Texas Stars Weekly Update - Feb. 29, 2016
Feb 29, 2016Stars Continue Homestand with Three Games this Week
Last week’s record: 0-1-1-0
Overall record: 32-20-4-3, .602 Win Pct. (2nd, Pacific Division)
CEDAR PARK, Texas – The Texas Stars continue their homestand with a three-game week as they look to maintain their hold on second place in the AHL’s Pacific Division.
-- THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE --
March 2 at 7:30 p.m. CST and March 4 at 7:30 p.m. CST vs. Iowa Wild:
The Texas Stars and Iowa Wild meet up this week for their final two matchups of the season. Texas is 1-1-0-0 against Iowa this year and Wednesday’s meeting will be the first between the two clubs since Oct. 24 and 25, when the Stars visited the Midwest. Wednesday’s game also marks the return of former Stars captain Maxime Fortunus to Cedar Park Center after signing with the Wild over the summer. Iowa’s leading scorer is Zack Mitchell with 33 points this season (20-13=33).
March 5 vs. Manitoba Moose, 7 p.m. CST:
Texas and Manitoba face off on Saturday for the third of four total matchups this season. Texas won the two previous meetings against the Moose on Feb. 9 and 10 in Manitoba. Both games were one-goal decisions, including one in a shootout. Jason Dickinson leads all skaters in the season series with five points against the Moose (3-2=5). Manitoba is led by leading scorer Chase De Leo with 31 points this season (15-16=31).
-- LAST WEEK’S RESULTS --
February 26 vs. Ontario Reign, 3-2 Overtime Loss:
Jason Dickinson forced overtime in the final seconds of regulation, but Vincent LoVerde’s overtime-winner gave the Ontario Reign a 3-2 win on Friday night at Cedar Park Center in front of 4,142 fans in a matchup of the Pacific Division’s top two teams. Maxime Lagace stopped 48 shots in net for the Stars, one from tying the franchise record. Dickinson forced overtime with 4.7 seconds remaining in regulation to extend his point streak to four games.
February 27 vs. Ontario Reign, 5-2 Loss:
Jason Dickinson scored a goal to extend his point streak to five games, but the Ontario Reign pulled away in the third to top the Texas Stars in a 5-2 final on Saturday night in front of 5,739 in attendance at Cedar Park Center to close out the season series between the two teams. The Stars stayed within a goal of the Reign for the majority of the game, but Jordan Samuels-Thomas’ goal midway through the third period opened up a 4-2 lead and Ontario added an empty-net tally late to pull away in the end.
-- PRACTICE/TRAVEL SCHEDULE --
Monday: Practice, 10 a.m. CST
Tuesday: Practice, 10 a.m. CST
Wednesday: Texas Stars vs. Iowa Wild, 7:30 p.m. CST
Thursday: TBD
Friday: Texas Stars vs. Iowa Wild, 7:30 p.m. CST
Saturday: Texas Stars vs. Manitoba Moose, 7 p.m. CST
Sunday: Day Off
-- NEWS, NOTES AND UPCOMING MILESTONES –
Jason Dickinson has 15 points over his last 11 games (9-6=15). Maxime Lagace’s 48 saves on Friday night were one shy of tying the franchise record of 49 saves, set by Christopher Nilstorp on April 20, 2013 against the Rockford IceHogs. Wednesday’s game against Iowa will be former Star Maxime Fortunus’ first game at Cedar Park Center since last season’s opening round of the Calder Cup Playoffs. Fortunus played six seasons with the Texas Stars. The Stars have killed off 39 of their last 42 penalties over the past nine games for a 92.8% mark.
-- UPCOMING PROMOTIONS --
Wednesday’s game against Iowa is a Winning Wednesday. If the Stars win, fans in attendance will receive a voucher for a free ticket to the team’s next Wednesday game on March 16 against the Grand Rapids Griffins. Wednesday’s game is also an H-E-B Night where fans can donate an H-E-B-branded, non-perishable food item at the box office for five dollars off their ticket purchase.
On Friday night, fans can purchase a Texas Stars Two-Pack and save $12 on a pair of executive or luxury level tickets to the game. It will also be 90’s Night as the Stars throwback to the decade with music, movie and television clips, and games throughout the evening.
Saturday’s game features a Stars Drawstring Backpack Giveaway, presented by Cedar Park Regional Medical Center. 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 2015-16 campaign are on sale now. For more information, call (512) GO-STARS (467-8277) or visit TexasStars.com.