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AHL Texas Stars

Stars Claim Five Points out of Six in Week 9

December 11, 2012 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Texas Stars News Release


The Stars continued to rack up points and climb the standings as they went 2-0-1-0 in their three games of Week 9. Texas closed out a six-game road trip on Wednesday with a 2-1 overtime win at Milwaukee. Cody Eakin's third period power play goal tied the score at one and Colton Sceviour recorded his team-leading third game-winning goal of the season in overtime to give Texas a 5-1-0-0 record during their 11-day road trip.

Returning home to Cedar Park Center the Stars faced fierce competition from their division rival Houston Aeros on Friday night. Aeros goalie Matt Hackett kept the visitors in the game early as Texas bombarded the net with 16 shots in the first period. Houston's only goal of regulation came on their first shot of the game, a Kris Fredheim shot that deflected off a Stars defenseman and into the net. But Texas was unrelenting and eventually scored the game-tying goal deep in the third period on a Brenden Dillon shot from the blue line that caught the inside of the left post on its way in. In overtime, the team's third consecutive game to go past regulation, Jason Zucker caught the Stars on a counter-attack and slipped behind the defense for a breakaway goal; but even with the disappointment of the overtime loss, Texas still came away with a point.

Saturday night at home against the Peoria Rivermen things were clicking for the Stars. After conceding their first shorthanded goal against of the season early in the first period, rookie Reilly Smith tied the game 36 seconds later and Peoria never responded. Matt Fraser scored two goals in the second period and Smith added his second of the night in the third period for a convincing 4-1 win. Texas out-shot the Rivermen 43-24 in the game, their second highest shot total of the season, and Cristopher Nilstorp turned away 23-for-24 shots for his eighth win of the year.

Week 10 Preview:

The Stars will make their only trip of the season to Western Canada this week as they face a two-game weekend series with the Abbotsford Heat at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre. The games are scheduled for Friday, December 14th and Saturday, December 15th with both contests starting at 9:00 p.m. CST. This weekend's two-game set with the Heat continue their four-game season series; Abbotsford won the first meeting 1-0 in overtime on November 23rd and will travel to Cedar Park Center again on March 13th. Texas' next home game is on Wednesday, December 19th at 7:30 p.m. against the San Antonio Rampage; another H-E-B Night and Winning Wednesday.

Week 9 Schedule:

(All games are broadcast LIVE over the Internet at www.TexasStarsHockey.com and can be viewed via internet pay-per-view video on www.ahllive.com. All times listed in Central Time)

Friday, December 14 - 9:00 p.m. - Abbotsford Entertainment & Event Centre - Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada

@ Abbotsford Heat (14-4-3-2 33 pts)

First Place, North Division

&

Saturday, December 15 - 9:00 p.m. - Abbotsford Entertainment & Event Centre - Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada

@ Abbotsford Heat (14-4-3-2 33 pts)

First Place, North Division

Team Notes: Abbotsford is currently on one of their worst stretches of the season, going 2-2-2-0 in their last six games. The Heat were swept in two games at home last week by San Antonio, but finished off the week with a 3-2 win at Toronto on Sunday. Abbotsford plays at Rochester on Tuesday before returning home to face Texas for two games this weekend. The Heat are the AHL's top defensive team, leading the AHL in goals-against average (1.96), shots-against average (25.48) and penalty kill percentage (91.8%). Offensively they have not put up great numbers, ranking 22nd in the league in goals per game (2.65) and 27th in shots per game (27.67). However, they do have the 9th best power play ranking at 18.6%.Leading Scorer: Ben Street (C) - 18 points (6 goals, 12 assists) and +6 in 23 GP.Leading Goaltender: Barry Brust (G) - 1.12 GAA, 0.951 save pct., 8-1-1, 3 SO in 8 GP.Who's Hot: Ben Walter (C) - Leads the team in assists (13) and is tied for second in points (17) and has four points (1 goal, 3 assists) in his last two games played. Roman Horak (C) - Leads the team in goals (13), is tied for second in points (17) and has five points (3 goals, 2 assists) in his last five games played. Ben Street (C) - Leads the team in points (18), is tied for second in assists (12) and has three points (2 goals, 1 assist) in his last five games played. T.J. Brodie (D) - Tied for second on the team in assists (12), ranks fifth in points (13) and has four assists in his last five games played.

Week 9 Game Results:

December 5, 2012 Texas 2 @ Milwaukee 1 - OT

December 7, 2012 Houston 2 @ Texas 1 - OT

December 8, 2012 Peoria 1 @ Texas 4

Stars Player of the Week: (Week 9)

Matt Fraser - LW - #25 3 GP, 3 points (2 G, 1 A), +2, 0 PIMs

Texas Stars left wing Matt Fraser played a vital role in the Stars taking five points out of a possible six Week 9. The Red Deer, Alberta native record three points (2 goals, 1 assist) and had a +2 rating on the week. He had the primary assist on Cody Eakin's game-tying third period goal on Wednesday in Texas' 2-1 overtime win at Milwaukee. Back home on Saturday night Fraser put up his third two-goal game of the season, including the game-winning goal in the second period of the Stars' 4-1 win over Peoria. On the season Fraser leads the team in goals (9), power play goals (4) and shootout goals (2), he is second in game-winning goals (2) and he is tied for four on the team in points (12).

Stars Quick Hits:

- THE FIRST GOAL MYSTERY CONTINUES - Texas has only scored the first goal in four of their first 23 games this season, including a 1-0 shootout win over Charlotte on November 17th. The Stars are a perfect 4-0-0-0 in those games; they are 7-8-2-1 in the 18 games where they have allowed the first goal and are 1-0-0-0 in the 0-0 game they won in a shootout. The last time Texas scored first was on November 15th in a 3-0 home win over San Antonio. It has been 11 games since the Stars have scored first and have a 6-3-2-0 record in those games.

- A SEXCENTENNIAL - Head coach Willie Desjardins is just one game away from recording his 600th career game as a head coach. In 599 career games behind the bench in North America, Desjardins has a record of 345-190-33-31 and a 0.629 career winning percentage. His 600th game is scheduled to take place on Friday, December 14th at Abbotsford.

- SHORTHANDED GOOSE EGG BROKEN - Texas allowed its first shorthanded goal against this season when Jaden Schwartz scored on a first period penalty kill for Peoria on Saturday. The Stars were one of three AHL teams remaining without a goal allowed on the power play, but now only Springfield and Chicago are left with that distinction. Texas is one of only six current AHL teams with one or fewer shorthanded goals allowed in 2012-13. The team did not allow a shorthanded goal in the previous 35 games before Saturday. The last shorthanded goal conceded by the Stars was scored by Hunter Tremblay on March 17, 2012 vs. Oklahoma City.

- NILSTORP RISING - Goaltender Cristopher Nilstorp has been rapidly adjusting to the North American style and ice surface dimensions and is currently on a strong run of form. The Malmo, Sweden native is 7-3-0 during his last 11 games played, including two of those three losses coming in overtime, with a 1.74 goals-against average, a 0.933 save percentage and 2 shutouts.

- THE 100 CLUB - Center Cody Eakin played in his 100th career pro game on Saturday vs. Peoria. The Winnipeg, Manitoba native has 52 points (26 goals, 26 assists) and 26 penalty minutes in his pro career; with 70 games in the AHL and 30 in the NHL.

- OVERTIME STREAK - The Stars had their streak of three consecutive overtime games snapped with a 4-1 regulation win over Peoria on Saturday. Texas has previous played three straight extra session games, beating Peoria in a shootout on December 2nd, taking down Milwaukee in overtime on Wednesday and then losing in overtime to Houston on Friday. The Stars are now 4-2-1 in overtime/shootout games this season, with three shootout wins, one overtime win, two overtime losses and one shootout loss.

- THE 200 CLUB - Captain Maxime Fortunus recorded his 200th career pro point with an assist on Reilly Smith's first period goal on Saturday vs. Peoria. The La Prairie, Quebec native has 54 goals and 146 assists in 655 career pro games, along with 279 penalty minutes.

- APPROACHING MILESTONES - Right wing Colton Sceviour is 1 GP away from his 250th pro game and 2 GP from his 250th AHL game. LW Matt Fraser needs 1 GP for his 100th career pro game and 2 GP for his 100th career AHL game. Center Travis Morin is 2 GP away from his 400th career pro game and 250th career AHL game. Defenseman Jordie Benn is 5 GP shy of his 250th career pro game. Defenseman Cam Barker is 8 GP from his 100th career AHL game and 12 GP from his 400th career pro game.

Stars Week 9 Transactions

No Week 9 Transactions

Texas Stars Team Leaders:

Games Played: 11 players tied (23)

Goals: Matt Fraser (9)

Assists: Travis Morin (10)

Points: Cody Eakin (15)

Plus/Minus: Cody Eakin, Travis Morin & Colton Sceviour (+6)

Penalty Minutes: Antoine Roussel (77)

Power Play Goals: Matt Fraser (4)

Short Handed Goals: Cody Eakin (2)

Game-Winning Goals: Colton Sceviour (3)

Shots: Cam Barker & Matt Fraser (64)

Shooting Percentage: Scott Glennie (28.6%)

Saves: Cristopher Nilstorp (357)

Wins: Cristopher Nilstorp (8)

GAA: Cristopher Nilstorp (2.25)

Save Percentage: Cristopher Nilstorp (0.911)

Shutouts: Cristopher Nilstorp (2)

Texas returns to action Friday, December 14th as it travels to British Columbia for a two-game weekend set with the Abbotsford Heat at 9:00 p.m. CST at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Spots Centre. The Stars' next home game is scheduled for Wednesday, December 19th against the San Antonio Rampage at 7:30 p.m. at Cedar Park Center for another Winning Wednesday and H-E-B Night. Pro-rated full and partial 2012-13 season seat packages are on sale now. For more information on Texas Stars season tickets call (512) GO-STARS (467-8277) or visit www.TexasStarsHockey.com.

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