Texas Stars Weekly Update - Mar. 6, 2017
Mar 6, 2017Stars to Play Three Games in Four Nights this Week
Last week’s record: 2-2-0-0
Overall record: 26-27-1-2
CEDAR PARK, Texas – The Texas Stars begin a four-game homestand this week when they play three games in four nights at H-E-B Center.
-- THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE —
March 8 at 7:30 p.m. CST vs. Grand Rapids Griffins:
The Texas Stars face the Grand Rapids Griffins for the fourth and final time this season on Wednesday night. The Griffins have a 2-1 series lead over the Stars this year, having earned a win in the first and third meetings between the two clubs. Texas Captain Travis Morin leads the team in goals, assists and points this season (19-26=45). Grand Rapids forward Matt Lorito is tied for sixth in the AHL with 48 points (18-30=48) and leads all skaters in the series with eight points (3-5=8) in three games.
March 10 at 7:30 p.m. and March 11 at 7 p.m. CST vs. Iowa Wild:
The Texas Stars and Iowa Wild square off for a back-to-back weekend set on Friday and Saturday at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park. The two games, which mark the third and fourth meetings between the two Western Conference clubs, will be the last time the two teams face each other during the regular season. Texas and Iowa split their first two matchups, with the Stars taking home a 3-2 win in game one and the Wild earning a 3-2 win in game two. Travis Morin leads all skaters in the series with three points (2-1=3). Iowa has four players tied with two points.
-- LAST WEEK’S RESULTS --
February 28 at Bakersfield Condors, 5-0 Loss:
Nick Ellis earned the shutout and Josh Currie added a hat trick, but it was the power play of the Bakersfield Condors that led the way in a 5-0 shutout win over the Texas Stars at Rabobank Arena. The Condors struck three times on four man-advantage chances to open up a 3-0 lead, and that was plenty for Ellis who stopped 28 shots in the shutout performance. The Stars suffered just their second shutout loss of the season.
March 1 at San Jose Barracuda, 2-1 Win:
Justin Peters stopped 43 shots, and all four shooters he faced in the shootout, to lead the way for the Texas Stars in a 2-1 shootout win to snap the 14-game winning streak of the San Jose Barracuda at Solar4America Ice. Ethan Werek scored for the Stars, who snapped a six-game skid of their own in the win. Ryan Carpenter scored for San Jose. The Stars and the Barracuda split their four-game season series in the finish.
March 4 vs. Grand Rapids Griffins, 5-2 Loss:
Mark McNeill scored in his home debut to even the score, but the Grand Rapids Griffins added three goals in the third period in a 5-2 finish against the Texas Stars at H-E-B Center. McNeill was appearing in his first home game as a Star. Dillon Heatherington also made his Texas debut after both players were acquired at the NHL's Trade Deadline by the Dallas Stars. Eric Tangradi's third-period goal held up as the game-winner, and Jimmy Howard stopped 31 of 33 shots in net for the Griffins in the first game of a conditioning assignment from the Detroit Red Wings.
March 5 at San Antonio Rampage, 6-2 Win:
Justin Dowling and Cole Ully each scored a pair of goals, and Justin Peters turned aside 28 shots in net, as the Texas Stars overpowered the San Antonio Rampage in a 6-2 win at AT&T Center. Matej Stransky scored the 11th shorthanded goal of the season for the Stars as they picked up their seventh win over their I-35 rivals in 10 meetings this season. The Rampage saw their winless skid extend to 11 games in the loss.
-- NEWS, NOTES AND UPCOMING MILESTONES –
Texas up a new forward last Tuesday when the NHL’s Dallas Stars acquired Mark McNeill and a draft pick from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Johnny Oduya. McNeill was assigned to Texas after competing in 58 games for the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs this season with 28 points (6-22=28). The Edmonton, Alberta native made his Texas debut on March 1 in a 2-1 shootout win at San Jose. Dillon Heatherington made his debut for Texas Saturday against Grand Rapids after being acquired by Dallas from the Columbus Blue Jackets at the NHL’s Trade Deadline on Wednesday for forward Lauri Korpikoski. Heatherington is a former second-round pick of the Blue Jackets in 2013 and currently in his second AHL season after helping the Lake Erie Monsters win the 2016 Calder Cup Championship. Texas currently leads the AHL with 11 shorthanded goals this season. 10 different players have scored shorthanded this season for Texas (Austin Fyten, Ethan Werek, Travis Morin, Stephen Johns, Justin Dowling (2), Brandon DeFazio, Gemel Smith, Patrik Nemeth, Remi Elie and Matej Stransky). The team record for shorthanded goals in a season is 13, set last year.
-- UPCOMING PROMOTIONS --
Wednesday’s game against Grand Rapids is an H-E-B Night with the Stars, plus a Winning Wednesday. Fans can save $5 off their ticket purchase by donating an H-E-B-branded, non-perishable food item at the box office. If the Stars win, fans can redeem their ticket at the box office for a free ticket to the team’s next Wednesday home game on March 22nd against Tucson.
Fans can save money on a pair of tickets to Friday’s game with a Texas Stars Two-Pack. It’s also a Hat Trick Friday with $3 specials on beer and soda, plus $4 specials on Robert Mondavi Private Selection wine.
Saturday’s game is Pucks ‘n Paws night with the Stars, presented by Raisins Cane’s. Fans can bring their dogs to the game by purchasing a dog ticket. More information is available at 512-GO-STARS.
Saturday’s game also features a Stars Lunch Bag giveaway, presented by University Federal Credit Union. It is also a Texas Lottery Lucky Row Night and will feature Coke Zero Family Four-Packs. The first Stars player to score wins free scratch tickets for a lucky row of seats at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park, courtesy of the Texas Lottery, and fans can purchase four tickets, four hot dogs and four soft drinks starting at just $16 per person, courtesy of Coke Zero.
The Texas Stars are the primary development affiliate of the NHL’s Dallas Stars, and are currently playing 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.