Texas Stars Weekly Update - Dec. 12, 2016
Dec 12, 2016Stars Gear Up for Weekend Set with First-Place Milwaukee
Last week’s record: 2-0-0-0
Overall record: 13-8-1-1
CEDAR PARK, Texas – Fresh off a weekend sweep of the Rockford IceHogs, the Texas Stars will welcome another Central Division opponent into H-E-B Center this weekend when they host the first-place Milwaukee Admirals starting Friday with Teddy Bear Toss night.
-- THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE --
December 16 at 7:30 p.m. CST and December 17 at 7 p.m. CST vs. Milwaukee Admirals:
The Stars and Admirals square off in the first of four meetings this season, and the two teams enter the weekend as polar opposites so far. Texas boasts the League’s best offense averaging 3.91 goals per game while the Admirals are one of the AHL’s best defensive teams averaging just 2.50 goals against, the fourth fewest. Milwaukee goaltender Juuse Saros has been one of the AHL’s best this season with 10 wins (T-2nd), a 1.58 goals against average (2nd) and a .945 save percentage (2nd). Milwaukee is 9-3-0-1 on the road this season.
-- LAST WEEK’S RESULTS --
December 9 vs. Rockford IceHogs, 8-4 Win:
Brandon DeFazio tallied three points (1-2=3), Brendan Ranford scored twice and Landon Bow made his American Hockey League debut in net as the Texas Stars topped the Rockford IceHogs by an 8-4 final on Friday night at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park. Bow stopped 34 of 35 shots after coming on in relief midway through the second period. Gemel Smith also scored the Stars’ seventh shorthanded goal of the season to lead the AHL, and Justin Dowling added two points (1-1=2) to pull himself with one of tying Greg Rallo for third all-time in franchise history with 191 points.
December 10 vs. Rockford IceHogs, 2-1 (SO) Win:
After stopping 34 shots in relief in his American Hockey League debut on Friday, rookie goaltender Landon Bow raised the stakes in his first career start on Saturday with a 36-save performance to lead the Texas Stars to a 2-1 shootout win over the Rockford IceHogs at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park. Travis Morin scored the shootout-winning goal for Texas (13-8-1-1) in round three, while Bow (BOH) denied Rockford’s Spencer Abbott and Nick Schmaltz in the first two rounds.
-- NEWS, NOTES AND UPCOMING MILESTONES --
Rookie goaltender Landon Bow stopped 70 of 72 shots in the weekend sweep of Rockford to earn his first two career AHL wins. Six of the Stars’ seven shorthanded goals this season have been scored over the last 10 games. Captain Travis Morin’s next game will be the 500th of his professional career. Saturday’s game against the Rockford IceHogs was the 200th career AHL game for Matt Mangene. Mangene’s five-game point streak also came to a close on Saturday. The Stars eight-goal output on Friday against Rockford was their largest of the 2016-17 season and the most since April 9, 2016, when they beat the San Jose Barracuda, 8-5, to clinch a playoff spot.
-- UPCOMING PROMOTIONS --
Friday’s game against Milwaukee is Teddy Bear Toss night. Fans are encouraged to bring a teddy bear or other new stuffed animal to the game and throw it on the ice when the Stars score their first goal. All stuffed animals collected at the Teddy Bear Toss will be donated to Operation Blue Santa. Fans who bring a stuffed animal to the game will also receive a voucher for two free tickets to select future Stars home games.
Fans can save $12 on Friday with a Texas Stars Two-Pack. It is also a Hat Trick Friday with $3 specials on beer and soda, plus $4 specials on Robert Mondavi Private Selection wine.
Saturday’s game against the Admirals at 7 p.m. CST will feature a Stars Knit Cap giveaway. Saturday is also a Texas Lottery Lucky Row Night where the first Stars player to score wins free scratch tickets for a lucky row of seats at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park. Fans can also take advantage of Coke Zero Family Four-Packs on Saturday with four tickets, four hot dogs and four soft drinks starting at just $16 per person.
The Texas Stars are the primary development affiliate of the NHL’s Dallas Stars and are currently in their eighth season at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park. Full season, 24-game, 12-game and six-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.