Stars End Skid with 4-2 Win Over Amerks

Published on January 22, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Iowa Chops News Release


THE STARS TELESCOPE - A LOOK AHEAD

Friday, Jan. 25 Stars vs Peoria Rivermen

Wells Fargo Arena 7:07 PM

Broadcasts: Jim Erickson online and on B2 Video at iowastarshockey.com as well as in-arena on 104.7 FM.

The Stars open the weekend with their sixth game against the Rivermen this season. The Stars have had success against Peoria this season with four wins in the five meetings. The last time these two clubs faced-off was on December 30 in Peoria when the Stars came away with a hard-fought 3-2 win. This game will wrap up a seven-game homestand for the Stars. The Stars are coming off a 4-2 defeat of Rochester on Monday that snapped a four game winless streak while also giving them a 2-3-0-1 record on the homestand. In the season series against the Rivermen, All-Star center Toby Petersen leads the Stars with five goals and eight points. Marty Sertich, Chris Lee, James Neal, and Janos Vas each have two goals in the series. The Rivermen have caught fire as of late. Since that loss to the Stars on Dec. 30, the Rivermen have gone on a nine-game winning streak and are 9-1-1-0 in their last 11 games. Jean-Guy Trudel paces the Rivermen with six goals in the five games against Iowa while Trent Whitfield has four goals and four assists to lead the team in overall series scoring with eight points. All-time, the Stars are 13-10-0-2 versus Peoria. After Friday, the two teams will meet twice more this season, Feb. 9 at Wells Fargo Arena and Apr. 12 at Peoria.

Saturday, Jan. 26 Stars at Rockford Ice Hogs

Rockford MetroCentre 7:05 p.m. CST

Broadcasts: Jim Erickson online and on B2 Video at iowastarshockey.com

The Stars make their first ever visit to Rockford in the teams' fourth meeting of the season. This game will also send the Stars into the AHL All-Star break. The Ice Hogs are fresh off a pair of 4-2 wins at Wells Fargo Arena this past weekend and enter this week on a six-game win streak. They have also suffered just three regulation losses in their last 26 games, propelling them to first place in the West Division. These teams play a total of eight times in 2007-08 with the first-year Ice Hogs winning the first three. All-Star center Martin St. Pierre enters this week leading the AHL with 44 assists and is second in overall scoring with 59 points. Troy Brouwer's 20 goals are tops on the team. Defenseman Cam Barker is set to join St. Pierre at the All Star Game in Binghamton, NY. In the season series between these teams, Petri Kontiola leads the Rivermen with three goals and five points while Konstantin Pushkarev leads the Stars with two goals and three points. Janos Vas also has three points on a goal and two assists versus Rockford this season.

STARS RECAP

Monday, January 21

Stars 4 Rochester 2 @ Wells Fargo Arena

The Stars picked up their second win of a seven game home stand and broke a four game losing streak in the process. Tobias Stephan got the win, stopping 14 of 16 shots as the Stars defeated the Rochester Americans 4-2. The Stars opened the game by killing off a pair of penalties, including a five-on-three a minute-30. They survived a first period in which they were outshot 6-0 through the first eight minutes of the first period. Toby Petersen put the Stars on the board first with a goal 6:21 into the second period. The Stars would add three more goals in the third period as they coasted to a victory over the Americans. Richard Clune scored his second AHL professional goal and second in three games. Marius Holtet also extended his streak to three straight games with a goal on his ninth of the season. Bryce Lampman had the final goal for the Stars; Lampman also had an assist on Clune's goal, giving him two points on the night with a plus-three rating, earning first star honors.

Saturday, January 19

Rockford 4 Stars 2 @ Wells Fargo Arena

The Rockford Ice Hogs beat the Stars for the second straight night. It was a pair of late goals that were the difference makers as they once again won 4-2. Rockford opened the scoring on a goal by Petri Kontiola, his 11th of the year. Kontiola's marker was the only goal of the first period. A pair of penalties, including a five minute major, put the Stars on a five-on-three power play entering the second period. Marius Holtet picked up a power play goal to even the score at one. Rockford, however, responded just minutes later. Mike Blunden scored at 4:05 into the period to reassert Rockford's lead at one. At the end of the second period, the Stars picked up their second power play goal of the night. Konstantin Pushkarev scored his seventh of the season to once again even the score, this time at two. Rockford added two goals in the third period to put the game on ice. Kontiola scored his second of the night. Colin Fraser had the other goal in the period. Despite outshooting the Hogs 13-5 in the final period the Stars were never able to generate enough offense to bring the game any closer.

Friday, January 18

Rockford 4 Stars 2 @ Wells Fargo Arena

The Ice Hogs scored on two of their first four shots to take a 2-0 lead, and never looked back. They would add two more before the Stars ever got on the board. And despite an inspired third period and Richard Clune's first ever professional goal, it would be a forgettable night for Iowa as they were dealt a 4-2 loss, and dropped their 3rd straight. Less than 60 seconds into the game Rockford, the West Division leader with 60 points entering the night, jumped on top 1-0. Rockford started the second period with an early goal and extended the lead to 3-0 on a fluttering shot from the point that deflected off a Stars player. The Stars had a great chance to close the gap as Chris Conner had a breakaway opportunity. Corey Crawford, the Ice Hogs goalie, not only made the initial save on Conner's attempt, but he also stopped the follow-up attempt by Tommy Wandell. Midway through the second period the Ice Hogs struck again as Troy Brouwer scored his 20th of the season. Marius Holtet finally put the Stars on the board as he scored 14 minutes into the 2nd period. Wandell and Vojtech Polak got the assists on Holtet's 7th of the year. Clune scored his first AHL professional goal 3:12 into the third period to pull the Stars to within 2 at 4-2. Clune's goal, followed by a Brett Westgarth fight seemed to ignite the Stars who began to take the play to Rockford. The Stars fired shot after shot at Crawford, but to no avail. At the other end of the ice, the Stars went nearly 10 minutes without allowing a shot in the third period, but they would not be able to get any closer as they fell to Rockford 4-2.

IN THE COMMUNITY: Out and Around Des Moines & Neighboring Communities

STARS PROMOTIONS/APPEARANCES:

Þ Wednesday, Jan. 23 - 11 tables, 11 players, $11,000. Stars players will join Season Ticket Holders and Stars fans at Prairie Meadows for a Hold 'em Poker Tournament beginning at 6:00 PM. Participants must register at the Prairie Meadows poker room, buy-in for season ticket holders is $55. Stars players in the tournament will wear an autographed jersey that will be given to the lucky poker player who knocks them out of the tournament. Hurry to sign up seats are limited!

Þ Monday, Feb. 4 - Join Iowa Stars players at the Adel Library at 6:30 PM to hear about their hockey stories and learn about their equipment. They will even sign autographs!

Þ Wednesday, Feb. 6 - Iowa Stars players will visit the Southside Library at 4:00 PM and the Waukee Library at 7:00 PM. Join the Stars at the library for fun hockey stories and get to play with their equipment. The Stars will also be signing autographs as well!

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American Hockey League Stories from January 22, 2008


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