AHL Texas Stars

Game Preview - Abbotsford at Texas

Published on March 1, 2011 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Texas Stars News Release


Texas and Abbotsford meet for the fourth and final time this season, the eighth time in AHL history. The teams played a pair of games at the end of December with the Stars taking both games at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre. The Heat claimed the last meeting on Jan. 28, a 5-4 shootout win at Cedar Park Center. Texas is 4-2-0-1 all-time against the Heat. Last year, the home team won every game of the series. This year, the road team has taken every game. Texas is coming off a 3-2 shootout loss at home to Oklahoma City. The Heat handed Providence a 6-2 loss in Abbotsford on Saturday evening.

Texas is 16-8-3-3 at Cedar Park Center this season and 4-3-1-2 in the last ten games. Texas is 9-5-1-3 in its last 18 meetings. Despite a four-game winless skid (0-1-1-2), Texas has collected points in six of the last seven games. The team has a point in three straight games (0-0-1-2). The Stars began a five-game home stand on Sunday. Prior to the home stand, Texas wrapped up a season-long eight-game road trip on Saturday in San Antonio. The Stars posted a 3-3-1-1 record away from home. Tuesday marks the team's fourth game in five nights. The team is playing its tenth game in the last 15 days. The Stars are 26-14-2-4 against the West Division this season and 6-6-2-1 against the North Division this season. Texas is the least penalized team in the league accruing 12.33 penalty minutes a game. The Stars are 18-2-4-5 in one-goal games this year.

Abbotsford is 12-12-1-3 on the road this year and 5-4-1-0 in the last ten games played. Abbotsford is one game into a five-game road trip that ends on Mar. 6 in Houston. The Heat will also make stops in Oklahoma City and San Antonio. The team is coming off a six game stand in which it posted a 3-2-1-0 mark. The AHL Affiliate of Calgary has been outscored 79-70 on the road this year and 83-70 at home. Abbotsford is 10-5 in shootouts this season and has an 18-5-3-5 record in one-goal games. The ten shootout wins lead the AHL. The Heat have the have scored the second fewest goals in the league at 140 and they are 10-14-1-2 against teams from the West Division this year.

In the three previous meetings this year, Stars center Travis Morin (2a), as well as defenders Philip Larsen (1g-2a) and Dan Spang (1g-2a) have led the team's offense against the Heat in three games. Aaron Gagnon, Mathieu Tousignant and Ondrej Roman also have multiple points in the series. The Heat scored six goals in the three games against the Stars. Forwards Lance Bouma (1g,1a), Jon Rheault (2a) and Ryan Stone (2a) each has two points in three games against Texas. Defenseman T.J. Brodie also has a goal and an assist in three games against the Stars.

Texas goalie Richard Bachman is 1-0-1 against the Heat this season, posting a 2.41 goals against average and a .926 save percentage. Stars goalie Tyler Beskorowany picked up his first AHL shutout in Abbotsford on December 31st. The Heat started Leland Irving in all three games against Texas. He is 1-2-0 with a 3.26 goals against average and a .884 save percentage.

Jerrard Hits 700

Texas Stars Assistant Coach Paul Jerrard coached his 700th AHL game behind the bench in San Antonio on Saturday night. In his ninth season as an assistant, Jerrard has spent time with Texas, Iowa (05-09), Hershey (03-05) and Lowell (98-99). He has helped his teams to a 334-285-80 mark (.534).

Dallas Assigns Sawada, LeMay Reassigned to Idaho

Prior to Friday's game, the Dallas Stars announced that the club has activated right wing Raymond Sawada from injured reserve and has assigned him to the Texas Stars, Dallas' primary affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL). In a separate move, the Texas Stars reassigned goalie Adrien LeMay from the Quad City Mallards of the Central Hockey League and to the Idaho Steelheads, Texas' ECHL affiliate.

Sawada, 26, injured his shoulder Feb. 3rd at Boston and has missed the last nine games. He has played in 38 games for Texas this season, collecting 17 points (7g, 10a). Sawada has appeared in 11 NHL games in 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 an 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.

LeMay will go to the Idaho Steelheads after spending time in the CHL with the Allen Americans and the Quad City Mallards. In 20 games for the Americans this year, LeMay went 12-4-1 with a 3.31 goals against average and a .887 save percentage. LeMay dressed, but did not play during his short stint with the Mallards.

Dallas Assigns Gagnon, Texas Releases Mouilliert

Prior to Wednesday's game, the Dallas Stars assigned center Aaron Gagnon to the Texas Stars, Dallas' AHL Affiliate. The Texas Stars also announced that forward Kael Mouillierat has been released from a PTO (professional tryout agreement).

Gagnon, 24, has appeared in 19 games for Dallas this season, recording two assists, including his first NHL point (Dec. 6 at Columbus). The 5-11, 186-pound center has skated in 39 games for Texas, collecting 21 points (11g, 10a). Gagnon led the Texas Stars in scoring in 2009-10 with 58 points (27g, 31a) through 77 games. The Quesnel, British Columbia, native was signed by Dallas as a free agent February 2, 2007.

Mouillierat played in six games for Texas over his recall, setting up a pair of goals for two points. In 44 games with Idaho this season, Mouillierat scored 17 goals and assisted on 28 others for a total of 44 points. The rookie forward is expected to rejoin the Steelheads, Texas' ECHL affiliate.

What's Ahead: * All times listed are central time

DATE OPPONENT TIME TV/RADIO

Friday, Mar. 4 vs. San Antonio 7:30 PM 1530 AM

Saturday, Mar. 5 vs. Houston 7:00 PM 104.9 FM

Monday, March 7 vs. Syracuse 11:00 AM 1530 AM

Friday, March 11 at Syracuse 6:30 PM 1530 AM

GAME RECAPS:

Oklahoma City 3 at Texas 2 SO 2/27/11

The Texas Stars were defeated by the Oklahoma City Barons 3-2 in a shootout on Sunday night in front of 5,545 fans at Cedar Park Center. Right wing Colin McDonald scored the decisive goal in the shootout to lift Oklahoma City over the Stars for the first in six games. Texas goalie Richard Bachman stopped 35 of 37 shots in regulation, helping the Stars salvage a point in the shootout defeat. Defenseman Trevor Ludwig and right wing Greg Rallo each scored in regulation, as the Stars fell to 0-1-1-2 in the last four games. Center Aaron Gagnon had a multi-point night with two assists to spark a Stars two-goal rally. Oklahoma City goalie Bryan Pitton (3-1-0) stopped 29 shots in regulation and four of five to preserve the shootout win.

Texas 2 at San Antonio 3 SO 2/26/11

The Texas Stars were defeated by the San Antonio Rampage 3-2 in a shootout on Saturday night in front of 10,447 fans at the AT&T Center. The Rampage trailed 2-0 in the first two rounds of the shootout, but managed three shootout goals in the last five attempts to nip the Stars in the extra session. Forward Luke Gazdic and defenseman Dan Spang each scored regulation goals as Texas finished its eight-game road trip at 3-3-1-1. San Antonio goalie Matt Climie stopped 24 of 26 in regulation and five of seven shootout attempts for the victory. Texas goalie Tyler Beskorowany made 29 saves in regulation and stopped four of seven attempts in the shootout defeat.

Texas 3 at Houston 4 OT 2/25/11

The Texas Stars were defeated by the Houston Aeros 4-3 in overtime on Friday night in front of 7,582 fans at the Toyota Center. Center Casey Wellman scored 29 seconds into overtime to give the Aeros their ninth win of the season over Texas in ten meetings. Defenseman Jordie Benn gave Texas a 3-2 lead halfway through the period, as Texas still gained a spot in the standings with the OT loss. Stars forwards Luke Gazdic and Francis Wathier each had a goal in the road loss. Houston goalie Anton Khudobin stopped 33 of 36 Texas shots for the win. Texas goalie Richard Bachman made 40 saves in the defeat.

The Texas Stars

After 61 games of action, right wing Greg Rallo leads the team lead in points with 37 (18g-19a) in 61 games played. Ralllo also leads the team with 18 goals and 181 shots on net. Center Travis Morin is second for Texas in scoring with 13 goals and 21 assists for 34 points in 48 games played. Morin has missed the last 11 games with an injury. Dan Spang is third overall on the team with 32 points. He leads the team lead in assists (23), as well as all defensemen in goals (9) and shots on goal (132). Colton Sceviour is sixth on the team with 18 assists and fourth with 29 points in 59 games played. Left wing Francis Wathier is second on the team with 15 goals and 142 shots in 52 games played. Defenseman Brad Lukowich is tied for second on the team with 21 assists. Left wing Luke Gazdic leads the team with 86 penalty minutes.

Texas Stars goalies Richard Bachman and Tyler Beskorowany fill the net for the Stars. Bachman has appeared in 41 games, going 21-14-4 with a 2.30 goals against average and a .924 save percentage. Bachman ranks in the top ten in the AHL for goals against average and save percentage. Bachman has started 26 of the last 33 games. Krahn has appeared in 12 games, posting a 6-6-0 mark, a 3.20 goals against average and a .895 save percentage. Krahn is out with an injury. Beskorowany has posted a 1.68 goals against average and stopped 279 of 293 shots (.952 %) in his last nine appearances (5-2-1) with Texas this year. Overall, Beskorowany is 5-4-1 with a 2.32 goals against average and a .933 save percentage.

Abbotsford Heat

The Abbotsford Heat are the AHL Affiliate of the Calgary Flames. Head Coach Jim Playfair is the first coach in team history, guiding the club to a 39-29-5-7 (90 points) mark in 2009-10. Playfair is a veteran coach with nine years of head coaching experience and a total of 16 years behind the bench counting his time as an assistant. He led the Saint John Flames to a Calder Cup Championship in 2001 and served as the Head Coach of the NHL's Calgary Flames in 2006-07, posting a 43-29-0-10 mark.

Forward Matt Keith leads Abbotsford with 18 goals and 30 points in 60 games played. The former Rockford IceHog leads the club with 167 shots on net and five power-play goals. Right wing Greg Nemisz is second on the team with 27 points and second with 13 tallies in 59 games of action. Rookie defenseman T.J Brodie leads the team with 20 assists and is fourth on the team with 23 points in 53 games played. Brodie has a team-high 12 power-play assists. Left wing Cam Cunning and defenseman Keith Seabrook are tied for fifth on the team with 20 points apiece. Rookie center Lance Bouma (11g-8a) is fourth in goals.

In net, the Heat feature Leland Irving, Matt Keetley and J.P. Lamoureaux. Irving has seen the bulk of the workload in net with 49 appearances. The former first round pick of Calgary is 24-19-2 with a 2.36 goals against average, a .910 save percentage and five shutouts. Irving ranks among the league leaders in wins (2nd), minutes played (1st - 2,775), goals against average (11th), saves (4th - 1104) and shootout wins (1st - 9). Keetley is 0-6-1 in eight appearances this season, sporting a 3.62 goals against average and a .858 save percentage. Lamoureaux is 4-2-2 with a 2.29 goals against average and a .911 save percentage.

Familiar Faces

Texas Stars Head Coach Glen Gulutzan spent six seasons in the Calgary Flames system as the head coach of the ECHL's Las Vegas Wranglers. During his time in Las Vegas, Gulutzan coached current Abbotsford goalie Matt Keetley, as well as defenseman Gord Baldwin.

Special Teams

After finishing second overall last season on the penalty kill, the Stars rank 27th overall at 77.8%. Texas sits 19th in the AHL, converting 17.1 % of its power plays. The Heat are 25th overall on the power play, converting 13.8% of the time. Abbotsford is 16th in the AHL on the penalty kill, stopping 83.3% of its opponents' power plays.

Offense and Defense

The Texas Stars are tied for ninth overall in team defense, allowing 2.70 goals against per game. Texas is ranked 20th out of 30 teams, scoring an average of 2.72 goals per game. Abbotsford's defense ranks tied for ninth overall with a 2.70 goals against per game. The Heat sit 29th out of all 30 teams offensively, averaging 2.33 goals per game.

Check out the Texas Stars Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from March 1, 2011


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