AHL Texas Stars

Gameday Preview - Texas at Milwaukee - Game 2

Published on April 16, 2011 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Texas Stars News Release


The Admirals lead the series after taking Game 1 in Milwaukee on Thursday by a score of 5-2. Texas and Milwaukee meet for the first time in Calder Cup Playoff history. Texas finished the regular season as the fourth seed in the West Division after compiling a 41-29-4-6 (92 points) regular season record. The Admirals claimed the best record in the Western Conference of the AHL, taking the West Division title with a 44-22-6-8 mark (102 points) in the regular season. The 102 points was the third highest total in the league. The Stars return to the Calder Cup Playoffs after a run to the Calder Cup Finals last June, falling in six games to the Hershey Bears. In two seasons in the AHL, Texas has qualified for the playoffs both years, going 14-11. The Admirals took their fourth division title in the last eight years, topping 100 points for the fifth time since 2003-04. They have one playoff series win in the last six tries. Milwaukee won a Calder Cup in 2004 and lost in the finals in 2006. In playoff history, Texas is 5-3 in overtime, while Milwaukee is 10-4. The Stars are 3-1 in four all-time playoff series, while the Admirals are 9-7. Milwaukee is 48-37 all-time in the playoffs.

West Division semifinal (best of seven)

Texas and Milwaukee Radio

Game 1: Texas 2 at Milwaukee 5 (MIL leads series 1-0) 1530 AM

Game 2: Texas at Milwaukee on Saturday, April 16 at 7:00 PM 1530 AM

Game 3: Milwaukee at Texas on Tuesday, April 19 at 7:30 PM 1530 AM

Game 4: Milwaukee at Texas on Wednesday, April 20 at 7:30 PM 1530 AM

Game 5: Milwaukee at Texas on Friday, April 22 at 7:30 PM - X 1530 AM

Game 6: Texas at Milwaukee on Monday, April 25 at 7:00 PM -X 1530 AM

Game 7: Texas at Milwaukee on Tuesday, April 26 at 7:00 PM -X 1530 AM

X - If Necessary

The two teams met a total of six times during the 2010-11 season. Texas won five of the six games. In 14 all-time regular season meetings, Texas is 10-4-0-0 against Milwaukee, including a 5-2-0-0 record at the Bradley Center. The Admirals took the first game of the regular season series, with the Stars claiming the next five. Five of the six games in the season series were decided by one goal. In the six meetings this season, four times the winning team scored two goals and twice the winning team scored three goals. Texas outscored Milwaukee 12-7 in the season series. The Stars went two for 26 (7.69%) on the power play against the Admirals this year, including a two for nine mark at the Bradley Center. The Admirals went four for 24 (16.6%) against Texas, including a one for 11 mark (9.09%) at home. Texas and Milwaukee were the two most disciplined teams in the AHL this season. The Stars averaged a league-low 12.83 penalty minutes per game, while the Admirals were second lowest in the league at 13.13 penalty minutes per game.

Texas went 19-17-1-3 away from Cedar Park Center this season. The team wrapped up the final ten games of the regular season with a 5-5-0-0 mark. The club dropped five of the last six games of the regular season. The Stars went 22-6-4-6 in one-goal games this year and 25-1-1-1 when leading after two periods of play this season. When trailing after two periods of play, the Stars were 9-23-2-1 mark. The nine wins were the most of any team in the AHL when trailing after two frames. Texas outscored its opponents 72-57 in the first period of play this year. In the final two frames, the team was outscored 143-129. Texas went 28-7-2-2 when scoring the first goal of the night.

Milwaukee was 23-12-2-3 at home this year and 6-3-1-0 in the last ten games of the regular season. The Admirals finished with the second fewest regulation losses in the AHL overall at 22. Milwaukee outscored its opponents 119-94 at the Bradley Center this season. The Admirals allowed the fewest goals on home ice in the AHL this season. Milwaukee went 27-3-3-4 when scoring the first goal of the night. When leading after the first period, the Admirals were 22-1-1-4 and when leading after the second period the team was 30-1-2-3.

In the six-game regular season series, right wing Greg Rallo, center Travis Morin and right wing Raymond Sawada led Texas in scoring with four points each. Morin only played in three games, posting three goals and four points. Rallo scored two goals and had two assists in six games. Sawada played in five games, scoring twice and setting up two others. Defenseman Philip Larsen and forward Sean Backman each had three points in the series. Milwaukee defensemen Grant Lewis (2g-2a) led his club in scoring against Texas this season with four points. Fellow defenseman Roman Josi (1g, 2a) finished the series with three points.

Texas goalie Richard Bachman was 3-1-0 with a 0.96 goals against average and an .965 save percentage against Milwaukee this season. Tyler Beskorowany went 2-0-0 with a 1.50 goals against average and a .957 save percentage. Admiral Mark Dekanich went 1-2-0 with a 1.37 goals against average and a .953 save percentage against the Stars. Jeremy Smith was 0-1-1 with a 1.96 goals against average and a .918 save percentage.

Monast Reassigned to Texas

The Texas Stars announced on Saturday that defenseman Guillaume Monast has been reassigned from the Idaho Steelheads (ECHL) to the Texas Stars.

Monast had one assist in 14 games for Texas over four separate recalls from Idaho. He registered his first AHL point with the Stars this season at Lake Erie on February 16. He recently helped the Idaho Steelheads advance to the second round of the ECHL's Kelly Cup Playoffs. Monast was scoreless in one playoff game, a series clinching win at Las Vegas. In 48 regular season games for Idaho this year, Monast scored one goal and had seven assists, while adding 38 penalty minutes.

The Quebec native spent his rookie season with Idaho, setting up six goals in 68 games played, helping the Steelheads reach the 2010 Kelly Cup Finals. Monast attended training camp in Dallas and in Texas each of the last two years.

Lukowich and Vincour Assigned By Dallas

The Dallas Stars announced on Monday that the club has assigned defenseman Brad Lukowich and right wing Tomas Vincour to the Texas Stars, Dallas' American Hockey League affiliate. The Texas Stars also announced that defenseman Guillaume Monast has been reassigned to the Idaho Steelheads, Texas' ECHL affiliate.

Lukowich, joined the Dallas Stars in late March to help the team finish the regular season and make a push for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The 34-year old played in five games for Dallas without picking up a point. He skated in 67 regular season games as the captain of the Texas Stars in 2010-11, tallying 27 points (4g, 23a) and 59 penalty minutes. He has dressed in 658 career NHL games, including 229 career games with Dallas from 1997-2011, posting 113 points (23g, 90a). The Cranbrook, BC, native helped Dallas win the Stanley Cup in 1999, playing in eight games during the playoffs. He also won the Stanley Cup again in 2004 with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The 6-1, 200-pound defenseman played 13 games with Vancouver in 2009-10, collecting a goal and an assist. Lukowich spent part of last season with the Texas Stars during the club's inaugural season, skating in 29 games and recording 18 points (3g, 15a). He was signed as a free agent by Dallas on July 16, 2010.

Vincour made his NHL debut with Dallas against Phoenix on February 9 after appearing in 44 games for Texas this season. The rookie winger scored five goals and added seven assists for 12 points with 10 penalty minutes for the AHL's Stars. The 20-year old forward played in 24 games for Dallas, scoring his first NHL goal and picking up his first NHL assist for two points. The Brno, Czech Republic, native was selected by Dallas in the fifth round (129th overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

Monast had one assist in 14 games for Texas over four separate recalls from Idaho. He registered his first AHL point with the Stars this season at Lake Erie on Feb. 16. In 48 regular season games for Idaho this year, Monast scored one goal and had seven assists, while adding 38 penalty minutes. The Quebec native spent his rookie season with Idaho, setting up six goals in 68 games played, helping the Steelheads reach the 2010 Kelly Cup Finals. Monast attended training camp in Dallas and in Texas each of the last two years.

PK Finds Groove

The Texas Stars penalty kill finished 23rd overall at 80.9% this year. The Stars penalty kill has been superb since March 5, stopping 64 of the last 68 attempts (94.1%). Texas went five games without giving up a power-play goal from March 5 - March 13. The Stars' streak ended on March 19 while visiting the Manitoba Moose, allowing one goal off three attempts. In the last ten regular season games, the team has only gave up four power-play goals on the last 49 penalty kills (91.8%). Texas went eight for eight on Saturday at home against the Oklahoma City Barons and finished the regular season three for three in San Antonio. The Stars were 0-1 in Game 1 at Milwaukee.

LAST GAME RECAP:

Texas 2 at Milwaukee 5 4/14/11

The Texas Stars (0-1) were defeated by the Milwaukee Admirals (1-0) 5-2 in Game 1 of the West Division semifinal on Thursday night in front of 2,587 fans at the Bradley Center. Admirals' rookie Gabriel Bourque scored two goals and set up three others to lead Milwaukee to a 1-0 series lead. Linemate Chris Mueller added two goals and two assists for four points in the win. In all, the two combined for nine points against Texas. Milwaukee goalie Jeremy Smith (1-0) made 22 saves for the win. Texas goalie Richard Bachman (0-1) made 13 saves in two periods of work, taking the defeat. He was pulled in favor of Tyler Beskorowany after surrendering four goals. Stars forwards Aaron Gagnon and Mathieu Tousignant each had a goal in the loss.

Texas 0 at San Antonio 1 4/10/11

The Texas Stars were defeated by the San Antonio Rampage 1-0 on Sunday night in front of 9,909 fans at the AT&T Center. San Antonio goalie Joe Fallon stopped all 27 Texas shots to preserve the victory in the season finale for both teams. Rampage forward Viktor Tikhonov scored at 6:06 of the first period and San Antonio held on to close out the regular season with a victory. Texas goalie Tyler Beskorowany stopped 27 of 28 shots in the one-goal loss.

The Texas Stars

Right wing Greg Rallo led the team in points with 54 (26g-28a). Ralllo also led the team with 26 goals and 254 shots on net. He finished tied for third in the league with seven game-winning goals and he ranked in the top five for shots on goal. Center Travis Morin was second for Texas in scoring with 21 goals and 24 assists for 45 points in 64 games played. Colton Sceviour was third on the team with 41 points and he was fourth with 25 assists in 77 games played. Dan Spang finished fourth overall on the team with 37 points. He was third on the team in assists (27), as well as leading all defensemen in goals (10) and shots on goal (173). Left wing Francis Wathier was third on the team with 19 goals and second 177 shots in 68 games played. Defenseman Maxime Fortunus led the team with a career-high 29 assists in 73 games played. Center Mathieu Tousignant led the team with 120 penalty minutes.

Texas Stars goalies Richard Bachman and Tyler Beskorowany fill the net for the Stars. Bachman appeared in 55 games, going 28-19-5 with a 2.20 goals against average and a .927 save percentage. Bachman ranks in the top five of the AHL for goals against average and save percentage. Bachman started 36 of the last 49 games and he ranked second in the AHL with 3,191 minutes played in net. Overall, Beskorowany was 7-8-1 with a 2.58 goals against average and a .927 save percentage.

The Milwaukee Admirals

The Milwaukee is the AHL Affiliate of the Nashville Predators. Lane Lambert is in his fourth season as the head coach of the Admirals. Lambert has qualified for the playoffs each season and posted over 90 points four years straight.

Right wing Chris Mueller led the team in scoring with 24 goals and 50 points in 67 games played. Newcomer Linus Klasen was second for the Admirals with 45 points in 47 games played, including 22 goals. Left wing Ryan Thang was tied for third among all skaters with 41 points in 78 games played. He had 14 goals and 27 assists on the year. Defenseman Roman Josi was fourth on the team with 40 points in 69 games played. Winger Kelsey Wilson and defenseman Scott Ford led the team in penalty minutes. Ford had a team-high 164 in 80 games played, while Wilson has 145 in 74 games played.

The Nashville Predators have plenty of Admirals up in the NHL. Rookie center Blake Geoffrion left for the big club after posting 37 points (11g-26a) in only 45 games played. Offensive defenseman Jonathon Blum is also in Nashville, he had 34 points (7g, 27a) in 54 games before he was summoned to Nashville. Right wing Matt Halischuk is also up in the NHL. He had 11 goals and 12 assists for 23 points in 37 games played.

In net, the Admirals feature goalies Jeremy Smith and Atte Engren, while Mark Dekanich is out with an injury. Dekanich was among the league leaders with 2.02 goals against average, .931 save percentage and four shutouts. He was 23-12-5 at the time of his injury. Smith (16-8-2) was drafted in the 2nd round (#54 overall) by Nashville in 2007. He had a 2.26 goals against average and a .921 save percentage. Engren recently joined the team on an ATO. He went 2-2-0 with a 2.43 goals against average and a .914 save percentage.

Special Teams

After finishing second overall last season on the penalty kill, the Stars rank 23rd overall at 80.9%. Texas wrapped up the year 20th in the AHL, converting 17.1% of its power plays. The Admirals were seventh overall on the power play, converting 19.7% of the time. Milwaukee was 25th in the AHL on the penalty kill, stopping 80.6% of its opponents' power plays.

Offense and Defense

The Texas Stars was ninth overall in team defense, allowing 2.63 goals against per game. Texas is ranked 26th out of 30 teams, scoring an average of 2.66 goals per game. Milwaukee's defense ranks third overall with a 2.43 goals against per game. The Admirals sit 16th offensively, averaging 2.83 goals per game.

Check out the Texas Stars Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



American Hockey League Stories from April 16, 2011


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central