Texas Stars Weekly Update - April 4, 2016
Apr 4, 2016Magic Number to Clinch a Playoff Spot Down to Two Points
Last week’s record: 2-1-0-0
Overall record: 38-24-7-3, .597 Win Pct. (3rd, Pacific Division)
CEDAR PARK, Texas – The Texas Stars could punch their ticket to the Calder Cup Playoffs this week with a two-game set against the San Jose Barracuda this weekend.
-- THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE --
April 8 at 7:30 p.m. CST and April 9 at 7 p.m. CST vs. San Jose Barracuda:
The Texas Stars and San Jose Barracuda face off in a weekend set at Cedar Park Center with playoff implications on the line. San Jose is trying to keep their playoff hopes alive and regain control of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Stars are currently two points away from clinching a playoff berth. Texas and San Jose have split their previous four meetings this season.
-- LAST WEEK’S RESULTS --
March 29 vs. Bakersfield Condors, 5-1 Win:
Maxime Lagace turned aside 48 shots in net and Matej Stransky scored a pair of power play goals to lead the Texas Stars to a 5-1 win over the Bakersfield Condors on Tuesday night at Cedar Park Center. Justin Dowling added four assists in the win to pass Maxime Fortunus for fourth all-time with 168 points in his Stars career. The Stars swept their six-game season series against the Condors with the win.
April 1 at Charlotte Checkers, 6-3 Loss:
Brock McGinn scored a pair of goals and former Star John Muse turned in 26 saves as the Texas Stars came up short in a 6-3 road loss to the Charlotte Checkers on Friday night at Bojangles Coliseum in front of 6,724 in attendance. Matej Stransky scored in the third to pick up his sixth goal in the last six games for the Stars, and rookie Mike McMurtry tallied his first career point in his Texas debut with an assist. Jack Campbell suffered the loss stopping 22 of 26 shots in net.
April 2 at Charlotte Checkers, 4-3 (SO) Win:
Curtis McKenzie tallied a three-point night and Jack Campbell stopped all three shooters he faced in the shootout to lead the Texas Stars to a 4-3 victory over the Charlotte Checkers on Saturday night in front of 6,808 fans at Bojangles Coliseum. With the win, and San Jose’s loss to San Diego, Texas lowered their magic number to clinch a playoff spot to two points. The Stars split their season series with Charlotte as both teams won a pair of games against the other this season. Julius Honka extended his point streak to five games with a goal for Texas.
-- PRACTICE/TRAVEL SCHEDULE --
Monday: Day Off
Tuesday: Practice, 10 a.m. CST
Wednesday: Practice, 10 a.m. CST
Thursday: Practice, 10 a.m. CST
Friday: Texas Stars vs. San Jose Barracuda, 7:30 p.m. CST
Saturday: Texas Stars vs. San Jose Barracuda, 7 p.m. CST
Sunday: Day Off
-- NEWS, NOTES AND UPCOMING MILESTONES –
If the San Jose Barracuda lose in regulation on Wednesday against the San Antonio Rampage, the Texas Stars are in the Calder Cup Playoffs. The Stars are currently 14 percentage points back of the San Diego Gulls for second place in the Pacific Division with four games remaining in the regular season. San Diego has a game in hand on the Stars. Dallas Stars 2013 third-round pick Niklas Hansson made his Texas Stars and North American debut in the Stars' Friday loss at Charlotte. Hansson signed an amateur tryout agreement with Texas last week. Texas is closing in on their sixth playoff appearance in their seven-year existence as an AHL franchise.
-- UPCOMING PROMOTIONS --
This weekend against San Jose is Military Appreciation Weekend, presented by Round Rock Auto Group.
The Stars will wear camouflage specialty jerseys during both games which fans can bid on through a silent auction Friday and Saturday. The winning bidders can receive their jerseys off the players’ backs and get their jerseys signed after Saturday’s game.
Friday’s game is the final Fun Food Friday of the regular season where fans can enjoy $3 specials on beer, chicken tenders and flatbreads, plus $4 specials on Robert Mondavi Private Selection wine. Fans can also purchase a Texas Stars Two-Pack and save $12 off a pair of tickets to the game.
The Stars will also host San Jose on Saturday, April 9, with a Stars Camouflage Hat giveaway courtesy of Round Rock Auto Group. It is also a Texas Lottery Lucky Row Night and Coke Zero Family Four-Pack game. The first Stars player to score will win free scratch-off tickets for a lucky row of fans at Cedar Park Center, courtesy of the Texas Lottery, and fans can also purchase four tickets, four hot dogs and four soft drinks starting at $16 per person, courtesy of Coke Zero.
The Texas Stars are the primary development affiliate of the NHL’s Dallas Stars and currently in their seventh season at Cedar Park Center. Full season, 24-game and 12-game ticket packages for the 2016-17 campaign are on sale now. For more information, call (512) GO-STARS (467-8277) or visit TexasStars.com.