Stars Win Back-to-Back OT Games, Take 2-0 Series Lead
Apr 29, 2014Texas Hosts Barons for Game 3 on Wednesday, April 30th at Cedar Park Center
2013-14 Record: 48-18-3-7, 106 points (29-8-0-1 Home, 19-10-3-6 Road), First Place – West Division
Week 30 Recap:
The Texas Stars began the 2014 Calder Cup Playoffs last Wednesday night with a 3-2 come-from-behind win in overtime against the Oklahoma City Barons at Cox Convention Center. After a scoreless first period, former Texas Star Austin Fyten opened the scoring 1:49 into the second period and Curtis Hamilton doubled the Barons’ lead five minutes later. With 5:28 left in the period, defensemen Derek Meech brought the Stars within one with a power-play goal that squirted through goaltender Richard Bachman’s pads. Mike Hedden tied the game at two with a top-shelf goal seven minutes into the third period. Both Bachman and Texas goaltender Cristopher Nilstorp stood strong in the remaining minutes of regulation, sending Game 1 to overtime. Scott Glennie’s great fore-check efforts set up a Justin Dowling wrap-around, which rebounded off Bachman’s left pad and was poked in by Hedden to win the game for Texas. The goal, his second of the game, was Hedden’s first career playoff overtime strike. Nilstorp stopped 26-of-28 shots for his fifth career Calder Cup Playoff win.
Three days later, the Stars and Barons hit the ice for Game 2 at Cox Convention Center. Roman Horak, Oklahoma City’s regular season leading scorer, put the home team in front 1-0 just 5:40 into the game with a breakaway goal. That score line remained until, with 18 seconds left in the second period, Travis Morin won an offensive zone faceoff forward, collected the puck and snapped a shot top corner to level the score an unassisted power play goal to tie the game at one. Rookie Jujhar Khaira put the Barons back in front 2-1 at 11:57 of the third period, but Morin had another response. With time winding down in regulation and goalie Jack Campbell pulled for an extra attacker, Morin capitalized on a cross-crease pass from Justin Dowling with just 39.8 seconds on the clock to send the game to overtime. Deep into the first overtime, Morin combined with Curtis McKenzie for a shot that went wide, but was picked up by rookie Brendan Ranford, who wrapped the puck around the net and jammed it between the post and Richard Bachman’s skate to give the Stars’ their second-straight overtime win and a 2-0 series lead. Campbell stopped 38-of-40 shots for his first Calder Cup Playoff win in his pro playoff debut.
Week 31 Preview:
Texas returns to Cedar Park Center with a 2-0 series lead over the Oklahoma City Barons in the best-of-five Western Conference Quarterfinals. This is the third time in team history where the Stars have won the first two games of a playoff series; the first two occurrences came in the 2010 Calder Cup Playoffs, where Texas swept the Rockford IceHogs in four games in the first round and then lost to the Hershey Bears in the 2010 Calder Cup Finals in six games. The Stars are 4-1 all-time in potential series-clinching games. Wednesday’s Game 3 will be Texas’ first home playoff game since May 11, 2013, a 2-1 victory over Oklahoma City in the 2013 Western Conference Semifinals.
Game 3, scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. faceoff at Cedar Park Center, is both H-E-B Night and a Texas Lottery Lucky Row Night. If necessary, Games 4 and 5 will be played on Friday, May 2nd at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 3rd at 7:00 p.m. Game 4 is a $3 Draft Beer and $4 Robert Mondavi Private Selection Wine Night, while Game 5 is a Coke Zero Family Four Pack Night. Since Texas Lottery is sponsoring all home playoff games, both Games 4 and 5 will be Texas Lottery Lucky Row Nights.
C Travis Morin (2-1-3) is tied for the team lead in points, scored two goals and added an assist in Game 2 and has 11 points (3 goals, 8 assists) and a +5 rating in his last seven games. C Justin Dowling (0-3-3) is tied for the team lead in points and has three assists in the last two games. LW Mike Hedden (2-0-2) scored two goals in Game 1, including the overtime winner. G Cristopher Nilstorp (1-0-0, 1.93 GAA, 0.929 save pct.) won his fifth career Calder Cup playoff game Wednesday and has not lost in regulation since February 17th.
Week 31 Schedule:
(All games are broadcast LIVE over the Internet at www.TexasStarsHockey.com and the free radio button on the schedule page of www.ahllive.com and can be viewed via internet pay-per-view video on www.ahllive.com. All times listed in Central Time)
GAME 3
Wednesday, April 30 – 7:30 p.m. – Cedar Park Center – Cedar Park, TX
vs. Oklahoma City Barons (36-29-2-9, 83 pts.)
Third Place, West Division – Eighth Seed, Western Conference
GAME 4 – If Necessary
Friday, May 2 – 7:30 p.m. – Cedar Park Center – Cedar Park, TX
vs. Oklahoma City Barons (36-29-2-9, 83 pts.)
Third Place, West Division – Eighth Seed, Western Conference
GAME 5 – If Necessary
Saturday, May 3 – 7:00 p.m. – Cedar Park Center – Cedar Park, TX
vs. Oklahoma City Barons (36-29-2-9, 83 pts.)
Third Place, West Division – Eighth Seed, Western Conference
· Team Notes: The Oklahoma City Barons come to Cedar Park Center trailing the Stars 2-0 in their best-of-five first round series. It is the second time in the Barons’ history where they have lost the first two games of a playoff series. In the 2011 Calder Cup Playoffs, their first trip to the playoffs in their first year of existence, the Barons lost the first two games for their first round series with the Hamilton Bulldogs and were eventually eliminated in six games (4-2). Oklahoma City is 2-4 all-time when facing elimination, 2-1 in games following back-to-back losses and is 1-1 at Cedar Park Center in the playoffs. Martin Gernat, Jordan Oesterle, Darnell Nurse, Oscar Klefbom, David Musil, Jujhar Khaira, Jack Combs, Travis Ewanyk, Austin Fyten, Andrew Miller, and Joshua Winquist all made their Calder Cup Playoff debuts during Games 1 and 2. Five of the 11 debutants have recorded their first Calder Cup point, which represents 50% of the team’s overall goals and points (2 goals, 3 assists). Steve Pinizzotto missed Game 2 and will also miss Game 3 after receiving a two-game suspension by the AHL for a boarding incident against Cameron Gaunce in Game 1. Forwards Mark Arcobello, the Barons’ all-time leading scorer, and Matthew Ford did not dress for either Games 1 or 2 and are listed as questionable for the remaining games of the series.
· Leading Scorer: 10 players tied with 1 point.
· Leading Goaltender: Richard Bachman (G) – 2.56 GAA, 0.917 save pct., 0-2-0-0 in 2 GP.
Who’s Hot: C Roman Horak (1-0-1) scored a goal in Game 2 and has nine points (4 goals, 5 assists) in his last seven games. C Anton Lander (0-1-1) tallied an assist in Game 2 and has five assists and a +1 rating in his last 5 games. LW Austin Fyten (1-0-1) scored a goal in Game 2 and has five points (4 goals, 1 assist) and a +3 rating in his last six games.
Week 30 Game Results:
April 23, 2014 Game 1: Texas 3 @ Oklahoma City 2 – OT
April 26, 2014 Game 2: Texas 3 @ Oklahoma City 2 – OT
Stars Player of the Week: (Week 30)
Travis Morin – C – #23 2 GP, 3 Points (2 G, 1 A), +1, 1 GTG
As the focus of much attention from the Oklahoma City Barons, Travis Morin shined in true AHL MVP fashion. Morin had a hand in all three Texas Stars goals in Game 2, including sending the game to overtime with 39.8 left in regulation and assisting on Brendan Ranford’s game-winning goal. The Brooklyn Park, MN native became the Texas Stars’ all-time playoff point leader, tallying 29 points (9 goals, 20 assists) in 39 Calder Cup Playoff games.
Stars Quick Hits:
· PLAYOFF DEBUTS – Nine players made their Calder Cup playoff debuts for Texas in Week 30: Jack Campbell, William Wrenn, Hubert Labrie and rookies Radek Faksa, Jyrki Jokipakka, Taylor Peters, Matej Stransky, Brendan Ranford and Brandon Troock. Ranford picked up 2 points (1 goal, 1 assist), including the game winner in overtime and Campbell earned his first win in Game 2.
· NEW FRANCHISE PLAYOFF POINTS LEADER – Travis Morin became the Texas Stars’ all-time leader in playoff points, when he scored at 19:42 of the second period of Game 2 on Saturday. Morin (9-20-29) passed Jamie Benn who collected 26 points (14 goals, 12 assists) in 24 games during the 2010 Calder Cup Playoffs. Morin also ranks first in post-season assists and is tied for second in playoff games played (39).
· BACK-TO-BACK OT WINS – For the second time in franchise history, the Stars won back-to-back overtime games in the playoffs. During the 2010 Calder Cup Playoffs, Texas beat the Hamilton Bulldogs at Cedar Park Center in overtime with a 5-4 win on May 19th and a 2-1 win on May 21st in Games 3 and 4 of the 2010 Western Conference Finals. Overall, the Stars are 9-6 in overtime games in the playoffs.
· EPITOME OF PLAYOFF VETERAN – Captain Maxime Fortunus is the only Texas Stars player to appear in all 41 playoff games in team history. Travis Morin, Colton Sceviour and Francis Wathier are all tied for second with 39 Calder Cup games played for the Stars. Fortunus made his Texas playoff debut on April 16, 2010 and has 11 points (2 goals, 9 assists) and a +8 rating in the playoffs. He is currently the AHL’s active leader in Calder Cup playoff games played (96) and ranks 17th all-time in league history. Saturday’s Game 2 at Oklahoma City was his 100th career professional playoff game.
· ON THE VERGE OF CLINCHING – The Texas Stars need one more victory to win their best-of-five Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Oklahoma City Barons. The Stars have made the playoffs in four of their five seasons of existence. In the first three post-season appearances, Texas won its first round series twice, only losing in the 2011 Calder Cup Playoffs to the Milwaukee Admirals in six games.
Stars Week 30 Transactions:
April 22 – ADD – Philippe Desrosiers (G) – Signed ATO, called up from Rimouski (QMHL).
Texas Stars Team Leaders:
Games Played: 6 Players tied (2)
Goals: Mike Hedden & Travis Morin (2)
Assists: Justin Dowling (3)
Points: Justin Dowling & Travis Morin (3)
Plus/Minus: Mike Hedden (+3)
Penalty Minutes: Scott Glennie (7)
Power Play Goals: Derek Meech & Travis Morin (1)
Short Handed Goals: N/A
Game-Winning Goals: Mike Hedden & Brendan Ranford (1)
Shots: Travis Morin (10)
Shooting Percentage: Mike Hedden (50.0%)
Saves: Jack Campbell (38)
Wins: Jack Campbell & Cristopher Nilstorp (1)
GAA: Jack Campbell (1.61)
Save Percentage: Jack Campbell (0.950)
Shutouts: N/A
The Texas Stars will host the Oklahoma City Barons for Game 3 of the 2014 Western Conference Quarterfinals on Wednesday April 30th for a 7:30 p.m. puck drop at Cedar Park Center. Wednesday’s game is H-E-B Night and a Texas Lottery Lucky Row Night. Texas Stars’ 2014 Calder Cup playoff single game tickets and playoff ticket packages are on sale now! Reserve your seats for all Calder Cup playoff games at Cedar Park Center at a discounted rate. For more information on Texas Stars season tickets call (512) GO-STARS (467-8277) or visit www.TexasStarsHockey.com.