Stars Split Road Trip

December 17, 2007 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Iowa Chops News Release


THE STARS TELESCOPE - A LOOK AHEAD

Wed, Dec. 19 STARS at Quad City

Sat, Dec 22 STARS at Quad City

I Wireless Center 7:05 CST

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

The Stars will travel to Quad City twice this week as they get set to face the Flames three times in eight days. The Flames, in their first AHL season and their first as the top affiliate of the Calgary Flames of the NHL, are the Stars' most frequent opponent this season as the teams face-off a total of 12 times. So far, the Flames have had the upper hand in the season series, winning 6-0 on November 17 and 3-1 on November 21. The Flames went 3-1-0-1 on their just completed five-game road trip, are 13-12-1-3 with 30 points overall and sit in fifth place in West Division. They are coming off a 3-0 loss at Rockford on Saturday. The Stars have dropped their last two games and enter this week tied for sixth in the division with 29 points and a 14-14-1-0 mark. Grant Stevenson leads the Flames with 10 goals and 14 assists while Matt Keetley has become the main man in the nets as he has started the past five games. On the season, he 4-3-2 with a 2.39 GAA and a .914 save percentage in nine appearances. The Flames will visit Wells Fargo Arena after Christmas on December 26.

Fri, Dec. 21 STARS vs. Houston Aeros

Wells Fargo Arena

7:07 p.m. CST

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

Also, in-arena broadcast at 104.7 FM.

The Stars and Aeros do battle in the Stars' final home game before Christmas on Friday night. The game will be the third of the eight scheduled games between the Stars and Aeros this season with the Stars winning the first two, both at Wells Fargo Arena. The Stars hosted Houston in their home opener on October 12 and won the game in overtime 4-3. Then, on November 27 the Stars claimed another close one between the clubs 3-2. This season's series between these teams is spit down the middle with the Stars hosting the first four meetings followed by the Aeros hosting the final four. The Stars host the Aeros again on New Years Eve and then travel to Houston for the first time on January 4. All-time, the Stars have a 12-10-0-0 record against Houston and are 6-6-0-0 at home. Erik Reitz paces the Aeros with 7 goals, 10 assists and 17 points in just 18 games. Goalies Barry Brust (5-8-2, 2.61 GAA, .910 save percentage) and Nolan Schaefer (8-5-0, 2.31 GAA, .918 save percentage) have seen almost identical time in the net for Houston with 15 and 14 appearances, respectively. The Aeros had a recent five-game winning streak from November 30 to December 12, but have since gone 0-2-0-1 in their last three. They are coming off losses out east at Worcester, 4-2 on Saturday, and 4-1 at Providence on Sunday. The Aeros enter this week 13-12-1-2 and, with 29 points, are tied with the Stars and Peoria for sixth in the West.

STARS RECAP

Tuesday, December 11

Stars 4 Milwaukee 1 at Milwaukee

Marius Holtet scored twice and Tobias Stephan stopped 32 of 33 shots as Iowa evened the season series between the West Division Rivals at two wins apiece. Marty Sertich scored the first goal of the game on a rocket slap shot that chimed the pipe at 1:19 for his ninth of the season. Milwaukee's lone goal came on Stephan's only misstep of the night as John Vigilante snuck one through five-hole to tie the game with 14:59 remaining in the first. Holtet's goals, his third and fourth of the season, came at 6:44 of the second and 9:12 of the third with Perttu Lindgren assisting on both. Janos Vas and newly acquired Jussi Timonen added the other assists, respectively. For Lindgren, it was his first professional multi-point game. Junior Lessard added an empty net goal with 20 seconds remaining to seal the win. Lessard added an assist on Sertich's goal for a two point night of his own. Stephan held an opponent to two or fewer goals for the eighth time in his last nine starts and improved to 9-6-0 on the season. The Admirals outshot the Stars 33-26 for the game.

Friday, December 14

Milwaukee 4 Stars 1 at Milwaukee

The Iowa Stars had to settle for a split of their two games in Milwaukee and a split of their four-game road trip as they fell 4-1 to the Admirals Friday night in Milwaukee. BJ Crombeen scored the first goal of the game at 8:49 of the first. But, as it turned out, that would be the only puck the Stars would be able to get past Admirals netminder Pekka Rinne as he made 20 saves on 21 shots. Rich Peverley scored twice to lead the Millwaukee attack. Tobias Stephan stopped 23 of 27 shots and yielded more than 2 goals for just the second time in his last 9 starts as he fell to 9-7-0. The Stars' overall record dropped to 14-13-1-0 and to 2-3-0-0 versus the Admirals this season.

Saturday, December 15

Chicago 10 Stars 2 at Wells Fargo Arena

The Wolves scored the most goals ever by a Stars' opponent, scoring three in the first period, four in the second and three in the third. Nolan Baumgartner and B.J. Crombeen scored the goals for the Stars, who outshot the Wolves 30-17 for the game. The 17 shots were a season-low for a Stars opponent. Chicago's Kevin Doell collected a natural hat trick in a span of 77 seconds in the second period, the last of which came on a penalty shot, to highlight the visiting team's night. Marius Holtet had a penalty shot awarded to him as well in the wild second, but was denied by Chicago rookie netminder Ondrej Pavelec. Pavelec made 28 saves in his first ever appearance against Iowa. The Wolves converted on three of their six power play chances while also scoring on a shorthanded effort. The Stars were 1 for 8 on the power play. Philippe Sauve started and played the first 22:36 to take the loss.

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

STARS PROMOTIONS/APPEARANCES:

Þ Tuesday, Dec. 18- Stars players will visit Blank Children's Hospital.

Þ Thursday, Dec. 27 - Iowa Stars players will be at Johnston Public Library at 2:00 and at Franklin Library at 4:00

Þ Monday, Jan. 1 - LAZER 103.3 FM will host the New Year's Eve game and will be giving away tons of prizes



American Hockey League Stories from December 17, 2007


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