Texas Stars Weekly Update - March 21, 2016
Mar 21, 2016Stars Close Out Homestand with Two Games This Week
Last week’s record: 0-1-1-0
Overall record: 35-22-6-3, .598 Win Pct. (3rd, Pacific Division)
CEDAR PARK, Texas – The Texas Stars continue to swing back and forth with the San Diego Gulls for second place in the Pacific Division as they close out their homestand with two games this week.
-- THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE --
March 23 at 7:30 p.m. CST and March 26 at 7 p.m. CST vs. Milwaukee Admirals:
The Stars host the Admirals in a two-game set this week at Cedar Park Center to close out their season series against the Central Division’s second-place team. Texas is 0-1-0-1 against Milwaukee this season. The Admirals have won seven of their past 10 games, and are led by Kevin Fiala (16-25=41) and rookie Max Gortz (15-26=41).
March 27 at San Antonio Rampage, 4 p.m. CST:
The Stars and Rampage square off for the 13th time this season on Sunday. Texas is 7-5-0-0 against their in-state rival this season, and Travis Morin leads all skaters in the series with 16 points (7-9=16). The Rampage have struggled with only two wins in their previous 10 games and currently sit seventh in the Pacific Division.
-- LAST WEEK’S RESULTS --
March 16 vs. Grand Rapids Griffins, 4-1 Loss:
Tom McCollum’s 40-save performance was the key as the Grand Rapids Griffins topped the Texas Stars by a 4-1 final on Wednesday night in front of 5,305 in attendance at Cedar Park Center. The Stars hit three goal posts in the game as part of their struggles to solve the Grand Rapids netminder. The win was Grand Rapids 12th straight. Gemel Smith was the lone goal-scorer for the Stars, and Maxime Lagace suffered just his eighth loss of the year with 25 saves.
March 19 vs. Grand Rapids Griffins, 6-5 Overtime Loss:
Maxime Lagace’s 42 saves in net were not enough for the Texas Stars in a 6-5 overtime loss to the visiting Grand Rapids Griffins on Saturday night at Cedar Park Center in front of 5,466 in attendance. The win was Grand Rapids’ 13th straight after scoring two goals in 10 seconds early in the third to knot the score and force the extra frame. Four different Texas players recorded multi-point games. Mitch Callahan at 5:36 and Jeff Hoggan at 5:46 scored the two Griffins goals in the third to erase a 5-3 deficit. Eric Tangradi tallied the game-winner on the doorstep 42 seconds into overtime to end the game.
-- PRACTICE/TRAVEL SCHEDULE --
Monday: Practice, 10 a.m. CST
Tuesday: Practice, 10 a.m. CST
Wednesday: Texas Stars vs. Milwaukee Admirals, 7:30 p.m. CST
Thursday: Practice, 10 a.m. CST
Friday: Practice, 10 a.m. CST
Saturday: Texas Stars vs. Milwaukee Admirals, 7 p.m. CST
Sunday: Texas Stars at San Antonio Rampage, 4 p.m. CST
-- NEWS, NOTES AND UPCOMING MILESTONES –
The Texas Stars are just five percentage points behind the San Diego Gulls for second place in the Pacific Division with 10 games remaining in the regular season. The Stars will play seven of their final 10 games at home. They travel to San Antonio for a game on March 27 and visit Charlotte for a weekend set April 1 and 2. Curtis McKenzie has tallied 18 points over his previous 14 games for the Stars (7-11=18) and Jason Dickinson has recorded 19 points over his previous 18 games (10-9=19).
-- UPCOMING PROMOTIONS --
Wednesday’s game against Milwaukee is a Winning Wednesday. If the Stars win, fans in attendance will receive a voucher for a free ticket to the team’s following Wednesday game on April 13 against the San Antonio Rampage. Wednesday’s game is also an H-E-B Night. Fans can donate an H-E-B-branded, non-perishable food item at the box office for five dollars off their ticket purchase.
Saturday’s game will feature a Stars Car Sun Shade giveaway. 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.