from the blue line and Sterling was able to beat Stars goalie Brent Krahn by redirecting it in front of the net.

Krahn (6-2) posted 21 saves on 23 shots for the Stars.

The Stars inched ahead 2-1 at 6:06 of the third period as center Greg Rallo threw a shot on net from high in the zone and Morin slammed home the rebound.

Sterling had the answer for the Wolves 2:31 later to tie it at 2-2. Defenseman Noah Welch sent the puck down into the Stars' zone with Jason Krog chasing it and Anthony Stewart and Sterling streaking in behind him. Krog knocked the puck back to Stewart, who sent a pass across for Sterling to deposit into the empty left side of the net.

Texas regained the lead for good at 13:43 of the third period with a power-play goal from defenseman Dan Jancevski. Rallo cranked a shot on net from the blue line and Jancevski scooped up the rebound and put it past Mannino.

Mannino (6-4) recorded 20 saves on 23 shots for the Wolves.

Game 5 will be played at Cedar Park Center at 7:30 p.m. Friday.