AHL Texas Stars

Gameday Preview - Texas at Oklahoma City

March 23, 2012 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Texas Stars News Release


Texas Stars (27-33-2-2, 58 points) at Oklahoma City Barons (39-17-4-5, 87 points)

The Texas Stars and the Oklahoma City Barons meet for the ninth time this season. The Barons lead the series (6-2-0-0) after taking the last four meetings, including last Saturday's 4-3 win at the Cedar Park Center. Texas is 1-3-0-0 in three meetings at home this year and 4-4-0-1 all-time at Cedar Park Center against the Barons. The Stars are 1-3-0-0 in Oklahoma City this year and 4-5-0-0 all-time at the Cox Convention Center. The Stars and Barons will meet one more time this season, April 14th at Cedar Park Center. The Barons have outscored the Stars 31-21 in the seven previous meetings. Oklahoma City is first in the Western Conference and second overall with 39 wins and 87 points this season. The Barons hold a six-point lead over Toronto for the Conference lead and the team has an 11-point lead in the West Division. Texas is 15th in the conference, 14 points back of the final playoff spot.

Texas has three wins in its last ten games, going 3-7-0-0 over that span. The team is coming off its fifth straight defeat, a 5-2 loss at home on Monday to Abbotsford . The team concluded a season-long seven-game home stand with Abbotsford. Texas went 2-5-0-0 on the home stand. The team heads to Oklahoma City, Toronto and Lake Erie prior to returning home on Mar. 29 with Hamilton. Dating back to December 9th, the team is 13-8-2-0 (.609) over the last 23 games at home. The Stars are 11-19-0-1 on the road this season, picking up two wins on their last 11 road games. The team has been outscored away from home102-77. Texas is tied with Binghamton for a league-low 23 road points. Texas will only play four out of the remaining 12 games against division foes. The Stars are 14-23-0-2 against the West Division. Texas' scoring has been spread out evenly this season, with 53 first-period tallies and 75 second-period markers. The Stars lead the opposition in second-period scoring with a 74-72 edge overall. In all, the club has been outscored by the opposing team 211-190 for the season. The Stars have struggled defensively, allowing a league-high 76 first-period goals. Texas is 11th in the league with a 2.97 goals per game average and it ranks 29th defensively with a 3.30 goals against average. The Stars are 17-1-1-1 when leading after two periods of play. Last Friday's loss to OKC marked the first defeat of the year in regulation when the team carried a lead into the third period of play. Texas is 4-28-0-0 when trailing after two periods of play, with all four comebacks occurring at home. The team is 14-14-2-2 in games decided by one goal this season. Texas is tied for first in the AHL with seven overtime wins this season, going 7 (OTW)-2 (OTL)-2 (SOW)-2 (SOL) when tied after regulation. The Stars are fourth in the AHL with 11 shorthanded goals scored this season.

The Barons are coming off a 2-1 shootout loss at Houston on Sunday. Oklahoma City is 4-2-2-2 over the last ten games played. The club has recorded a point in seven straight games (4-0-2-1). The Barons sport one of the best records at home in the AHL, going 17-9-3-3 this season. The team is tied for fourth in the league for the fewest regulation losses at home. The Barons have outscored the visitors 86-60 this season. The 60 goals against at home is the lowest in the AHL and the +26 differential at home is the second biggest margin in the league. The Barons lead the AHL by allowing a league-low 151 goals. Oklahoma City is 25-2-2-2 when they open the scoring. The Barons are tied for second overall in the AHL with 20 one-goal victories. The team is 20-8-4-5 in games decided by one goal this season. Oklahoma City is 22-7-0-1 against the West Division this season, including a combined record of 12-2-0-1 against Abbotsford and Houston. The Barons are second in the AHL with a 2.32 goals against average, allowing 151 goals over 65 games. The team sits 12th in the AHL with a 2.89 goals per game average. The Barons' scoring has been spread out this season with 51 first-period goals, 70 second-period tallies and 60 in the third. Oklahoma City has the biggest goal differential in the second period of play, besting their opponents 70-45 in the middle frame. Oklahoma City is 19-0-2-1 when leading after the first and 27-0-4-0 when leading after the second. Oklahoma City is 27th in the league, averaging 28.71 shots per game. The team is third in the AHL allowing 27.77 shots per game. Oklahoma City leads the AHL, allowing only one shorthanded goal this season.

Texas Stars

Center Travis Morin is the clubhouse leader with a team-record 46 assists and 55 points in his first 64 games played. He ranks in the top five of the AHL for assists. Morin is closing in on the team record for most points in one season. Center Aaron Gagnon set the mark in 2009-10, totaling 58 points in 78 games. Earlier in the season, Morin surpassed Perttu Lindgren's record of 33 assists in one season, set in 2009-10. The 28-year-old forward is the team's all-time leading scorer with 51 goals and 101 assists for 152 points in 208 games for the Stars. He ranks second all-time in games played and second all-time in goals scored.

Rookie forward Matt Fraser is third in team scoring with 47 points in 61 games. He leads the team with 30 goals scored and 214 shots on net. Fraser sits in the top three of the AHL for goals scored. Fraser is tied for sixth overall among all rookies in points and he is first in shots. Fraser set the Stars single-season record for goals in one season, surpassing the old record of 27 set by Aaron Gagnon (09-10). He became the first Texas Star to score 30 goals in a season with his goal on Friday night against Oklahoma City.

Colton Sceviour, Francis Wathier and Scott Glennie round out the top scorers for Texas. Colton Sceviour is second on the team with a career-high 29 assists and he is second with a career-high 48 points in 63 games. Sceviour has also set a new career-high with his 19th goal on Monday. He is tied for the club lead with 214 shots on goal this year. Wathier has 16 goals and 20 assists for 36 points in 63 games played. He is the team's all-time leading goal scorer with 54 goals for Texas. Rookie Scott Glennie is fifth overall on the team with 35 points off 12 goals and 23 assists in 60 games played.

Defenseman Brenden Dillon is first in points from the blueline with five goals and 20 assists for 25 points in 64 games played. He also leads all defenders with 85 penalty minutes. He is one of three remaining skaters to have played in every game this season. Veteran Brad Lukowich has 25 points off 21 assists and four goals in 57 games played. Spang has three goals and 19 assists for 22 points in 58 games played.

Goalies Andrew Raycroft, Tyler Beskorowany and Jack Capmbell split time in net for Texas. Raycroft is 9-10-1 with a 3.16 goals against average and a .891 save pe rcentage in 21 starts for the Stars. Beskorowany is 10-18-0 with a 3.33 goals against average and a .889 save percentage. Campbell recently joined the team and is expected to make his pro debut in the near future.

Special Teams

The Stars have converted 59 of 291 power plays for a 20.3% conversion rate, as Texas is sixth overall in power play percentage. The Stars have killed off 202 of 247 opponents power plays (81.8%), ranking 16th overall on the penalty kill. The Barons are fourth in the AHL on the penalty kill, stopping 84.9% of their opponents' power plays. Overall, Oklahoma City ranks 16th in the AHL on the power play after going 44-for-257 (17.1%).

The Oklahoma City Barons

The Barons' biggest off-season acquisition has been one of their best players this season. Right wing Ryan Keller leads the Barons with 46 points off 19 goals and 27 assists in 63 games played. Keller helped the Binghamton Senators win the 2011 Calder Cup. He also leads the team with 167 shots on goal and 12 power-play assists. Keller is second on the team in goals scored and tied for first with six game-winning goals. All-star Philippe Cornet is first on the team with 23 goals and he is third in scoring with 34 points in 56 games played. Cornet leads the team with ten power-play goals and six game-winning goals. Right wing Mark Arcobello is second on the club with 37 points in 62 games played. Arcobello is second on the team in assists (24).

Mid-season acquisition Bryan Rodney leads the Barons blueline with 24 points in 57 games played. Second-year defender Taylor Chorney leads the blueliners with six goals and his second with 23 points. Veteran Bryan Helmer leads all Barons defenders in assists, collecting 20 assists and 22 points over 60 games played. Alex Plante's 72 penalty minutes trail Triston Grant's 125 for the team lead.

The Barons sport one of the best goalie tandems in the AHL with Yann Danis and David LeNeveu. Danis is 22-11-2 with a 2.03 goals against average and a .924 save percentage. LeNeveu is 16-10-3 with a 2.31 goals against average and a .915 save percentage.

Dallas Assigns 2010 First-Round Pick Campbell, Texas Signs Austin Smith to an ATO

The Dallas Stars announced on Tuesday that the club has assigned goaltender Jack Campbell to the Texas Stars, Dallas' primary affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL) from the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL). The Texas Stars announced on Tuesday that the team has signed rookie forward Austin Smith to an ATO (amateur tryout agreement). The Texas Stars also announced that forward Scott Campbell has been released from a PTO (professional tryout agreement).

Jack Campbell, 20, appeared in a total of 46 games this season in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) posting a 21-5-3 record with a 3.46 goals-against-average (GAA) and a .896 save percentage (SV%). He began the 2011-12 season with the Windsor Spitfires and was traded to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds on Nov. 2, 2011. Campbell was Dallas' first-round selection (11th overall) and the first goaltender selected in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

The 6-3, 175-pound netminder represented the United States at the last three World Junior Championships, helping lead the U.S. National Junior Team to the gold medal in 2010 and the bronze medal in 2011. At the 2011 World Junior Championships, Campbell was named the tournament's top goaltender by the IIHF directorate and earned media all-star honors.

Additionally, he led all tournament goaltenders with a 1.70 GAA and a .941 SV% in six games. In 2010, Campbell entered the gold medal game against Canada midway through the second period and earned the 6-5 overtime win. During his time as a member of the U.S. National Under-18 Team, Campbell earned gold medals at the 2009 and 2010 IIHF U18 Men's World Championships.

Austin Smith recently completed a four-year career at Colgate Univeristy. The All-American candidate for Colgate and top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award had an outstanding senior season with 57 points on 36 goals and 21 assists. He led the country in shorthanded goals with six and he was third in the nation with 57 points. The Dallas, TX, native ended his career 15th on the all-time Colgate scoring list with 160 career points and is the top American-born skater in Raider history. Dallas drafted Smith in the fifth round (#128 overall) of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

Texas Adds Taylor Vause

The Texas Stars announced on Monday that center Taylor Vause has been signed to an ATO.

Vause turned pro after completing a five-year campaign with the Swift Current Broncos of the WHL. The Calgary, Alberta native led the team in scoring, posting career highs in goals (37), assists (46) and points (83). The 20-year-old also led the team with 15 power-play goals. Over the course of his WHL tenure, Vause scored 79 goals and assisted on 110 others for 189 points in 273 games. He made his professional debut at Cedar Park Center on Monday against Abbotsford.

LAST THREE GAMES

Abbotsford 5 at Texas 2 3/19/12

The Texas Stars were defeated by the Abbotsford Heat 5-2 at the Cedar Park Center on Monday night. Left wing Ryan Howse registered two goals for Abbotsford, including the game-winner at 5:04 of the second period. Stars right wing Colton Sceviour put up both goals for the home team. Texas goalie Tyler Beskorowany stopped 26 shots in the loss.

Oklahoma City 4 at Texas 3 3/17/12

The Texas Stars were defeated by the Oklahoma City Barons 4-3 in front 5,767 fans at the Cedar Park Center on Saturday night. The Barons scored three goals in the first twenty minutes of play and held on for the one-goal victory. Forwards Tanner House, Philippe Cornet and left wing Hunter Tremblay, each scored in the opening frame to lead the Barons. Oklahoma City goalie David LeNeveu stopped 25 shots for the win. Right wing Colton Sceviour and left wing Francis Wathier each added a goal and an assist in the Stars defeat. Texas center Travis Morin netted two assists and left wing Shawn Weller scored his first goal as a Star. Texas goalie Andrew Raycroft stopped 24 shots in the loss.

Oklahoma City 4 at Texas 3 3/16/12

The Texas Stars were defeated by the Oklahoma City Barons 4-3 in front of 4,734 fans at the Cedar Park Center on Friday night. Right wing Mark Arcobello put up the game-winning goal for the Barons with 5:05 to go in regulation. Oklahoma City goalie Yann Danis finished with 23 saves, as the club ended a four-game winless streak on the road. Texas defenseman Brenden Dillon registered a goal and an assist, while center Travis Morin added two assists on the night. Forwards Matt Fraser and Mike Hedden also scored for the Stars. Texas goalie Tyler Beskorowany stopped 32 of 36 shots.

What's Ahead:

DATE OPPONENT TIME RADIO

Friday, March 23 at Oklahoma City 7:00 PM 104.9 FM

Sunday, March 25 at Toronto 2:00 PM (CT) 92.5 FM

Tuesday, March 27 at Lake Erie 6:00 PM (CT) 104.9 FM

Thursday, March 29 vs. Hamilton 7:30 PM 104.9 FM

* All times listed are central time

Check out the Texas Stars Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from March 23, 2012


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