\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOct 2, 2026<\/p>\n
Game Report<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n CEDAR PARK, Texas\u00a0– The Iowa Wild nearly put the Texas Stars away late, but a disallowed empty-net goal\u00a0was 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. \u00a0<\/p>\n The Stars opened the scoring 4:04 into the game when Jack Anderson blasted a slap shot past a screened William Rousseau (32\u00a0saves). \u00a0<\/p>\n Kyle Looft doubled the advantage 4:44 later when he beat Rousseau under the crossbar from the high slot.\u00a0<\/p>\n Rieger Lorenz answered with his first\u00a0professional\u00a0goal 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).\u00a0<\/p>\n Iowa outshot Texas 9-8 in the first period.\u00a0<\/p>\n 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\u2019s goal.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Wild outshot the Stars 21-20 through 40 minutes. \u00a0<\/p>\n Iowa found a 3-2 lead 8:40 into the third period on Lorenz\u2019s second goal of the game. After Haight and Pitlick combined to enter\u00a0the attacking zone, Lorenz picked up the puck and snapped a shot past the blocker of Halverson.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Wild appeared to take a two-goal lead by scoring on the empty net with a minute to play, but an icing whistle\u00a0brough the ensuing face-off to center. Hryckowian scored for the Stars with 22 seconds remaining.\u00a0<\/p>\n 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. \u00a0<\/p>\n Each team finished with 36 shots. Iowa went 1-for-4 with the man advantage and killed all three Texas power plays.\u00a0<\/p>\n Iowa and Texas meet again at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 7 p.m.\u00a0<\/p>\n Iowa Wild hockey is presented by Kwik Star. For more information on Iowa Wild hockey, visit\u202fwww.iowawild.com<\/a>. Season tickets for 2026-27 are on sale now. Fans can purchase season tickets for the upcoming season at\u202fhttps:\/\/www.iowawild.com\/wild-365<\/a>.\u202f\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n