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Gameday Preview - Lake Erie at Texas

April 1, 2012 - American Hockey League (AHL) Texas Stars

Lake Erie Monsters (33-28-3-7, 76 points) at Texas Stars (30-35-2-2, 64 points)

The Texas Stars and the Lake Erie Monsters meet for the final of four meetings this season. The Monsters conclude a set of games at Cedar Park Center this weekend. Sunday's game is the 12th all-time regular season meeting in AHL history between the two clubs. Texas is 5-5-1-0 all-time against Lake Erie, including a 3-2-0-0 record at home. Texas has taken the last two meetings of the series after dropping the first meeting in Cleveland on Feb. 12. Overall, Lake Erie is 2-3-0-0 at Texas and 6-4-0-1 all-time against the Stars. The teams are playing for the third time over six days. T exas is 15th in the conference, 12 points back of the final playoff spot. Despite a three-tie with Rochester and Peoria, tiebreakers have Lake Erie ninth in the Western Conference, needing one point to move into sole possession of eighth.

Texas has three wins in its last ten games, going 3-7-0-0 over that span. The team is coming off a 4-0 win at home on Saturday over Lake Erie. With the win, the Stars ended a six-game winless streak at home that dated back to Mar. 10. The team is 17-15-2-1 at home this season, having outscored the visitors 119-113. Texas will only play three out of the remaining seven games against division foes. The Stars are 14-24-0-2 against the West Division and 7-5-0-0 against the North Division. Texas' scoring has been spread out evenly this season, with 58 first-period tallies and 80 second-period markers. The Stars lead the opposition in second-period scoring with a 80-75 edge overall. In all, the club has been outscored by the opposing team 223-205 for the season. The Stars have struggled defensively, allowing a league-high 77 first-period goals. Texas is eighth in the league with a 2.97 goals per game average and it ranks 29th defensively with a 3.23 goals against average. The Stars are 20-2-1-1 when leading after two periods of play. Texas is 4-29-0-0 when trailing after two periods of play, with all four comebacks occurring at home. The team is 15-14-2-2 in games decided by one goal this season. Texas is tied for first in the AHL with seven overtime wins this season, going 7 (OTW)-2 (OTL)-2 (SOW)-2 (SOL) when tied after regulation. The Stars are tied for fourth in the AHL with a team-record 12 shorthanded goals scored this season.

Lake Erie enters Sunday's game with a 3-3-1-3 record over the last ten games. Lake Erie has one win in the last six games after ending a five-game winless skid with a 4-3 shootout win in Houston on Thursday night. It marked the team's 14th straight game decided by one goal, which ended in Saturday night's loss to the Stars. That run began with a shootout loss in Rochester on Feb. 25. Over that stretch, the team was 6-2-1-5, gaining points in 12 of the 14 games to remain in the playoff race. The Monsters are 16-16-1-4 on the road this season, having been outscored 115-83 away from home ice. Lake Erie relies on the first goal of the night; when scoring first the team is 21-5-1-4. When they give up the first goal, their record is 12-23-2-3. The Monsters are 13-12-0-3 within their own division and 7-9-0-3 against the West Division. Lake Erie has been outscored 131-102 in the final two periods combined. Overall, the club has been outscored 197-169. The Monsters rank in the top ten, averaging 17.07 penalty minutes per game. In turn, only four teams in the AHL have been shorthanded more than Lake Erie. Goal scoring has not come easy for the team, ranking last in the AHL by averaging 2.38 goals per game. Lake Erie has totaled ten goals over the last seven games. The Monsters have been one of the best defensive teams in the AHL, ranking 12th with a 2.77 goals against average. Lake Erie ranks second to last out of 30 teams by averaging 27.46 shots per game. They rank in the bottom ten of the league by allowing 31.61 shots per game. The Monsters are 20-0-1-1 when leading after two periods of action, but 5-26-1-1 when trailing after two periods of play. On the road, the club is 7-0-1-1 when leading after two periods. Lake Erie is 21-9-3-7 in games decided by one goal.

Texas Stars

Center Travis Morin is the clubhouse leader with a team-record 50 assists and 61 points in his first 69 games played. He ranks in the top five of the AHL for assists. With a goal on Thursday at home against Hamilton, the Brooklyn Park, MN, native surpassed the team record for most points in one season. He beat center Aaron Gagnon's mark of 58 points in 78 games of the 2009-10 season. Earlier in the season, Morin surpassed Perttu Lindgren's record of 33 assists in one season, set in 2009-10.

Rookie forward Matt Fraser is tied for second in team scoring with 50 points in 66 games. He leads the team with 33 goals scored and is second with 225 shots on net. Fraser sits in the top three of the AHL for goals scored. He is also tied for seventh overall among all rookies in points and the winger is first in shots. Fraser set the Stars single-season record for goals in one season, surpassing the old record of 27 set by Aaron Gagnon (09-10). The Red Deer, AB, native is the first Texas Star to reach the 30-goal plateau in one season.

Colton Sceviour, Francis Wathier and Scott Glennie round out the top scorers for Texas. Colton Sceviour is tied second on the team with a career-high 29 assists and he is third with a career-high 48 points in 68 games. Sceviour has career-highs for goals as well, potting 19 on the year. He leads the club with 229 shots on goal this year, placing him third in the league. Wathier has 18 goals and 21 assists for 39 points in 68 games played. He is the team's all-time leading goal scorer with 56 goals for Texas. Rookie Scott Glennie is fifth overall on the team with 37 points off 12 goals and 25 assists in 65 games played.

Defenseman Brenden Dillon is first in points from the blueline with five goals and 21 assists for 26 points in 69 games played. He also leads all defenders with 89 penalty minutes. Dillon is one of three remaining skaters (Morin, Luke Gazdic) to have played in every game this season. Veteran Brad Lukowich has 25 points off 21 assists and four goals in 62 games played. Dan Spang has three goals and 20 assists for 23 points in 63 games played.

Goalies Andrew Raycroft, Tyler Beskorowany and Jack Campbell split time in net for Texas. Campbell has started the last five games since turning pro on March 21st. The rookie netminder is 3-2-0 with a 2.19 goals against average and a .938 save percentage. In his first five starts, Campbell has posted his first shutout, regulation win and shootout win. His 19 saves in the first period against Hamilton on Thursday was a Stars season-high for the most in any period. Beskorowany is 10-18-0 with a 3.33 goals against average and a .889 save percentage. Raycroft is 9-10-1 with a 3.16 goals against average and a .891 save percentage in 21 starts for the Stars.

Special Teams

The Stars have converted 59 of 313 power plays for a 18.8% conversion rate, as Texas is ninth overall in power play percentage. The Stars have killed off 214 of 260 opponents power plays (82.3%), ranking 14th overall on the penalty kill. The Monsters are 15th in the AHL on the penalty kill, stopping 82.2% of their opponents' power plays. Overall, Lake Erie ranks 18th in the AHL on the power play after going 47-for-283 (16.6%).

The Lake Erie Monsters

Rookie defenseman Duncan Siemens joined the Lake Erie Monsters and made his pro debut on Saturday night in Texas. Colorado took him in the first round (11th overall) of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. He recently wrapped up his WHL career in Saskatoon.

Center Evan Brophey is first among active skaters with 37 points in 67 games played. Brophey is tied for third on the team with 20 assists and first with 17 goals scored. Rookie Brad Malone is second on the club in points with 34, coming off nine goals and 25 assists in 62 games played. He is first among active skaters with 25 assists. Despite missing 17 games due to injury, right wing Greg Mauldin has put together 16 goals and 32 points in 54 games this season. He has two goals in three games against the Stars this season. Rookie Mike Connolly is fourth in points, scoring 12 times and assisting on 20 others for 32 points in 48 games played. Connolly scored the game-tying goal in Tuesday night's shootout loss at home to Texas. Former second-round pick of the Avs (05), third-year pro Ryan Stoa sits among the top scorers for the Monsters. He is fifth overall on the team in scoring with 29 points off 11 goals and 18 assists in 70 games played. He also leads the team with 180 shots on goal.

Cameron Gaunce is the team's leading producer from the blueline with 20 assists and 25 points in 70 games played. He also leads the team with a +15 rating. Danny Richmond has 11 points in 42 games played. In his first five games with the Monsters, Richmond had five assists and seven points. He has gone pointless in his last 13 games. The Monsters are without one of their top scoring skaters, defenseman Tyson Barrie, who is up in the NHL with Colorado. Barrie led the team with 25 assists and 30 points in 47 games played.

The Monsters carry three goalies - Cedrick Desjardins, Trevor Cann and Calvin Pickard. Goalie Cedrick Dejardins ranks among the top AHL goaltenders with a 2.09 goals against average and a .933 save percentage. Desjardins missed 24 games with an injury from Dec. until early Mar. For the season, the Monsters goalie is 13-10-5 with three shutouts. He has started the last nine games, allowing 25 goals (3.03 gaa). Trevor Cann is out with an injury. Pickard recently turned pro after concluding four years with Seattle of the WHL. He was Colorado's second-round choice (#49 overall) in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Pickard made his pro debut, playing the last 17 minutes of Saturday's 4-0 Texas win.

Dallas Signs 2009 Second-Round Pick Alex Chiasson

The Dallas Stars announced on Monday that the NHL club has agreed to terms with forward Alex Chiasson (pronounced - Shay-sahw) on a three-year entry-level contract. He will join Dallas' primary development affiliate, the Texas Stars, for the remainder of their AHL season. He made his Texas debut on Thursday against Hamilton.

The 21-year-old forward turns pro after three seasons at Boston University. The right winger led the Terriers in scoring in 2011-12 with 46 points in 38 games played. Chiasson scored 15 goals and added 31 assists for collegiate highs. He tied for the team lead in assists and was third overall in goals scored. The St. Augustin, PQ native finished fourth overall in scoring among all skaters in Hockey East and 14th nationally among all Division-1 skaters this season. In three years with Boston University, Chiasson scored 36 goals and added 63 assists for 99 points in 108 games. The 6-3, 202-pound forward was named a 2012 Hockey East Honorable Mention All-Star. Dallas drafted Chiasson in the second round with the 38th overall pick in 2009.

Texas Stars forward, Dallas native, Austin Smith Named Hobey Baker Finalist

Stars prospect and Dallas native Austin Smith, who led the nation in goals with 36 in his senior year at Colgate, was named on Thursday as a top-three finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, which is given to the nation's top player in college hockey. He is joined by Minnesota-Duluth senior Jack Connolly and Maine's Spencer Abbott as top-three finalists.

Smith was signed to an entry-level contract earlier this month by the Dallas Stars and he currently plays for Texas, Dallas' primary development affiliate in the AHL. He has appeared in four games for Texas, setting up one goal. The announcement of the Hobey Baker Award winner will take place on April 6 at the Davis Conference Center at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla.

LAST THREE GAMES

Lake Erie 0 at Texas 4 3/31/12

The Texas Stars defeated the Lake Erie Monsters 4-0 in front of 6,289 fans at Cedar Park Center on Saturday night. Texas goalie Jack Campbell stopped all 30 shots he faced, securing his first professional shutout. The Stars netted three goals in the first period of play and crusied to a four-goal win. Four Stars' skaters registered multi-point nights. Left wing Matt Fraser scored twice, as Texas ended a six-game winless streak at home. Forwards Mike Hedden and Luke Gazdic each added a goal and an assist. Center Travis Morin put up two assists, as the Stars improved to 17-15-2-1 at home this season. Lake Erie goalie Cedrick Desjardins stopped 25 in the loss.

Hamilton 4 at Texas 2 3/29/12

The Texas Stars were defeated by the Hamilton Bulldogs 4-2 in front of 5,824 fans at Cedar Park Center on Thursday night. Texas goalie Jack Campbell stopped 35 of 38 shots, including a team season-high 19 shots in the first period. Center Travis Morin scored his 11th goal of the year, breaking the team's record for most points in one season with 59. Rookie right wing Austin Smith registered his first professional point with an assist, while fellow rookie Taylor Vause notched his first professional assist. Left wing Luke Gazdic also scored for the Stars. Hamilton center Joonas Nattinen scored the game-winning goal with 1:16 left in the third period.

Texas 4 at Lake Erie 3 SO 3/27/12

The Texas Stars defeated the Lake Erie Monsters 4-3 in a shootout at the Quicken Loans Arena on Tuesday night. Texas rookie goalie Jack Campbell continued his stellar play, finishing with a career-high 36 saves, including eight in overtime to force a shootout. In his first pro shootout, Campbell stopped five of seven attempts to give the Stars their second straight road win. Rookie Taylor Vause sealed the win with the deciding goal in the seventh round of the shootout. Rookie forward Austin Smith and Colton Sceviour also netted shootout goals for the Stars. Left wing Francis Wathier scored a goal in regulation and added an assist in his 400th pro game. Texas center Travis Morin scored his tenth goal of the year, tying the team record for points in a season with his 58th of the season. Forward Mike Hedden added his 14th goal of the year for the Stars, who posted back-to-back road wins to finish the road swing.

What's Ahead:

DATE OPPONENT TIME RADIO

Sunday, April 1 vs. Lake Erie 5:00 PM 104.9 FM

Wednesday, April 4 at Grand Rapids 6:00 PM (CT) 92.5 FM

Thursday, April 5 at Peoria 7:00 PM 92.5 FM

* All times listed are central time

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American Hockey League Stories from April 1, 2012


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