AHL Texas Stars

Gameday Preview - Texas at Chicago

Published on January 12, 2011 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Texas Stars News Release


Texas Stars (21-13-2-2, 46 points) at Chicago Wolves (21-17-2-2, 46 points)

Texas and Chicago meet for fourth time this season and the 12th all-time regular season meeting. Texas has taken all three meetings this season, including the last meeting, an 8-2 win at Cedar Park Center over Chicago on November 16th. The Stars are 7-4-0-0 all time against the Wolves.

The Stars are 10-6-0-1 on the road this season. After rattling off a seven-game points streak (5-0-1-1) the Stars have suffered back-to-back losses. The Stars have been outscored 8-2 in their last two outings and are 5-3-1-1 in the last ten games. Texas is 10-1-2-2 in one-goal games this year.

Chicago is 10-6-0-2 at home this year and 6-2-0-2 in the last ten games played. The Wolves are winless in their last two games (0-1-0-1) but, they only have two regulation losses since Dec. 18. The Wolves have won five of their last eight.

Through the first three games of the season series, left wing Fabian Brunnstrom leads all scorers in the season series with three assists and a four points. Six other Stars have posted three points in the season series, including forward Francis Wathier who has three goals in the series. Defenseman Dan Spang is tied for the team lead with three assists. Texas goalie Richard Bachman is 2-0-0 with a 2.50 goals against average a .930 save percentage.

Chicago has been outscored 15-7 in the series. Five skaters have posted two points in the season series. Frederick Pettersson has two goals, while center Jason Krog, defenseman Paul Postma and forward Jared Ross each have two assists against Texas in three games. Chicago goalies Edward Pasquale is 0-2-0 with a 3.54 goals against average. Goalie Drew MacIntyre is 0-1-0 with a 10.40 goals against average with a .750 save percentage. Peter Mannino has played in one period, allowing one goal. Last year, Mannino went 2-1-1 with a 2.39 GAA and a .909 save percentage. Drew MacIntyre went 2-1-0 with a 2.86 goals against average and a .886 save percentage.

Travis Morin Named Western Conference All-Star Starter

The Texas Stars, in conjunction with the American Hockey League, announced on Tuesday that Texas Stars center Travis Morin has been named a starter for the Western Conference All-Star team. The 2011 AHL All-Star game is at 7 p.m. on Monday, January 31 with the Eastern Conference meeting the Western Conference in Hershey, PA at the Giant Center.

Morin will make his AHL All-Star debut after leading the Texas Stars in scoring through the first 38 games of the season with a team-high 13 goals and 17 assists for 30 points. He is also second on the team with a +10 and five power-play goals. The Brooklyn Park, MN native is one of two Texas Stars to have played in every game in team history, including the post season. The 26-year old has played 117 straight games, placing second in team history with 34 goals and first with 46 assists and 80 points. The second-year AHLer also played in 24 Calder Cup Playoff games with 12 assists and 16 points.

Dallas Assigns Brandon Segal

The Dallas Stars announced on Tuesday that the club has assigned right wing Brandon Segal to the Texas Stars, Dallas' primary affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL).

Segal, 27, has played in 36 games for Dallas this season, recording four goals and five assists with 34 penalty minutes. He posted a career-high four-game point streak (2g, 3a) this season from Dec. 2-8. Segal was claimed off waivers from Los Angeles on February 11, 2010. He has played in 82 career NHL games, collecting 21 points (10g, 11a). The Richmond, British Columbia, native was selected by Nashville in the fourth round (102nd overall) in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. From 2003-10 Segal played in eight AHL seasons for Milwaukee, Norfolk, Manchester and Portland. In 425 AHL contests, Segal has 100 goals and 91 assists for 191 points with 507 penalty minutes.

Dallas Recalls Larsen, Texas Recalls Monast

Prior Saturday's game, Texas recalled defenseman Guillaume Monast from the Idaho Steelheads. Monast has played in 30 games for Idaho this season, tallying one goal and four assists while adding 20 penalty minutes. The Quebec native spent his rookie season with Idaho, setting up six goals in 68 games played, helping the Steelheads reach the Kelly Cup Finals. Monast attended training camp in Dallas and in Texas each of the last two years.

The Dallas Stars announced on Thursday that the club has placed center Toby Petersen on injured reserve, retroactive to Jan. 2. The club has also recalled defenseman Philip Larsen from the Texas Stars, Dallas' primary affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL).

Larsen, 21, has played in 29 games for Texas so far this season, posting 13 points (0g, 13a) and eight penalty minutes. He has also appeared in three games for Dallas this season, accruing one assist. The Esbjerg, Denmark, native made his NHL debut last season with the club, appearing in two games and collecting one assist. Larsen was selected by the Stars in the fifth round (149th overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

What's Ahead:

DATE OPPONENT TIME TV/RADIO

Friday, Jan. 14 at Rockford 7:05 PM 1530 AM

Saturday, Jan. 15 at Peoria 7:05 PM 104.9 FM

Tuesday, Jan 18 vs. Grand Rapids 7:30 PM 104.9 FM

Friday, Jan. 21 at Houston 7:05 PM 104.9 FM

Saturday, Jan. 22 vs. Milwaukee 7:00 PM 104.9 FM

* All times listed are central time

GAME RECAPS:

Lake Erie 3 at Texas 1 1/8/11

Cedar Park, TX - The Texas Stars were defeated by the Lake Erie Monsters 3-1 on Saturday night in front of a soldout crowd of 6,863 fans at Cedar Park Center. Lake Erie winger Ryan Stoa had a goal and two assists, helping the Monsters end an eight-game losing streak on the road. Lake Erie forwards Patrick Rissmiller and Ben Walker also scored in the win. Texas goalie Richard Bachman (13-7-2) stopped 26 of 29 shots in the loss. Lake Erie goalie John Grahame (5-6-2) stopped 18 of 19 shots for the victory. Stars center Aaron Gagnon scored the lone Texas goal in the third period.

Texas 1 at San Antonio 5 1/7/11

San Antonio, TX - The Texas Stars were defeated by the San Antonio Rampage 5-1 on Friday night in front of 7, 701 fans at AT&T Center. After Texas claimed a 1-0 lead, the Rampage scored the next five to end a four-game winless skid (0-4-0-0). Former Texas goalie Matt Climie (16-7-0) made 26 saves in net for the Rampage win. Texas goalie Richard Bachman suffered the loss with 18 saves. Stars forward Fabian Brunnstrom scored the lone Texas goal in the first period.

Texas 3 at Abbotsford 0 12/31/10

Abbotsford, BC - The Texas Stars defeated the Abbotsford Heat 3-0 on Friday night in front of 3,261 fans at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre. Goalie Tyler Beskorowany (3-4-0) made 25 saves for his first AHL shutout, helping the Stars extend their points streak to a season-high seven games (5-0-1-1). Forwards Fabian Brunnstrom, Raymond Sawada and Mathieu Tousignant each scored as Texas moved within one point of first place in the West Division. Stars center Travis Morin had two assists, as Texas improved to 10-5-0-1 on the road this season. Abbotsford goalie Leland Irving (15-12-1) stopped 21 of 23 Texas shots in the defeat.

The Texas Stars

After 38 games of action, center Travis Morin leads Texas in scoring with 13 goals and 30 points. Right wing Greg Rallo is second on the team in scoring with 22 points (11g-11a) in 38 games played. Left wing Francis Wathier is third on the club with 21 points. Wathier is second in goals scored (12) and leads the team lead with six power-play goals. Right wing Colton Sceviour (6g-12a) and left wing Fabian Brunnstromm (9g-9a) are tied for fourth on the team in points with 18. Dan Spang is sixth overall on the team with 16 points. Spang is also tied for second on the team in assists (13) and leads all defensemen in shots on goal (82). Defensemen Brad Lukowich and Philip Larsen are tied for second on the team with 13 assists each. Left wing Luke Gazdic's 66 penalty minutes lead the team.

Texas Stars goalies Richard Bachman and Tyler Beskorowany fill the net for Texas. Brent Krahn is currently out with an injury. Bachman has appeared in 24 games, going 13-7-2 with a 2.21 goals against average and a .926 save percentage. Bachman ranks ninth overall in the AHL for goals against average and seventh in save percentage. Bachman has started nine of the last ten. Beskorowany has posted a 2.02 goals against average and stopped 169 of 179 shots (.944 %) in his last five games. Overall, Beskorowany is 3-4-0 with a 2.88 goals against average and a .919 save percentage. Krahn has appeared in nine games, posting a 5-4-0 mark, a 2.93 goals against average and a .898 save percentage.

Milestones

Defenseman Matt Stephenson played in his 100th AHL game on Saturday at home against Lake Erie. Francis Wathier played in his 300th pro game against Lake Erie. Right wing Greg Rallo needs seven more games to reach his 300th pro game.

The Chicago Wolves

The Wolves return 11 players from 2009-10 team that captured the West Division regular season title after going 49-24-1-6 for 105 points. The team also welcomes 14 new faces to the roster. The Wolves return leading scorer and Captain Jason Krog, who assisted on 61 goals and totaled 75 points in 78 games played in 09-10. Heading into the season, Krog had 523 points in 455 regular season AHL games. In 42 games this season, Krog has 30 assists and 39 points.

Left wing Nigel Dawes was named the AHL Player of the Week after posting five goals, six points and a +4 plus/minus rating in three games last week. He paces the Wolves and ranks fourth in the AHL with 19 goals and holds third on the club and is tied for 17th in the league with 32 points in 36 games this season.

A few former Wolves have returned to their old team, including high-scoring forward Darren Haydar, as well as winger Andre Deveaux. Haydar tallied 122 points in 73 games with the Wolves in 2006-07. The veteran forward also netted 23 goals and totaled 64 points in 66 games with Lake Erie last season. Haydar is third in goals (13) and first in points with 39 in 39 games this year. Deveaux scored 16 goals and totaled 41 points in 72 games with the Toronto Marlies last year. He is fourth on the team with 12 goals this season.

In net, the Wolves are carrying two goalies with Peter Mannino and Drew MacIntyre. So far this year, Mannino is 12-9-1 with a 3.10 goals against average and a .896 save percentage. Mannino went 26-5-1 with a 2.34 goals against average and a .921 save percentage last season. MacIntyre is 4-3-1 with a 3.39 goals against average and a .888 save percentage. In 2009-10, MacIntyre went 20-17-2 with a 2.54 goals against average and a .917 save percentage.

Special Teams

After finishing second overall last season on the penalty kill, the Texas Stars penalty kill is 27th overall at 77.6%. Texas ranks 19th best in the AHL, converting on 16.0% of its power plays. The Stars have eight power-play goals against the Wolves in 16 tries this season. The Wolves are fourth overall on the power play, converting 22.0% of the time. Chicago is 30th (last) overall on the penalty kill, stopping 74.5% of their opponents' power plays.

Offense and Defense

The Texas Stars are ninth overall in team defense, allowing 2.68 goals against per game. Texas is ranked 17th out of 30 teams, scoring an average of 2.87 goals per game. Chicago's defense ranks 28th overall with a 3.38 goals against per game. The Wolves sit ninth offensively, averaging 3.26 goals per game.

Check out the Texas Stars Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from January 12, 2011


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