Texas Stars Weekly Update - Dec. 21, 2015
Dec 21, 2015Stars Enjoy Holiday Break Before Home-and-Home Set
Last week’s record: 0-2-0-1
Overall record: 14-12-2-2, .533 Win Pct. (4th, Pacific Division)
CEDAR PARK, Texas – The Texas Stars have the week off for the American Hockey League’s holiday break, but resume play on Saturday to begin a home-and-home set against the rival San Antonio Rampage.
-- THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE --
December 26 vs. San Antonio Rampage, 7 p.m CST and December 27 at San Antonio Rampage, 4 p.m.:
The Stars and Rampage hook up in their seventh and eighth meetings of the season as part of a home-and-home series after the holiday break. Both teams have split their previous six matchups with three wins each. San Antonio has outscored Texas, 21-20, in the series overall. Brendan Ranford leads the Stars with six points (3-3=6) against the Rampage. San Antonio’s Mikko Rantanen leads all skaters in the series with nine points (2-7=9).
-- LAST WEEK’S RESULTS --
December 17 at Chicago Wolves, 4-3 Shootout Loss:
The Texas Stars scored three times in the third to force overtime, but Pheonix Copley stopped all three shooters he faced in the shootout to lead the Chicago Wolves to a 4-3 win on Thursday in front of 14,517 at Allstate Arena. The Stars scored three goals in the final 8:32 of regulation to earn a point out of the loss, including two on the power play. Jack Campbell suffered the shootout loss in relief of starter John Muse despite stopping all 28 shots he faced in the game.
December 18 at Grand Rapids Griffins, 5-4 Loss:
The Grand Rapids Griffins needed three third period goals and few bounces in their favor to hold on for a 5-4 win over the Texas Stars on Friday night at Van Andel Arena in front of 7,311 in attendance. The win extends the Griffins' franchise record winning streak to 13 games. Curtis McKenzie notched his 100th career AHL point with a late third period goal to pull Texas within one. In the final minute of regulation, Travis Morin missed a one-time shot from the slot and the Stars rang a shot off Jared Coreau's shoulder, which the Grand Rapids goaltender never saw, in an effort to tie the score.
December 19 at Grand Rapids Griffins, 6-1 Loss:
Jared Coreau weathered a first period storm from the Texas Stars and opened the door for the Grand Rapids Griffins to skate away with a 6-1 win on Saturday night in front of 8,028 at Van Andel Arena. It was the 14th consecutive win for Grand Rapids. Mattias Backman scored the only goal for the Stars. Texas now enjoys a six-day layoff until their next game, their longest break of the season.
-- PRACTICE/TRAVEL SCHEDULE --
Monday: AHL Holiday Break
Tuesday: AHL Holiday Break
Wednesday: AHL Holiday Break
Thursday: AHL Holiday Break
Friday: AHL Holiday Break
Saturday: Texas Stars vs. San Antonio Rampage, 7 p.m. CST
Sunday: Texas Stars at San Antonio Rampage, 4 p.m. CST
-- NEWS, NOTES AND UPCOMING MILESTONES –
Brennan Evans appeared in his 850th career AHL game and Curtis McKenzie tallied the 100th point of his AHL and Texas Stars career on Friday at Grand Rapids. Greg Rallo is two goals shy of 150 in his AHL career. December and January are the two busiest months of the season for the Stars, with 13 games scheduled in each. The Stars have played 17 road games already this season, tops in the Western Conference and tied for the most in the AHL with Toronto Marlies.
-- UPCOMING PROMOTIONS --
The Stars return home on Dec. 26 to host the San Antonio Rampage after the holiday break at 7 p.m. Fans can enjoy free popcorn at the game, courtesy of RS3, and the ice will be open after the game for fans to walk or skate on. The Saturday contest will be a Texas Lottery Lucky Row Night where the first Stars player to score wins free scratch-off tickets for a lucky row of seats at Cedar Park Center. Fans can also take advantage of Coke Zero Family Four Packs 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 currently in their seventh season at Cedar Park Center. Full season, 24-game and 12-game ticket packages for the 2015-16 campaign are on sale now. For more information, call (512) GO-STARS (467-8277) or visit TexasStars.com.