Texas Stars Weekly Update - March 28, 2016
Mar 28, 2016Texas, San Diego Continue to Fight for Second Place
Last week’s record: 1-1-1-0
Overall record: 36-23-7-3, .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 prepare for a three-game week. Texas will host Bakersfield on Tuesday before a pair of weekend road games in Charlotte.
-- THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE --
March 29 vs. Bakersfield Condors, 7:30 p.m. CST:
The Texas Stars and the Bakersfield Condors face off for the sixth and final time this season on Tuesday. Texas is 5-0-0-0 against Bakersfield this season. The Stars’ Travis Morin leads all skaters in the series with six points (1-5=6) against the Condors this season. The Condors are currently fifth in the AHL’s Pacific Division.
April 1 and April 2 at Charlotte Checkers, 6 p.m. CST:
The Stars make their first and only trip out to Charlotte, N.C. for a pair of weekend games against the Checkers. The Stars and Checkers split their previous two matchups this season at Cedar Park Center. Charlotte is led by Derek Ryan with 52 points (22-30-52) this season. The Checkers currently sit fifth in the AHL’s Central Division and control the last available playoff spot in the Western Conference.
-- LAST WEEK’S RESULTS --
March 23 vs. Milwaukee Admirals, 2-0 Loss:
In a matchup of the American Hockey League’s top two rookie goaltenders, Juuse Saros’ 28 saves outlasted Maxime Lagace’s 29-save performance in a 2-0 win for the Milwaukee Admirals over the Texas Stars on Wednesday night at Cedar Park Center. Stefan Elliot’s first period goal held up as the game-winner. The Stars suffered just their second shutout loss of the season going back to the Stockton Heat’s 1-0 win over Texas on Oct. 21.
March 26 vs. Milwaukee Admirals, 5-4 (SO) Win:
Three power play goals by the Texas Stars erased a 3-0 deficit and then Jack Campbell made the key saves in the shootout to wrap up a 5-4 win over the Milwaukee Admirals on Saturday night in front of 5,248 fans in attendance at Cedar Park Center. Brendan Ranford scored two goals in the win, plus the shootout-winner. Travis Morin picked up an assist in his first game for Texas since Feb. 14, and Campbell stopped all three Milwaukee shooters he faced in the shootout to preserve the victory.
March 27 at San Antonio Rampage, 3-2 Overtime Loss:
The Texas Stars and San Antonio Rampage traded goals throughout the game, but Mikko Rantanen was the hero in overtime to give the Rampage a 3-2 win on Easter Sunday in front of 3,919 in attendance at AT&T Center. Matej Stransky scored both Texas goals in the loss. Despite the overtime loss, Jack Campbell stopped 34 of 37 shots in his first AHL start since Dec. 19. Through 13 meetings this season between the two in-state rivals, Texas has won seven and San Antonio has won six.
-- PRACTICE/TRAVEL SCHEDULE --
Monday: Day Off
Tuesday: Texas Stars vs. Bakersfield Condors, 7:30 p.m. CST
Wednesday: Practice, 10 a.m. CST
Thursday: Travel Day
Friday: Texas Stars at Charlotte Checkers, 6 p.m. CST
Saturday: Texas Stars at Charlotte Checkers, 6 p.m. CST
Sunday: Travel Day
-- NEWS, NOTES AND UPCOMING MILESTONES –
Saturday’s shootout win over Milwaukee was captain Travis Morin’s return to the lineup after a 13-game absence due to injury. The Stars begin this week in third place in the AHL’s Pacific Division, just six percentage points behind the second place San Diego Gulls. Texas and San Diego traded control of second place twice last week. The Stars play five of their final seven games of the regular season at home. The Stars magic number to clinch a playoff spot is 10 points.
-- UPCOMING PROMOTIONS --
Tuesday’s game against Bakersfield is an H-E-B Night with the Stars. Fans can donate an H-E-B-branded, non-perishable food item at the box office for five dollars off their ticket purchase.
Texas returns home on Friday, April 8, to begin Military Appreciation Weekend, presented by Round Rock Auto Group, against the San Jose Barracuda. Friday’s game is the final Fun Food Friday of the regular season where fans can enjoy $3 specials on beer, chicken tenders and flatbreads, plus $4 specials on Robert Mondavi Private Selection wine. Fans can also purchase a Texas Stars Two Pack and save $12 off a pair of tickets to the game.
The Stars will also host San Jose on Saturday, April 9, with a Stars Camouflage Hat 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 2016-17 campaign are on sale now. For more information, call (512) GO-STARS (467-8277) or visit TexasStars.com.