Texas Stars Game Day Preview
Published on December 7, 2010 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Texas Stars News Release
Texas and Manitoba meet for the first time this season and the fifth time in AHL history. The two teams will play a total of four games this season, including one more at Cedar Park Center. Texas will visit Manitoba for a pair of games in March. The Stars lead the all-time series with a 2-1-1-0 record against the Moose. Texas is 2-0-0-0 against Manitoba at Cedar Park Center.
The Stars are 9-5-1-1 at Cedar Park Center this season and 6-2-1-1 in the last ten games. Texas enters tonight's game having won seven of its last 11 games. Over that span, the Stars have outscored their opponents 38-19. The Stars have collected points in four straight games (2-0-1-1) and conclude a seven-game home stand tonight. Over the lengthy home stretch, the Stars have posted a 3-1-1-1 mark. Texas plays its 17th home game on Tuesday, the most by any team in the AHL. The Stars are tied for the fewest games played in the AHL at 23 and no other team has played less road games than the Stars seven. Texas is coming off a 4-3 overtime loss at home to Houston on Saturday night.
Manitoba is 6-4-0-3 on the road this year and 5-3-0-2 in the last ten games played. The Moose begin a four-game road trip on Tuesday, which includes stops in Oklahoma City and San Antonio. Manitoba will conclude its road swing next week at Cedar Park Center. The Moose are coming off a 4-0 shutout loss at home to Oklahoma City on Saturday.
Dallas Recalls Left Wing Francis Wathier, Texas Recalls Rookie Forward Tristan King
The Dallas Stars announced on Monday that the club has recalled left wing Francis Wathier from the Texas Stars, Dallas' primary minor league affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL). The Texas Stars announced that the club has recalled forward Tristan King from the Idaho Steelheads, Texas' ECHL Affiliate.
Wathier, 25, has played in 23 games for Texas so far this season, ranking second on the team in goals (eight) and tied for third in points (11). In 2009-10, he recorded 40 points (19g, 21a) in 76 games with Texas and helped the Stars reach the Calder Cup Finals in the club's inaugural season. Wathier also ranked second on the club in penalty minutes during the regular season (101).
The St. Isidore, Ontario native made his NHL debut last season with Dallas, appearing in five games and recording five penalty minutes. Wathier was drafted by Dallas in the sixth round (185th overall) at the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.
King, a 20-year old rookie, played the first nine games of the season with Texas, scoring twice and setting up two others for four points. He was assigned to Idaho on November, 21. King played in six games for the Steelheads, scoring one goal and three assists for four points.
Dallas Recalls Center Aaron Gagnon and Defenseman Philip Larsen
The Dallas Stars announced on Friday that the club has recalled Texas Stars center Aaron Gagnon. Gagnon, 24, appeared in 20 games for Texas this season, scoring five goals and four assists for nine points with six penalty minutes. He was recalled by Dallas on October 17 and appeared in one game at Tampa Bay. He was assigned back to Texas the following day. Gagnon signed as a free agent with Dallas on February 2, 2007.
Prior to the game on Saturday, the Dallas Stars announced that the club has recalled defenseman Philip Larsen from the Texas Stars, Dallas' primary development affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL). Larsen, 20, has appeared in 18 games for Texas this season, earning nine assists with four penalty minutes and a +2 rating. He has played in two games for Dallas this year and earned an assist. Larsen was selected by Dallas in the fifth round (149th overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.
What's Ahead:
DATE OPPONENT TIME TV/RADIO
Wednesday, Dec. 8 at Rockford 6:35 PM 1530 AM
Friday, Dec. 10 at Grand Rapids 6:00 PM 104.9 FM
Saturday, Dec. 11 at Milwaukee 7:30 PM 104.9 FM
Sunday, Dec. 12 at Grand Rapids 3:00 PM 104.9 FM
Tuesday, Dec. 14 vs. Manitoba 7:30 PM 104.9 FM
* All times listed are local time
GAME RECAPS:
Houston 4 at Texas 3 (OT) 12/4/10
The Texas Stars were defeated by the Houston Aeros 4-3 in overtime on Saturday night in front of 5,009 fans at Cedar Park Center. Houston's Cody Almond slid in a rebound 2:42 into overtime, breaking the tie and give the Aeros their fourth win in five games against Texas this season. Texas erased two separate deficits to force the overtime, including Cody Chupp's goal with 5:02 remaining in regulation to tie the game 3-3. Stars forwards Travis Morin and Colton Sceviour also scored in the Texas defeat. Stars defenseman Severin Blindenbacher set up two goals as Texas fell to 9-5-1-1 at home this season. Texas goalie Richard Bachman (8-4-1) stopped 32 of 36 shots in the overtime loss. Houston goalie Anton Khudobin (9-5-1) stopped 21 of 24 shots in the win.
San Antonio 2 at Texas 1 (SO) 12/3/10
The Texas Stars were defeated by the San Antonio Rampage 2-1 in a shootout in front of 5,976 fans on Friday night at Cedar Park Center. Former Texas Stars goalie Matt Climie (10-4-0) stopped 26 of 27 shots in regulation and all four attempts in the shootout to preserve the Rampage win. Rampage winger Brett MacLean scored the only San Antonio goal in regulation, helping the Rampage end a three-game winless skid against Texas. Stars left wing Fabian Brunnstrom scored the only Texas goal of the night, as the Stars earned a point in their first shootout loss of the season. Texas goalie Richard Bachman (8-3-1) stopped 30 of 31 shots in regulation and one of three attempts for his first shootout loss of the year.
Oklahoma City 2 at Texas 5 11/30/10
The Texas Stars defeated the Oklahoma City Barons 5-2 in front of 3,368 fans on Tuesday night at Cedar Park Center. Five different goal scorers helped Texas earn its seventh win in the last nine games. Forwards Luke Gazdic, Travis Morin, Colton Sceviour and Francis Wathier each scored a goal on the night, as Texas improved to 2-1-0-0 against Oklahoma City this season. Center Mathieu Tousignant notched a goal and added an assist as the Stars improved to 9-5-0-0 at home. Texas goalie Richard Bachman stopped 29 of 31 shots for the win. Barons goalie Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers (3-4-1) took the loss with 12 saves on 15 shots in the first 20 minutes of play.
The Texas Stars
After 23 games of action, center Travis Morin leads Texas in scoring with nine goals and 20 points. Right wing Greg Rallo is second on the team in scoring with 13 points in 23 games played. Left wing Fabian Brunnstrom and center Mathieu Tousignant are tied for third in team scoring with 11 points each. Left wing Luke Gazdic leads the team with 41 penalty minutes. Dan Spang is tied for fifth in scoring with right wing Colton Sceviour with ten points each. Spang is the leader among team defensemen in scoring.
Texas Stars goalies Richard Bachman and Tyler Beskorowany split time in net for Texas. Brent Krahn is currently out with an injury. Krahn has appeared in nine games, posting a 5-4-0 mark, a 2.93 goals against average and a .898 save percentage. Bachman has appeared in 15 games, going 8-4-1 with a 2.01 goals against average and a .931 save percentage. Bachman ranks sixth overall in the AHL for goals against average and he is seventh in save percentage. Beskorowany is 0-1-0 with a 3.01 goals against average and a .900 save percentage.
The Stars 23-man roster is composed of three goalies, seven defensemen and 13 forwards. Texas returns 15 players from the 2010 Western Conference Championship squad. The players range from ages 20 to 34 with an average age of 24.16. Eight players are 22-years old or younger. The roster is made up of six different nationalities. The roster also features 17 NHL draft picks, including ten Dallas Stars draft picks.
The Manitoba Moose
The Moose return only six players who played the majority of the 2009-10 season. Last year, Manitoba went 40-33-5-2 with 87 points and a fourth place finish in the North Division. Manitoba fell in the first round to Hamilton in the 2010 Calder Cup Playoffs. The Moose lost their head coach to the NHL over the summer. Scott Arniel, who played for the club from 1996-99 and coached the team from 2006-10, was named the Head Coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets on June 8, 2010. Manitoba hired Claude Noel to replace Arniel on June 21, 2010. Noel had been the interim Head Coach in Columbus to finish the 2009-10 season. In all, Noel spent three years with Columbus as an assistant coach, helping the Blue Jackets compile a record of 107-102-15-22 in 246 games
Second-year right wing Sergei Shirokov leads the Moose with 16 points, including a team-high 11 assists in 23 games played. Shirokov finished ninth overall in the AHL in rookie scoring last year. Two rookies are second and third on the team in scoring for Manitoba. Center Cody Hodgson leads the Moose with nine goals and is second on the team with 15 points in 23 games played. Hodgson was Vancouver's first-round draft pick (10th overall) in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. Center Jordan Schroeder is third on the team in points with 13. Schroeder joined the Moose for end of the 2009-10 regular season and the 2010 Calder Cup Playoffs after a successful run at the University of Minnesota. Schroeder had nine points in the last 11 AHL regular season games and turned in six points in six playoff games. Schroeder was Vancouver's first round draft choice (22nd overall) in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
The Sweatt brothers rank fourth and sixth overall in points for the Moose. Bill Sweatt is fourth on the team with five goals and 12 points. He was drafted by Chicago in the second round pick (38th overall) in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft after a four-year career at Colorado College. Lee, the eldest of the two, sits sixth on the team with four goals and eight points in 23 games played. The undrafted defenseman also played his college hockey at Colorado College. The Sweatt brothers played at Colorado College with current Texas Stars Scott McCulloch and Richard Bachman.
Goalies Eddie Lack and Tyler Weiman split time in net for Manitoba. Lack is 7-5-2 with a 2.04 goals against average and a .925 save percentage. He is eighth in the AHL in goals against average and 11th in save percentage. Weiman, is 5-3-1 with a 2.75 goals against average and a .894 save percentage.
You Look Familiar
Four current Texas Stars played for the Manitoba Moose in 2008-09. Prior to joining Texas, defenseman Maxime Fortunus played in 271 games for the Moose, collecting 20 goals and 53 assists for 73 points. He was named the club's best defenseman in 2009, helping Manitoba to the Calder Cup Finals, where the Moose fell to the Hershey Bears in six games. Fortunus ranks eighth all time on the club's games played list.
Forward Greg Rallo spent time in Manitoba, playing in 55 games in 2008-09, scoring four goals and adding five assists for nine points. Rallo also played in 11 games for the Moose in 2007-08, setting up five goals and totaling nine points. Third-year winger, Ray Sawada played his rookie season with the Moose in 2008-09. In 55 games with Manitoba, Sawada scored six times and totaled 21 points. Defenseman Trevor Ludwig played in 16 games with the Moose in 08-09, totaling 18 penalty minutes and zero points.
Special Teams
After finishing second overall last season on the penalty kill, the Stars rank 23rd overall at 80.5%. Texas sits 14th in the AHL, converting on 17.5% of its power plays. The Moose sit 29th overall on the power play, converting 11.5% of the time. Manitoba is ninth overall on the penalty kill, stopping 85.2% of its opponents' power plays.
Offense and Defense
The Texas Stars are fourth overall in team defense, allowing 2.52 goals against per game. Texas is tied for 18th out of 30 teams, scoring an average of 2.78 goals per game. Manitoba's defense is 11th overall with a 2.65 goals against per game. The Moose sit tied for 18th offensively, averaging 2.78 goals per game.
American Hockey League Stories from December 7, 2010
- Earl Scores Big in 4-3 Win - Houston Aeros
- Stars Shoot Past Moose 5-2 - Texas Stars
- Moose Fall to Stars 5-2 - Manitoba Moose
- Things Looking up for Whale - Connecticut Whale
- Sharks Chomp 2nd Place from Pirates - Worcester Sharks
- Pirates Doubled by Sharks - Portland Pirates
- Rivermen Players Lend Helping Hand to Children's Hospital Radiothon - Peoria Rivermen
- Three Home Games in Five Nights Await Griffins - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Wolves Are Calling All Toys - Chicago Wolves
- Marlies Winning Streak Halted on Sunday; Play Three Road Games This Week - Toronto Marlies
- McKenna Returns to Albany - Albany Devils
- Texas Stars Game Day Preview - Texas Stars
- Leddy, Morin Invited to USA World Jr. Camp - Rockford IceHogs
- Sound Tigers Release Landry from PTO - Bridgeport Islanders
- Crunch Right Wing Kyle Palmieri Named to 2011 U.S. National Junior Team Preliminary Roster - Syracuse Crunch
- Canucks Re-Assign Perrault to Moose & Recall Jonas Andersson - Manitoba Moose
- Everything Shipshape So Far In Norfolk - AHL
- Coyotes Recall Ekman-Larsson from San Antonio - San Antonio Rampage
- Florida Panthers Recall RW Evgeny Dadonov - Rochester Americans
- Gameday: Aeros Can Tie for 3rd in West - Houston Aeros
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
