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AHL Texas Stars

Gameday Preview - Texas at Houston

January 21, 2011 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Texas Stars News Release


Texas Stars (23-14-3-2, 51 points) at Houston Aeros (24-18-1-3, 52 points)

Texas and Houston meet for the seventh time this season and the 19th 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 5-1-0-0 mark against the Stars this season. Texas is 9-6-1-2 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 0-2-0-1 this year at the Toyota Center and 4-3-0-2 all-time. Overall, the Stars are winless in their last four decisions at Houston.

The Stars are 12-7-0-1 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 Milwaukee Admirals. The Stars begin a stretch of ten straight games against divisional opponents in Houston this Friday. Texas is 18-10-1-2 against the West Division this season. The Stars are the least penalized team in the league accruing 12.17 penalty minutes a game. The Stars are 10-1-3-2 in one-goal games this year. The Stars are coming off a 4-3 overtime loss to Grand Rapids at home on Tuesday.

Houston is 12-6-1-1 at home this year and 6-3-0-1 in the last ten games played. The Aeros are 4-0-0-1 in the last five games and they have eight wins in the last 12 games. Houston has wins in five of its last six games at the Toyota Center. Houston is 6-3 in nine shootouts this season. Houston has scored the first goal of the night 29 times this season, the most in the AHL. The Aeros have 20 wins this year when scoring first. The Aeros are fourth in the AHL with 47 goals in the first period this season. Houston is 12-5-1-4 in one-goal games this season.

Through the first six games of the series, former Texas Star Warren Peters has four goals and six points in six games against his old team. Captain Jon DiSalvatore is tied with Peters for the series lead with four markers and six points. Defenseman Maxim Noreau, forwards Jarod Palmer and Jean-Michel Daoust, each have four assists and five points in six games played. Stars center Travis Morin has collected three assists and five points in six games. Right wing Colton Sceviour has four goals and 13 points in 18 games all-time against Houston, including a team-high four assists and six points in six games.

Texas goalie Richard Bachman is 1-3-1 with a 3.38 goals against average and an .876 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 1-1-0 with a 2.78 goals against average and a .896 save percentage.

Wathier and Gagnon Head to Dallas

The Dallas Stars announced on Wednesday that the club has recalled center Aaron Gagnon and left wing Francis Wathier from the Texas Stars, Dallas' primary affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL).

Gagnon, 24, has appeared in seven 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 32 games and collecting 14 points (8g, 6a). 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.

Wathier, 26, has played in 42 games for Texas so far this season, ranking tied for second on the team in goals with 12 and tied for third in points with 22. In 2009-10, he recorded 40 points (19g, 21a) and 101 penalty minutes in 76 games with Texas. The St. Isidore, Ontario, native made his NHL debut last season with Dallas, appearing in five games and recording five penalty minutes. Wathier was drafted by Dallas in the sixth round (185th overall) at the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

Tousignant Suspended by AHL

The American Hockey League announced on Thursday that Texas Stars center Mathieu Tousignant has been suspended for two (2) games as a result of his actions in a game vs. Grand Rapids on Jan. 18.

Tousignant was suspended under the provisions of AHL Rule 28.1 (supplementary discipline). He will miss Texas's games on Friday (Jan. 21) at Houston and Saturday (Jan. 22) vs. Milwaukee.

Neal Called up from Idaho

Cedar Park, TX - The Texas Stars announced on Thursday that the team has recalled forward Michael Neal from the Idaho Steelheads, Texas' ECHL Affiliate.

Neal is in his second pro season after spending the bulk of his rookie season with Idaho. This season, the Whitby, ON native has played in 36 games for the Steelheads, scoring six goals and totaling 13 points. Last season, Neal played in 57 games for the Steelheads, posting 15 points on five goals and ten assists. The 21-year old also skated in six games for the Texas Stars without registering a point. Neal was drafted in the fifth round (#149 overall) in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft and he is the younger brother of Dallas Stars forward James Neal.

Beskorowany Heads Back to Idaho

The Texas Stars announced after Tuesday's game that goalie Tyler Beskorowany has been reassigned to the Idaho Steelheads, Texas' ECHL Affiliate. Beskorowany posted a 1.85 goals against average and stopped 202 of 213 shots (.948%) in his last six games (4-2-0). Overall, Beskorowany is 4-4-0 with a 2.64 goals against average and a .925 save percentage.

What's Ahead:

DATE OPPONENT TIME TV/RADIO

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

Monday, Jan. 24 vs. San Antonio 7:30 PM 1530 AM

Friday, Jan 28 at Oklahoma City 6:05 PM 1530 AM

Saturday, Jan. 29 vs. Abbotsford 7:00 PM 104.9 FM

* All times listed are central time

GAME RECAPS:

Grand Rapids 4 at Texas 3 OT 1/18/11

The Texas Stars were defeated by the Grand Rapids Griffins 4-3 on Tuesday night in front of 4,412 fans at Cedar Park Center. Griffins forward Jordan Owens scored twice, including the game-winning goal 3:11 into overtime. Owens also scored the game-tying goal with 4:12 remaining in regulation to force the extra session. Texas defenseman Jordie Benn notched his first career AHL goal in the defeat. Forwards Brandon Segal and Mathieu Tousignant also scored for Texas, as the Stars dropped to 11-7-3-1 at home. Griffins goalie Jordan Pearce (5-3-1) made 39 saves for the win as Texas outshot Grand Rapids 42-18. Texas goalie Richard Bachman (14-9-2) stopped 14 of 18 Griffins shots in the loss.

Texas 3 at Peoria 1 1/15/11

The Texas Stars defeated the Peoria Rivermen 3-1 on Saturday night at Carver Arena. Texas claimed the lead at 10:39 of the first period and cruised past the West Division leaders for the win. Stars forwards Greg Rallo and Brandon Segal each scored as Texas improved to 12-7-0-1 on the road this year. Defenseman Philip Larsen scored his first pro goal as the Stars pulled within three points of first place in the West Division. Texas rookie goalie Tyler Beskorowany stopped 30 of 31 Rivermen shots in the win. Peoria rookie goalie Jake Allen made 36 saves on 38 Texas shots for the defeat.

Texas 1 at Rockford 3 1/14/11

The Texas Stars were defeated by the Rockford IceHogs 3-1 on Friday night at the Rockford Metro Centre. Rockford rookie Jeremy Morin scored 2:47 into the third period and forward Ryan Potulny added an empty-net goal late in the third period to seal the Hogs second straight win over Texas. Rockford goalie Hannu Toivonen (8-7-3) made 29 saves for the win, while Texas goalie Richard Bachman stopped 30 of 32 Rockford shots in the loss. Texas right wing Colton Sceviour had the lone Stars goal, as the team dropped to 11-7-0-1 on the road this season.

The Texas Stars

After 42 games of action, center Travis Morin leads Texas in scoring with 13 goals and 19 assists for 32 points. Right wing Greg Rallo is second on the team in scoring with 25 points (12g-13a) in 42 games played. Prior to his recall, left wing Francis Wathier was third on the club with 22 points. Wathier was tied for second in goals scored (12) and led the team lead with six power-play goals. Right wing Colton Sceviour (8g-14a) and is third among active skaters on the team in points with 22. Dan Spang is fourth overall on the team with 19 points. Spang is also tied for third on the team in assists (15) and leads all defensemen in shots on goal (87). Defensemen Brad Lukowich is second on the team with 16 assists. Left wing Luke Gazdic's 68 penalty minutes lead the team.

Texas Stars goalies Richard Bachman and Adrien LeMay fill the net for Texas. Brent Krahn is currently out with an injury. Bachman has appeared in 27 games, going 14-9-2 with a 2.26 goals against average and a .924 save percentage. Bachman ranks 11th overall in the AHL for goals against average and eighth in save percentage. Bachman has started 12 of the last 14 games. Goalie Adrien LeMay has yet to make his AHL debut. In 17 games with the CHL's Allen Americans, the rookie was 11-2-0 with a 3.10 goals against average and a .897 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.

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 12 goals and 29 points in 35 games played this season. Defenseman Maxime Noreau leads Houston in assists with 20 points and is second with 27 points in 46 games played. Right wing Jon DiSalvatore is second on the team with 16 assists and third with 25 points in 46 games. Center Cody Almond is second on the team with ten goals and he is fourth in scoring with 22 points. Right wing Jean-Michel Daoust rounds out the top five with 19 points in 45 games. Left wing Matt Kassian leads the team with 100 penalty minutes in 40 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 24 games played this season, Hackett is 10-10-2 with a 2.52 goals against average and a .912 save percentage. Khudobin was 12-9-1 with a 2.58 goals against average and a .911 save percentage.

Former Star Warren Peters has 18 points in 41 games with the Aeros this season, including four goals and two assists in six games against Texas. Peters was instrumental in the Stars run to the Calder Cup Finals. He enjoyed an AHL career-high 20 goals and 34 points in 61 games with Texas last year. Peters also played in 23 Calder Cup Playoff games with four goals and four assists. The Saskatoon, SK native led the team with 56 penalty minutes in the post season.

Special Teams

After finishing second overall last season on the penalty kill, the Stars rank 28th overall at 78.0%. Texas sits 21st in the AHL, converting on 15.7% of its power plays. The Aeros are 15th overall on the power play, converting 16.5% of the time. Houston is eighth overall on the penalty kill, stopping 85.2% of its opponents' power plays. So far in the season series, Houston is 7-for-28 (25%) and Texas is 5-for-31 (16.1%).

Offense and Defense

The Texas Stars are eighth overall in team defense, allowing 2.67 goals against per game. Texas is ranked 15th out of 30 teams, scoring an average of 2.86 goals per game. Houston's defense is 10th overall with a 2.72 goals against per game. The Aeros sit 23rd offensively, averaging 2.61 goals per game.

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