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AHL Texas Stars

Gameday Preview - Houston at Texas

February 24, 2012 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Texas Stars News Release


Houston Aeros (25-16-3-9, 62 points) at Texas Stars (23-26-2-2, 50 points)

The Texas Stars and the Houston Aeros meet for the tenth time this season and the 34th time in AHL history. The Stars and the Aeros will face off two more times this season, including one more at Cedar Park Center and the season finale in Houston. The two teams last met on Thursday, February 2nd, a 3-1 win for the Aeros at home. The road team has taken six of the nine previous games in the series. Houston leads the season series, posting a 5-1-2-1 mark against the Stars. The Aeros lead the all-time series with an 18-11-3-1 record over three seasons against the Stars. Texas is 7-7-1-2 all-time at the Toyota Center and 15-14-2-2 in 33 all-time meetings. Texas is 4-5-0-0 this season against Houston. Texas has played Houston more than any other team in AHL history. The 34 all-time meetings are three ahead of the 31 all-time meetings with San Antonio. The Aeros currently sit in second place of the West Division and fifth in the Western Conference. The Stars are nine points back of San Antonio for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Texas has three wins in its last ten games, going 3-6-1-0 over that span. The team is coming off a 5-1 defeat in Oklahoma City on Wednesday night, dropping their seventh straight road decision. Texas returns home where it is 13-8-2-1. The club has outscored the opposition 86-73 at Cedar Park Center. Texas has taken ten of the last 14 home games and posted points in 12 of the last 14. The Stars are 10-16-0-2 against the West Division. Texas' scoring has been spread out evenly this season, with 43 first-period tallies and 63 second-period markers. Since Dec. 3 (last 32 games), Texas has outscored the opposition 45-32 in the second period after getting outscored in the middle frame 26-18 in the first 20 games. The Stars lead the opposition in second-period scoring with a 63-59 edge. The club has been outscored by the opposing team 169-154 for the season. Texas is 10th in the league with a 3.00 goals per game average and it ranks 25th defensively with a 3.24 goals against average. The Stars are 14-0-1-1 when leading after two periods of play, but they are 3-22-0-0 when trailing after two periods of play. The team is 11-10-2-2 in games decided by one goal this season. Texas and Manchester are tied for the AHL lead with five overtime wins this season, going 5-0-3 (SOW)-2 (SOL) when tied after regulation. The Stars are tied for second in the AHL with ten shorthanded goals this season.

Houston is tied for third in the AHL with fewest regulation losses (16) in the league. The Aeros come into Friday's contest after dropping three straight games, including their last outing, a 4-1 defeat in Abbotsford. Houston is 16-9-0-3 on the road this season and 4-6-0-0 in the last ten games played. In all, Houston has a win or a point in 37 of its 53 games played. The Aeros lead the AHL with nine shootout losses and 15 overtime appearances. They sport one of the best road records in the league, outscoring the home team 81-71. The Aeros have scored only three goals in their last three games, falling to 22nd in the AHL in goals per game average (2.70). Defensively, Houston ranks eighth overall in the league by allowing 2.72 goals per game. The Aeros have struggled to score in the first period of play, putting up 33 goals in their first 53 games. The team sits behind only Providence for the fewest of first-period goals in the AHL this season. Houston has 56 goals in the second period and 51 in the third. The Aeros have scored the first goal 21 times this season, posting a 15-3-0-3 mark when they get on the board first. The 2011 Western Conference champions rank 30th in the AHL with a 12.74 penalty minutes per game average. The Aeros are 11-8-3-7 against the West Division this year.

Through the first nine games of the season series, Houston has outscored Texas 29-18. Texas is 7-for-32 (19.2%) on the power play and 20-for-25 (86.3%) on the penalty kill against Houston this year. Center Travis Morin leads all skaters in the season series with eight assists in nine games, giving him the points lead in the series. Among active skaters, Justin Fontaine and Cody Almond lead Houston in scoring against Texas this season. Chad Rau (7 pts), Jed Ortmeyer (7 pts) and Casey Wellman (7 pts) are all in Minnesota on recall. Fontaine has five assists and six points in nine games against the Stars, while Almond has two goals and five points in six games played. Houston goalie Matt Hackett is 4-3-0 with a 1.98 goals against average and a .935 save percentage against Texas. Stars goalie Tyler Beskorowany is 1-1-0 with a 3.00 g.a.a and a .897 save percentage. Andrew Raycroft is 1-1-0 with a 2.42 g.a.a and a .915 save percentage. Over the last three years, Aeros Captain Jon DiSalvatore is the only remaining player to suit up for every game of the all-time series. In 33 games against Texas, DiSalvatore has 12 goals and 24 points. Texas right wing Colton Sceviour has seen the Aeros more than any other Star. Sceviour has six goals and 14 assists for 20 points in 31 games against Houston. Travis Morin and Francis Wathier are tied for the most Texas goals against Houston with seven each.

Texas Stars

Center Travis Morin leads Texas in scoring. Morin is the clubhouse leader with 38 assists and 46 points in his first 53 games played. He ranks in the top ten of the AHL for assists. He played in his 200th AHL game on Saturday night against San Antonio. Two of the team's top four scorers are in the NHL with Dallas. Texas is without right wing Matt Fraser and his team-leading 26 goals. Fraser left as the second highest scorer on the team with 42 points in 50 games played. Ryan Garbutt was called up last Friday, scoring his first NHL goal in his third NHL game. Garbutt had 16 goals and 33 points in 50 games with Texas at the time of his recall.

Colton Sceviour, Francis Wathier and Scott Glennie round out the top scorers for Texas. Colton Sceviour is second on the team with 23 assists and he is third with 36 points. Sceviour has a point in 12 straight home games, dating back to Dec. 27. Francis Wathier is tied with Luke Gazdic for the team lead in penalty minutes with 80 each. Wathier is tied with Scott Glennie for third overall on the team with 29 points off 11 goals and 18 assists. Glennie has 11 goals and 18 assists in for 29 points in 49 games played.

Jordie Benn leads all defenders and he ranks in the top ten of the AHL among defensemen with nine goals. He also is first among Texas blueliners with 23 points in 49 games played. Veteran Brad Lukowich is second among team defenders with 21 points off 17 assists and four goals in 46 games played. Lukowich is tied with Dan Spang for the team lead for assists among all defenders. Brenden Dillon is tied for third among all defensemen with 15 assists and he is first among D-men with 55 penalty minutes. Veteran defender Maxime Fortunus has 17 points in 49 games. He is the highest scoring defenseman in team history with 74 points.

Goalies Andrew Raycroft and Tyler Beskorowany split time in net for Texas. Raycroft is 8-8-1 with a 3.14 goals against average and a .893 save percentage in 17 starts for the Stars. Beskorowany is 7-13-0 with a 3.22 goals against average and a .889 save percentage. He made a season-high 40 saves in the 4-3 loss at Lake Erie on Wednesday, February 15th.

Special Teams

The Stars have converted 51 of 249 power plays for a 20.5% conversion rate, as Texas is sixth overall in power play percentage. The Stars have killed off 168 of 203 opponents' power plays (82.8%), ranking 12th overall on the penalty kill. Texas has the fewest penalty kills in the AHL. The Aeros are first in the AHL on the penalty kill, stopping 79.7% of their opponents' power plays. Overall, Houston ranks 17th in the AHL on the power play after going 41-for-238 (17.2%).

The Houston Aeros

Right wing Jon DiSalvatore leads the team with 41 points in 53 games. The Aeros captain has a team-leading 18 goals and he is second with 23 assists this season. He is also second in shots on goal with 123 and eight power-play goals. Forward Justin Fontaine is second in team scoring with 35 points, scoring 11 goals and setting up 24 others. He sits in the top 20 for rookie league leaders in points and assists. Fontaine leads the team with seven points over the last ten games played. Veteran center Jeff Taffe is third on the team with 22 assists and is third with 32 points in 47 games played. Taffe leads the club with 16 power-play assists and 127 shots on goal. He is also a team-worst -18 this year. Rookie Kris Foucault has moved into fourth on the team in points, he has ten goals and 24 points in 49 games played. The Aeros top-scoring defenseman is Chay Genoway, who has 16 assists and 21 points in 49 games played. Of Genoway's 21 total points, 13 have come on the power play.

With a plethora of injuries in Minnesota, the Wild have relied heavily on its AHL affiliate. Former Texas Star Warren Peters is in Minnesota, joined by forwards Casey Wellman, Carson MacMillan, Chad Rau, Jed Ortmeyer, Matt Kassian and defenseman Nate Prosser.

In goal, the Aeros feature Matt Hackett and rookie Darcy Kuemper. After leading the Aeros to the Calder Cup Finals in 2011, Hackett is 16-13-4 in his second season with the Aeros. He sports a 2.42 goals against average and a .917 save percentage. Hackett has played in three games for Minnesota this year, going 2-0-0 with a 0.85 goals against average and a .977 save percentage. Kuemper is 6-4-4 with a 2.33 goals against average and a .923 save percentage.

Stars Sign Defenseman Brodie

The Texas Stars announced on Thursday that the team has signed defenseman Cameron Brodie to a PTO.

Brodie is a second-year pro who spent the first 43 games of the year with Stockton of the ECHL. In his time with the Thunder, Brodie totaled five points (all assists) and 54 penalty minutes. He also spent his rookie season with Stockton in 2010-11, scoring two goals and totaling 12 points in 60 games played. Prior to turning pro, the 23-year old played junior hockey in the BCHL from 2004-09 and one year at the University of British Columbia in 2009-10. Brodie will look to make his AHL debut this weekend when the Stars host the Houston Aeros.

Dallas Recalls Fraser, Texas Adds Layton

The Dallas Stars announced on Wednesday that the club has placed center Jake Dowell on injured reserve with an upper body injury retroactive to Feb. 21 and recalled forward Matt Fraser from the Texas Stars, Dallas' primary affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL). The Texas Stars have recalled forward Nick Layton from the Allen Americans, the Stars' Central Hockey League affiliate.

Fraser, 21, appeared in his first career NHL game earlier this season against Anaheim on Jan. 24. In 50 games for Texas this season, Fraser ranks second on the team in scoring with 42 points (26 goals, 16 assists). He leads the club with 26 goals and ranks fourth overall in goal scoring in the AHL. The 6-2, 207-pound forward was signed to a three-year entry-level contract by Dallas on Nov. 17, 2010.

Layton has played in 50 games for the Allen Americans of the CHL this season. During his time with the Americans, Layton scored 13 goals and added 23 assists for 36 points. The 23-year-old forward turned pro after playing the 2010-11 season at the University of New Brunswick, posting one goal and six points in 24 games played. In 2010-11, Layton joined the CHL's Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs for their playoff run. The right wing played in 20 playoff games, scoring seven goals and totaling 17 points to help the Mudbugs win the CHL's Miron Cup. He made his Texas and AHL debut on Wednesday at Oklahoma City.

Texas Adds Scott Campbell

The Texas Stars announced on Saturday the team has signed forward Scott Campbell to a PTO (professional tryout agreement).

Campbell joins the Stars after playing the bulk of his rookie season with the Las Vegas Wranglers of the ECHL. In 45 games with Las Vegas, the 6-foot-2, 210-pounder netted14 goals and added 15 assists for 29 points. The Navan, ON native also went scoreless in one AHL game this season with Rochester. Campbell was scoreless in the final six games of the 2010-11 season with the Houston Aeros. Prior to turning pro, Campbell played at UMASS-Lowell from 2007-11 playing in 121 games with 85 points.

LAST THREE GAMES

Texas 1 at Oklahoma City 5 2/22/12

The Texas Stars were defeated by the Oklahoma City Barons 5-1 in front of 2,259 fans at the Cox Convention Center on Wednesday night. Forward Mark Arcobello led the way with two goals and two assists as the Barons picked up their fourth win of the season over Texas. Oklahoma City goalie David LeNeveu did the rest, stopping 31 shots to preserve the win. After Texas defenseman Jordie Benn gave his team a 1-0 lead midway through the first period, Oklahoma City answered back with five straight goals to improve to 15-9-2-2 at home this season. Texas goalie Andrew Raycroft stopped 14 of 18 shots, but he was pulled after giving up the fourth goal of the night in 32:25 of work. Goalie Tyler Beskorowany made 16 saves on 17 shots in a relief effort.

San Antonio 2 at Texas 4 2/18/12

The Texas Stars defeated the San Antonio Rampage 4-2 in front of 6,517 fans at the Cedar Park Center on Saturday. Texas left wing Matt Fraser scored the go-ahead goal at 12:52 of the third period, breaking a 2-2 tie and putting the Stars in front for good. Fraser also added an assist as Texas took its third straight victory at home. Center Travis Morin added two assists, as the Stars picked up their ninth win over the last 13 home games. Defenseman Maxime Fortunus and left wing Mike Hedden also scored for the Stars. Texas goalie Andrew Raycroft stopped 24 of 26 shots, as the Stars improved to 13-8-2-1 at home.

San Antonio 4 at Texas 5 SO 2/17/12

The Texas Stars defeated the San Antonio Rampage 5-4 in a shootout in front of 5,031 fans at the Cedar Park Center on Friday. Texas left wing Mike Hedden scored the only goal of the shootout, giving the Stars a one-goal win. Three Texas skaters had multi-point nights. Left wing Matt Fraser scored two goals on the night, while center Travis Morin and Angelo Esposito each added two assists. Left wing Francis Wathier and forward Stephen Schultz also scored for the Stars. Texas goalie Tyler Beskorowany stopped 28 of 32 shots and all five shootout attempts as the Stars improved to 12-8-2-1 at home. Four Rampage skaters put up multi-point nights. Right wing Michal Repik, left wing Evan Barlow and forward Greg Rallo each scored a goal and added an assist. Center Jon Matsumoto added two assists for San Antonio. San Antonio goalie Dov Grumet-Morris stopped 40 of 44 shots and four of five shootout attempts.

What's Ahead:

DATE OPPONENT TIME RADIO

Friday, February 24 Houston 7:30 PM 104.9 FM

Saturday, February 25 Houston 7:00 PM 104.9 FM

Friday, March 2 at Abbotsford 9:00 PM (CT) 92.5 FM

Sunday, March 4 at Abbotsford 3:00 PM (CT) 92.5 FM

* All times listed are central time

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