Texas Stars Weekly Update
Feb 9, 2015CEDAR PARK, Texas – The Texas Stars are in the thick of the playoff race in the AHL’s Western Conference as the team prepares for a home game on Tuesday prior to starting a 13-day, six-game road trip on Friday – their longest trek of the season.
Last week’s record: 1-1-0-1
Overall record: 20-16-10-1, 51 pts. (3rd, West Division)
-- THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE --
Feb. 10 vs. San Antonio Rampage, 7:30 p.m.:
Texas and San Antonio face off for the ninth time this season and the fourth time in the Stars last six contests. The Stars trail the Rampage by seven points in the West Division standings. San Antonio goaltender Dan Ellis has shined in the series with a .923 save percentage through seven games, though Stars rookie Gemel Smith has netted four of his six goals this season against Ellis.
Feb. 13 at Iowa Wild, 7 p.m., and Feb. 14 at Iowa Wild, 7 p.m.:
The Stars visit the Wild for the first time this season after going 2-1-0-0 against Iowa in three games at Cedar Park Center earlier in the year. The weekend pair will be the fourth and fifth of eight total meetings this season between the two clubs. The Wild are led offensively by Tyler Graovac with 34 points (16 goals, 18 assists). The Stars leading scorer, Travis Morin, has four points (one goal, three assists) in the series.
Broadcast Info: TexasStarsHockey.com, Texas Stars Mobile App, and AHLlive.com
-- LAST WEEK’S RESULTS --
Feb. 3 vs. San Antonio Rampage, 3-2 Shootout Loss:
Dan Ellis stopped Justin Dowling in the third round of a shootout to give the Rampage the edge in the contest. Rocco Grimaldi spurred the comeback win for San Antonio, notching the tying goal to force the overtime session before beating Texas goaltender Anders Lindback head-to-head to give the Rampage the shootout victory.
Feb. 5 at San Antonio Rampage, 5-2 Win:
A trio of third period goals lifted the Stars over the Rampage Thursday in San Antonio. Greg Rallo tallied the game-winner in his 500th career AHL game to spark the late burst from the Texas offense. Brendan Ranford added a goal and two assists in the Stars win. Anders Lindback earned the win, stopping 30 of 32 shots.
Feb. 8 vs. Oklahoma City Barons, 3-2 Loss:
Despite a barrage of offense late in the contest, Texas was unable to complete the comeback falling to the league-leading Oklahoma City Barons at home Sunday evening. Jujhar Khaira buried the game-winner late in the second to give the Barons the edge. It was the final meeting at Cedar Park Center between the clubs as Oklahoma City will relocate to Bakersfield, Calif., in the offseason to join the AHL’s newly created Pacific Division.
-- PRACTICE/TRAVEL SCHEDULE --
Monday: Practice, 10 a.m.
Tuesday: Texas Stars vs. San Antonio Rampage, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday: Practice, 10 a.m.
Thursday: Travel Day
Friday: Texas Stars at Iowa Wild, 7 p.m.
Saturday: Texas Stars at Iowa Wild, 7 p.m.
Sunday: Travel Day
-- NEWS, NOTES AND UPCOMING MILESTONES --
Brett Ritchie was recalled by the NHL’s Dallas Stars on Thursday, while Dallas made a goaltending move Friday, recalling Anders Lindback and assigning Jussi Rynnas to Texas. The Stars signed defenseman Matt Mangene to an AHL contract through the remainder of the season, Thursday, off of his tryout agreement. Texas veterans Derek Meech and Greg Rallo both hit milestones Thursday in the Stars win over the Rampage. For Meech, it was his 600th career professional contest, while Rallo played in his 500th AHL game. Justin Dowling is one game shy of 150 in his Texas Stars career. Jussi Rynnas is two shy of 100 in his AHL career.
-- UPCOMING PROMOTIONS --
The Stars return home at the end of February for their fifth annual Pink in the Rink celebration, presented by Cedar Park Regional Medical Center. The team has partnered up again with the Breast Cancer Resource Centers of Texas for the event, as the Stars will wear specialty pink-themed jerseys when they host the Rockford IceHogs on Friday, Feb. 27, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 28, at 7 p.m. at Cedar Park Center. Throughout the weekend, breast cancer survivors and volunteers will participate in various in-game activities, such as flag presentations and intermission contests. Funds will be raised for BCRC through the game-worn jersey silent auction and a Chuck-a-Puck contest during the second intermission of both games. Additionally, a portion of money from tickets sold through BCRC will benefit the organization. Last year’s Pink in the Rink Weekend raised $21,000 to support local women diagnosed with breast cancer – the largest donation by the Texas Stars Foundation in its history.
The Texas Stars entered the 2014-15 season as the AHL’s defending Calder Cup Champions. Single-game tickets and season ticket packages for the 2014-15 campaign are on sale now. For more information, call (512) GO-STARS (467-8277) or visit TexasStarsHockey.com.