Texas Stars Weekly Update - Oct. 18, 2016
Oct 18, 2016Stars Hit the Road After Back-to-Back Wins Last Weekend
Last week’s record: 2-0-0-0
Overall record: 2-0-0-0
CEDAR PARK, Texas – The Texas Stars swept their weekend set against the Charlotte Checkers and now face their first road test of the year with three games on the West Coast this week.
-- THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE --
October 19, 2016 at Stockton Heat at 9 p.m. CST:
Texas and Stockton both enter Wednesday’s contest undefeated after the AHL’s Opening Weekend. The Stars went 2-3-0-1 against the Heat last season, winning one at home and one of the road. Texas forward Justin Dowling led all skaters in the series last year with eight points (0-8=8) in five games played. The two teams will meet a total of six times during the 2016-17 season.
October 21, 2016 at Ontario Reign at 9 p.m. CST:
Friday’s matchup will be the first of six total meetings this season between the Stars and Ontario Reign. Last season, the Reign finished at the top of the Pacific Division, second in the conference and allowed the fewest goals of any team in the AHL. Ontario forward, Sean Backman, returns after leading the team in scoring a season ago with 55 points (21-34=55).
October 22, 2016 at San Diego Gulls at 9 p.m. CST:
Saturday will be the first meeting between the Stars and San Diego Gulls since the first round of last year’s Calder Cup Playoffs, when the Gulls eliminated the Stars in four games (3-1). Texas went 5-1-0-0 against San Diego during the regular season last year, and Brendan Ranford led all skaters in the series with 11 points (6-5=11). Saturday’s matchup also kicks off a six-game series between the two teams this season.
-- LAST WEEK’S RESULTS --
October 14, 2016 vs. Charlotte Checkers, 6-2 Win:
Brandon DeFazio led the way with three points and the Texas Stars offense scored three goals in the final three minutes of the first period to open up a 6-2 win over the Charlotte Checkers on Opening Night of the 2016-17 regular season at H-E-B Center. DeFazio tallied a goal and two assists in the win. Justin Dowling scored the first goal of the season, and Maxime Lagace turned in a 34-save performance to earn his first win in net.
October 15, 2016 vs. Charlotte Checkers, 4-2 Win:
Brandon DeFazio and Justin Dowling each scored for the second straight game, while Maxime Lagace turned aside 43 shots in net, to lead the Texas Stars to a 4-2 win over the Charlotte Checkers on Saturday night at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park. Andrew Bodnarchuk and Gemel Smith also scored for the Stars. Texas swept their two-game set against the Checkers to open up the 2016-17 regular season.
-- NEWS, NOTES AND UPCOMING MILESTONES --
Justin Dowling’s first-period goal on Friday was the first goal of the season for the Texas Stars, and also the 250th point of his professional career. With their Friday win, the Stars improved to 7-1-0-0 all-time in season openers, and 8-0-0-0 all-time in home openers. Andrew Bodnarchuk is one point shy of 150 in his pro career after tallying a goal and an assist on Saturday. Wednesday’s game in Stockton will be the 100th of Dustin Stevenson’s AHL career. Maxime Lagace stopped 77 of 81 total shots in net for the Stars over the weekend.
-- UPCOMING PROMOTIONS --
The Stars return home to face the rival San Antonio Rampage on Tuesday, Oct. 25, for the first H-E-B Night of the season where fans can donate an H-E-B-branded, non-perishable food item at the box office for $5 off their ticket purchase.
The Texas Stars are the primary development affiliate of the NHL’s Dallas Stars, and are currently in 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.