Texas Stars Weekly Update
Apr 27, 2015
CEDAR PARK, Texas – Trailing 2-0 in the best-of-five Western Conference Quarterfinals, the Texas Stars hit the road to try and extend their season by winning three games in Rockford, Ill. to advance in 2015 Calder Cup Playoffs.
2014-15 Overall Record: 40-22-13-1 (5th, Western Conference. 2nd, West Division)
-- THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE --
Western Conference Quarterfinals Game 3 - April 29 at Rockford IceHogs, 7 p.m. CST:
*Western Conference Quarterfinals Game 4 - May 1 at Rockford IceHogs, 7 p.m. CST:
*Western Conference Quarterfinals Game 5 - May 2 at Rockford IceHogs, 7 p.m. CST:
Rockford’s Michael Leighton has been the difference through the first two games of the series, stopping 67 of 70 shots for a .957 save percentage. The Stars must win all three games in Rockford in order to advance to the second round of the Calder Cup Playoffs – Texas was 20-13-5-0 on the road this season. Julius Honka and Curtis McKenzie each lead the Stars with a goal and an assist through the first two games of the series. Rockford’s Garret Ross led all skaters in the regular season series with eight points (three goals, five assists) in four games against the Stars. In the 2010 Calder Cup Playoffs, the Stars swept the IceHogs in the opening round in four games.
* if necessary
Broadcast Info: TexasStarsHockey.com, Texas Stars Mobile App, and AHLlive.com
-- LAST WEEK’S RESULTS --
Game 1 - April 24 vs. Rockford IceHogs, 4-2 Loss:
Three third period goals for the Rockford IceHogs made the difference in a comeback win over the Texas Stars to take Game 1 by a 4-2 final on Friday night at Cedar Park Center. Spencer Abbott scored a pair of power play goals for the IceHogs, including the game-tying marker. Texas picked up goals from Curtis McKenzie and Julius Honka. Jussi Rynnas stopped 33 shots in net for Texas, while Michael Leighton made 33 saves in the win for Rockford.
Game 2 – April 25 vs. Rockford IceHogs, 4-1 Loss:
Michael Leighton's 34 saves smothered the offense for the Texas Stars and led the Rockford IceHogs to a 2-0 series lead with a 4-1 win on Saturday night in Game 2 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals at Cedar Park Center. Brett Ritchie scored the only goal for Texas off a rebound at 11:58 of the third to close the Stars deficit to 2-1, but Peter Regin buried a power play goal less than five minutes later to pull the IceHogs away for good. Jack Campbell suffered the loss in net, stopping 24 of 27 shots.
-- PRACTICE/TRAVEL SCHEDULE --
Monday: Practice, 10 a.m. CST
Tuesday: Travel day
Wednesday: Game 3 - Texas Stars at Rockford IceHogs, 7 p.m. CST
Thursday: Practice in Rockford
Friday: Game 4 - Texas Stars at Rockford IceHogs, 7 p.m. CST *
Saturday: Game 5 - Texas Stars at Rockford IceHogs, 7 p.m. CST *
Sunday: Travel Day
* if necessary
-- NEWS, NOTES AND UPCOMING MILESTONES –
Stars captain Maxime Fortunus has appeared in all 62 playoff games in franchise history and is one game shy of tying Alexandre Giroux for fifth in AHL history in career Calder Cup Playoff games played (118). All-time the Texas Stars are 7-4 in Game 3 of a playoff series. Mattias Janmark made his Texas Stars debut on Saturday in Game 2, after signing an entry-level agreement with the NHL’s Dallas Stars on Friday and joining the Texas roster on an Amateur Tryout Agreement.
-- UPCOMING PROMOTIONS --
All three road games (Wednesday, Friday and Saturday) during the Western Conference Quarterfinals will be Pluckers Watch Parties at the Pluckers Lakeline location. All three games begin at 7 p.m. CST, and the parties will start at 6 p.m.
Wednesday’s game in Rockford is a Raising Cane’s Challenge. If the Stars score three goals, fans can take advantage of a buy one, get one free special on a combo meal at any Austin area Raising Cane’s location by visiting the Stars Facebook page for a coupon to download.
The Texas Stars entered the 2014-15 season as the AHL’s defending Calder Cup Champions. Single-game tickets are on sale now for the remainder of the current season, and season ticket package deposits for the 2015-16 campaign are now being accepted. For more information, call (512) GO-STARS (467-8277) or visit TexasStarsHockey.com.
Photo Credit: Christina Shapiro/Texas Stars