STARS PREPARE FOR BIG THREE-GAME WEEKEND
December 8, 2003 - United Hockey League (UHL)
Columbus Stars News Release
Columbus one game out of conference lead after shoot out loss in Fort Wayne, River Otters and Komets on upcoming docket
COLUMBUS, OH â Player/Assistant Coach Scott Levins has continued his hot streak. His power play goal at the 7:40 mark of the third period tied Friday night's game in Fort Wayne, taking it to a shoot out overtime. The goal was Levins' eighth tally of the season and his fourth with the man advantage. Although Columbus lost the shootout, the Stars moved their point total to 26 and stand at 11-5-4 on the season. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Week that was: 12/5 STARS 2, Fort Wayne 3 (SO)
Week ahead: 12/12 STARS vs. Missouri, 7 p.m. 12/13 STARS vs. Fort Wayne, 7 p.m. 12/14 STARS @ Missouri, 6 p.m.
Week In Review- Komets 3, Stars 2 - Colin Chaulk's fourth-round score broke a scoreless overtime shoot out open to give the home-standing Fort Wayne Komets a 3-2 win over the Columbus Stars. Greg Hewitt's 27 saves were enough to earn a point for the Stars who are now tied for first with Richmond in the UHL's Eastern Conference.
Columbus scored first on Chris Thompson's fourth goal of the year from B.J. Kilbourne and the goaltender Hewitt. Kilbourne's fluid play through the neutral zone created the chance which Thompson buried over the glove side of eventual winner Kevin St. Pierre. The Komets netminder was named UHL goaltender of the month for November and showed it tonight stopping 24 shots in regulation and all five Columbus shoot out attempts.
Fort Wayne (9-7-1) leveled the score on their first of two power play goals on a tally by BGSU grad Kelly Perrault at 16:07 of the first. The Komets scored the second period's only goal at the 1:14 mark on a power play tally by Michel Massie from Chaulk and Perrault.
Columbus' tying goal was a power-play strike of their own at 7:40 of the third as Scott Levins turned around on a shot again over the glove side of St. Pierre on assists from Nick Bootland and Evan Cheverie. The Stars went one for three with the man advantage, while allowing the Komets two power-play goals in four attempts. The Stars were outshot 29-26 for the game and 10-5 in the final period.
Star Gazing: Hewitt Gets AHL Duty with Cleveland: Stars' netminder Greg Hewitt joined defenseman Dan Watson with the Cleveland Barons of the American Hockey League Saturday afternoon. Hewitt served as the back-up for Dimitri Patzold as the Barons lost a 4-2 to Hamilton in Cleveland. Watson had a plus-one rating for the game.
S-A--T-U-R--D-A-Y Night!: This weekend's Saturday night open date was the last for the Stars until March 6th, when Columbus is off after a Friday night game in Kalamazoo leading into a Sunday afternoon game at home with Richmond.
As Bootland goes, so go the Stars: Of Nick Bootland's team leading nine goals, four have been game winners. The 25-year old Shelbourne, ONT native leads the UHL in game-winning goals. Columbus is 7-1-0 when their captain scores a goal.
Still, The Team That Goes "Bing": Despite three fighting majors in Fort Wayne, the Stars remain the least penalized team in the UHL. Columbus averages 18.7 PIM per game and is tied for the fewest majors taken by the team with 18 (Kalamazoo). The Stars are also drawing the fewest number of PIMs from their opponents.
Mighty Mighty in the "Brick House": The Stars are 7-2-3 at the Ohio Expo Center Coliseum this season, nicknamed the "Brick House" by this years' team. Columbus has outscored their guests 36-30 on home ice while out shooting opponents by 63 (386-323).
Starposts Ahead · Fourth-year pro Matt Noga is four assists away from 150 for his pro career. The right wing is part of a top scoring line with Evan Cheverie and Nick Bootland that was formed in Cincinnati last year. · Fifth-year pro B.J. Kilbourne needs five points to achieve 200 pro career points. The gritty centerman from Lake Saranac, NY is tied for the team lead in goals (9) and is fourth in points (17).
The Week Ahead: A weekend set of home games and a Sunday road trip give the Stars the opportunity to take back the top spot in the UHL's Eastern Conference. Missouri provides the competition Friday in Columbus and the destination Sunday late afternoon. Fort Wayne visits the Brick House to take on the Stars for the fourth time in as many weeks on Saturday.
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United Hockey League Stories from December 8, 2003
- STARS PREPARE FOR BIG THREE-GAME WEEKEND - Columbus Stars
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