AHL Texas Stars

Game Day Preview - Texas at Houston

Published on February 4, 2011 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Texas Stars News Release


Texas and Houston meet for the eighth time this season and the 20th time in AHL history. The two teams will play a total of 12 games this season, including three more times at Cedar Park Center. The Aeros own the season series with a 6-1-0-0 mark against the Stars this season. Texas is 9-7-1-2 all-time against Houston after taking the season series in 2009-10 by going 8-3-0-1 against their in-state rivals. Texas is 0-3-0-1 this year at the Toyota Center and 4-4-0-2 all-time. Overall, the Stars are winless in their last five decisions in Houston (0-4-0-1).

The Stars are 13-8-0-1 away from Cedar Park Center this season and 5-3-1-1 in the last ten games. Texas has wins in five of the last seven road games and points in six of their last eight road outings. The Stars return home on Saturday to face the Oklahoma City Barons and begin a four-game home stand. The Stars are in a stretch of five straight games against divisional opponents. Texas is 21-11-1-2 against the West Division this season. The Stars are the least penalized team in the league accruing 11.79 penalty minutes a game. The Stars are 13-1-3-3 in one-goal games this year. The Stars are coming off a 5-4 shootout loss to Abbotsford at home on Saturday.

Houston is 14-6-1-1 at home this year and 8-1-0-1 in the last ten games played. The Aeros have posted back-to-back wins and they are 10-2-0-1 since January 1st. Houston has wins in six of its last seven games at the Toyota Center. Houston is 7-3 in nine shootouts this season. Houston has scored the first goal of the night 33 times this season, the most in the AHL. The Aeros have 23 wins this year when scoring first. The Aeros are fourth in the AHL with 54 goals in the first period this season. Houston is 15-5-1-3 in one-goal games this season.

Through the first seven games of the series, Houston Captain Jon DiSalvatore leads the team with five markers and eight points. Former Texas Star Warren Peters has four goals and six points in seven games against his old team. Defenseman Maxim Noreauhas a team-high five assists and is tied for second in scoring with six points in seven games played. Stars center Travis Morin has collected three assists and five points in seven games. Right wing Colton Sceviour has four goals and 14 points in 19 games all-time games against Houston, including a team-high five assists and seven points in seven games this season. Texas goalie Richard Bachman is 1-4-1 with a 3.16 goals against average and an .886 save percentage against Houston this season. Tyler Beskorowany is 0-1-0 with a 3.01 goals against average and a .900 save percentage. Aeros goalie Anton Khudobin is 4-0-0 with a 2.55 goals against average and a .916 save percentage. Houston rookie Matt Hackett is 2-1-0 with a 2.14 goals against average and a .924 save percentage.

Wathier Nets Two Goals in AHL All-Star Game, Eastern Conference Beats the Western Conference 11-8

After he was added to the Western Conference All-Star team last Thursday, Texas Stars left wing Francis Wathier scored two goals on Monday night in the AHL All-Star Game. His Western Conference All-Stars fell to the Eastern Conference All-Stars 11-8 at the Giant Center in Hershey. Binghamton Senators forward Bobby Butler was named the game's MVP after scoring a goal and adding three assists to lead the Eastern Conference.

East Takes Down West in AHL Skills Competition

The Eastern Conference AHL All-Stars opened the 2011 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Capital BlueCross with a 19-7 victory over their Western Conference counterparts in the 2011 Reese's AHL All-Star Skills Competition at the Giant Center on Sunday afternoon. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton goaltender John Curry claimed the Reebok Top Goaltender award by stopping 21 of 28 shots (.750) for the Eastern Conference. Eastern Conference defenseman Viatcheslav Voynov of the Manchester Monarchs claimed the top speed in the Reebok Fastest Skater event, completing his spin around the rink in 14.197 seconds. Defenseman Brian Fahey from the host Hershey Bears captured the Reebok Hardest Shot competition in the final round with a blast clocked at 96.9 miles per hour.

Dallas Calls up Sawada

The Dallas Stars announced on Wednesday that the club has recalled right wing Raymond Sawada from the Texas Stars, Dallas' primary affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL). The club also placed center Tom Wandell on injured reserve, retroactive to Jan. 2.

Sawada, 25, has played in 36 games for Texas this season, collecting 17 points (7g, 10a). He has appeared in 10 NHL games over his career, all with Dallas, tallying one goal. Last season, the 6-2, 207-pound right wing helped the Texas Stars reach the Calder Cup Finals in the club's inaugural season, accruing eight points (3g, 5a) in 24 playoff games and 19 points (8g, 11a) in 60 regular season games. The Richmond, British Columbia, native was selected in the second round (52nd overall) at the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. Dallas Recalls Morin and Gagnon, Texas sends LeMay to Allen

The Dallas Stars announced on Monday that the club has recalled centers Aaron Gagnon and Travis Morin from the Texas Stars, Dallas' primary affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL). In a separate move, the Texas Stars assigned goalie Adrien LeMay to the Allen Americans of the Central Hockey League (CHL), Texas' CHL affiliate.

Gagnon, 24, has appeared in nine games for Dallas this season, recording two assists, including his first NHL point (Dec. 6 at Columbus). The 5-11, 186-pound center has spent the majority of this season with Texas, skating in 35 games and collecting 18 points (11g, 7a). Gagnon led the Texas Stars in scoring during the 2009-10 season with 58 points (27g, 31a). The Quesnel, British Columbia, native was signed by Dallas as a free agent on Feb. 2, 2007.

Morin, 27, made his NHL debut against Edmonton in a 3-1 win Jan. 26, recording 10:07 minutes of time on ice. He has recorded 34 points (13g, 21a) in 47 games this season for Texas. The 6-2, 195-pound center played 80 games last season for Texas, finishing second on the team in scoring with 52 points (21g, 31a). Morin was signed as a free agent on July 12, 2010 and was originally selected in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft (ninth round, 263rd overall) by the Washington Capitals. Morin is Texas' all-time leading scorer with 52 assists and 86 points in 126 games. He is one of two players to suit up for every game in team history.

LeMay returns to Allen after his third AHL recall this season. The rookie netminder dressed, but has not made an appearance for Texas this season. In 17 games for the Americans this year, LeMay is 11-2-0 with a 3.10 goals against average and a .897 save percentage.

What's Ahead:

DATE OPPONENT TIME TV/RADIO

Saturday, Feb. 5 vs. Oklahoma City 7:00 PM 104.9 FM

Tuesday, Feb. 8 vs. Houston 7:30 PM 104.9 FM

Friday, Feb. 11 vs. Rockford 7:30 PM 104.9 FM

Saturday, Feb. 12 vs. Rockford 7:00 PM 104.9 FM

* All times listed are central time

GAME RECAPS:

Abbotsford 5 at Texas 4 SO 1/29/11

The Texas Stars were defeated by the Abbotsford Heat 5-4 in a shootout on Saturday night in front of a sellout crowd of 6,863 fans at Cedar Park Center. The Stars rallied with two goals in the last five minutes of regulation, forcing overtime and gaining a point in the shootout loss. Heat goalie Leland (19-15-2) stopped all Texas attempts to preserve the shootout win, to go along with 35 saves in regulation. Abbotsford scored on two of three attempts to win the shootout. Texas left wing Francis Wathier scored the game-tying goal to force overtime with one minute left in the third period. Defensemen Dan Spang and Philip Larsen, as well as center Aaron Gagnon also supplied goals. Texas goalie Richard Bachman (17-10-3) stopped 25 of 29 shots in the shootout loss as Texas extended its points streak to four games (3-0-0-1).

Texas 2 at Oklahoma City 1 1/28/11

Oklahoma City, OK - The Texas Stars defeated the Oklahoma City Barons 2-1 on Friday night in front of 5,321 fans at the Cox Convention Center. Forward Colton Sceviour scored the game-winner and set up the first goal of the night to lead the Stars to victory. Texas goalie Richard Bachman stuffed the Barons attack with a 28 saves on the night, including 15 saves in the third period to preserve the win.

San Antonio 1 at Texas 2 (OT) 1/24/11

The Texas Stars defeated the San Antonio Rampage 3-2 in overtime on Monday night in front of 4,339 fans at Cedar Park Center. Texas right wing Greg Rallo had a three-point night, including the game-winning goal 31 seconds into overtime for the victory. Rallo also scored the game-tying goal with 6:38 left in regulation to go along with an assist in his 300th career pro game. Texas goalie Richard Bachman stopped 27 of 29 shots to preserve the win and bring Texas to 13-7-3-1 at home.

The Texas Stars

After 47 games of action, center Travis Morin leads Texas in scoring with 13 goals and 21 assists for 34 points. The All-Star center leads Texas with 21 assists. With Morin in the NHL, right wing Greg Rallo is first on the team in scoring with 29 points (15g-14a) in 47 games played. Ralllo leads the team in goals and with 147 shots on net. Right wing Colton Sceviour (9g-16a) is second among all active skaters on the team in points with 25. Left wing Francis Wathier is third on the team with 24 points in 44 games played, amassing 13 goals and 11 assists. Dan Spang is fourth overall on the team with 22 points. Spang is also tied for second on the team in assists (17) and leads all defensemen in shots on goal (99). Defensemen Brad Lukowich is tied second on the team with 17 assists. Left wing Luke Gazdic's 72 penalty minutes lead the team.

Texas Stars goalies Richard Bachman and Brent Krahn fill the net for the Stars. Bachman has appeared in 32 games, going 17-10-3 with a 2.21 goals against average and a .925 save percentage. Bachman ranks seventh overall in the AHL for goals against average and eighth in save percentage. Bachman has started 17 of the last 19 games. Brent Krahn has been not played since an injury forced him out of the line-up on November 5th. Krahn has appeared in nine games, posting a 5-4-0 mark, a 2.93 goals against average and a .898 save percentage.

The Houston Aeros

The Aeros return 14 players from 2009-10 team that went 34-34-7-5 with 80 points and a seventh place finish in the West Division. Houston hired their eighth head coach in team history this summer, bringing in Mike Yeo to replace Kevin Constantine. Yeo played for the Aeros from 1994-99 and he spent the last four seasons as an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Yeo helped the Pens win the Stanley Cup in 2009.

Left wing Robbie Earl leads the team with 16 goals and 33 points in 40 games played this season. Defenseman Maxime Noreau leads Houston in assists with 23 points and he is tied for second with 30 points in 51 games played. Right wing Jon DiSalvatore is second on the team with 19 assists and tied for second with 30 points in 51 games. Center Cody Almond is third on the team with 11 goals and he is fourth in scoring with 22 points. Right wing Jean-Michel Daoust and center Warren Peters round out the top six with 21 points each. Left wing Matt Kassian leads the team with 107 penalty minutes in 45 games played.

The Aeros use Anton Khudobin and rookie Matt Hackett in net. Hackett was drafted by the Wild in the third round (#77 overall) in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. In 26 games played this season, Hackett is 11-11-2 with a 2.47 goals against average and a .913 save percentage. Khudobin is 15-9-1 with a 2.54 goals against average and a .911 save percentage.

Special Teams

After finishing second overall last season on the penalty kill, the Stars rank 29th overall at 77.0%. Texas sits 17th in the AHL, converting on 16.8% of its power plays. The Aeros are 19th overall on the power play, converting 16.6% of the time. Houston is seventh overall on the penalty kill, stopping 84.8% of its opponents' power plays. So far in the season series, Houston is 8-for-31 (25.8%) and Texas is 6-for-33 (18.1%).

Offense and Defense

The Texas Stars are seventh overall in team defense, allowing 2.68 goals against per game. Texas is ranked 15th out of 30 teams, scoring an average of 2.81 goals per game. Houston's defense is ninth overall with a 2.68 goals against per game. The Aeros sit 22nd offensively, averaging 2.65 goals per game.

Check out the Texas Stars Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from February 4, 2011


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