Stars Finish Five-Game Road Trip, Return to Cedar Park
Feb 20, 2014
Texas Hosts Charlotte for Pink in the Rink Weekend
2013-14 Record: 30-16-3-4, 67 points (19-6-0-1 Home, 11-10-3-3 Road), Second Place – West Division
Week 20 Recap:
Following the AHL All-Star Break, the Texas Stars went 1-0-1-0 in their only two games of Week 20. The Stars began the week on Saturday February 15th with a 3-2 overtime win over the Hamilton Bulldogs. Texas was unable to beat AHL All-Star goaltender Dustin Tokarski on 13 shots during the first period, while Hamilton was able to get two past Cristopher Nilstorp to take a 2-0 lead. Just 13 seconds into the second period, Travis Morin scored on the power-play to get the Stars on the board and then eight minutes later Curtis McKenzie also scored on the power-play to tie the game at two. Both goaltenders stopped all the shots they faced in the third period sending the game to overtime. Just 1:33 into the extra frame, Scott Glennie setup Chris Mueller for the game-winning goal to lift the Stars to victory. Mueller was the first star of the game for having a hand in all three Stars’ goals, tallying a goal and two assists.
The Stars traveled to Blue Cross Arena for the only time this season for a Sunday afternoon tilt against the Rochester Americans. Texas stormed out of the gate to take a 3-0 after the first period on goals by Cameron Gaunce, Matej Stranksy, and Colton Sceviour. Sceviour’s goal was his AHL-leading 30th goal of the season. However, the Americans stormed right back, scoring three straight goals of their own to tie the game at three. Rookie Taylor Peters reclaimed the Stars’ lead 4-3, scoring his fifth goal of the season with about five minutes left in the middle frame. Colton Gillies tied the game for Rochester at 3:25 into the third period and Phil Varone clinched the win for the Americans, beating goaltender Josh Robinson just 48 seconds into overtime. With an assist in the game, Travis Morin notched his team and AHL leading 70th point, stretching the Texas Stars’ single-season record.
Week 21 Preview:
The Stars began their Week 21 schedule, and finished their three-game road trip, with their third game in as many days on Monday, February 17th against the Toronto Marlies at Air Canada Centre, home of the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs. After a scoreless first period, rookie Brett Ritchie broke the deadlock with his 12th goal of the season with a little less than five minutes remaining in the second period. Colton Sceviour had a chance to double the lead with a shorthanded breakaway, but was denied by Toronto backstop Drew MacIntyre. On the same power play, the Marlies would then tie the game on a goal by Josh Leivo. Texas nearly regained the lead when Scott Glennie’s shot from the right circle eluded MacIntyre, but was cleared off the goal line by defenseman T.J. Brennan. Moments later, Jerry D’Amigo scored on a partial breakaway to put Toronto ahead 2-1. MacIntyre stood strong and denied all of the Stars’ attempts to tie the game and then Levio and D’Amigo each scored empty net goals to seal a 4-1 win.
There are two more games on Texas’ Week 21 schedule as the team returns home for Pink in the Rink Weekend presented by Cedar Park Regional Medical Center. The Stars will wear special pink-themed jerseys as they host the Charlotte Checkers on Friday, February 21st at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, February 22nd at 7:00 p.m. at Cedar Park Center. Throughout the weekend, breast cancer survivors and volunteers will participate in various in-game activities, such as flag presentations and intermission contests. Funds will be raised for Breast Cancer Resource Centers of Texas (BCRC) through the game-worn jersey silent auction and Saturday night’s Chuck-a-Puck contest. Additionally, a portion of money from tickets sold through BCRC will benefit the organization. Last year’s Third Annual Pink in the Rink Weekend raised $17,500 for breast cancer research.
The Texas Stars Pink in the Rink jerseys will be auctioned off through a silent auction held at the games, with winners having the opportunity to meet the player, after the conclusion of Saturday’s game, and receive the jersey off their back. In addition to opening Pink in the Rink Weekend, Friday’s game is also a $3 Beer and $4 Robert Mondavi Private Selection Wine Night. Saturday’s game is a Coke Zero Family Four Pack Night, a Texas Lottery Lucky Row Night and is the Texas Stars Pink in the Rink hat giveaway courtesy of Cedar Park Regional Medical Center.
C Travis Morin (28-42-70) leads the AHL in assists and points, ranks second in the league in goals, and has nine points (3 goals, 6 assists) and a +1 rating in his last 10 games. RW Colton Sceviour (30-25-55) leads the AHL in goals, shots (197) and game-winning goals (6), ranks second in points and has nine points (3 goals, 6 assists) in his last 10 games. LW Curtis McKenzie (17-31-48) leads the AHL in rookie points, ranks seventh overall in the league in points and has seven points (3 goals, 4 assists) in his last 10 games. C Chris Mueller (22-26-58) is tied for second in the AHL in power play goals (12), is sixth in the league in points and has eight points (4 goals, 4 assists) in his last 10 games. C Justin Dowling (5-21-26) ranks fifth on the team in assists and has nine assists in his last nine games.
Week 21 Schedule:
(All games are broadcast LIVE over the Internet at www.TexasStarsHockey.com and the free radio button on the schedule page of www.ahllive.com and can be viewed via internet pay-per-view video on www.ahllive.com. All times listed in Central Time)
Monday, February 17 – 2:00 p.m. – Air Canada Centre – Toronto, ON
Lost 4-1 @ Toronto Marlies – First Place, North Division
Friday, February 21 – 7:30 p.m. – Cedar Park Center – Cedar Park, TX
vs. Charlotte Checkers (24-24-1-1, 50 pts.)
Fifth Place, West Division
&
Saturday, February 22 – 7:00 p.m. – Cedar Park Center – Cedar Park, TX
vs. Charlotte Checkers (24-24-1-1, 50 pts.)
Fifth Place, West Division
Team Notes: The Charlotte Checkers come to Texas posting a .500 record (24-24-1-1). After losing five straight (0-4-1-0), the Checkers have won their last two games beating Abbotsford 5-4 in overtime last Sunday and Norfolk 4-3 on Tuesday. Charlotte is 11-7-1-0 against West Division opponents, but ranks fifth in the division. The Checkers are currently 12th in the Western Conference, seven points behind the eighth and final playoff spot. Charlotte’s weekend trip to Texas kicks of a stretch of 10-straight road games; the Checkers’ next game at Time Warner Cable Arena will not be until Saturday, March 15th against the Lake Erie Monsters. On offense, Charlotte has three of the top-15 point scorers in the AHL: Zach Boychuk (45), Aaron Palushaj (44) and Chris Terry (44). The Checkers also rank fourth in shots per game (32.68) and rank 11th in goals per game (3.02). Defensively, Charlotte ranks 28th in goals-allowed per game (3.28) and 25th in shots-allowed per game (32.24). Charlotte has the fourth best power-play in the AHL (22.3%), but ranks 23rd in the league (80.1%) in penalty kill.
Leading Scorer: Zach Boychuk (LW) – 45 points (23 goals, 22 assists) and a -13 rating in 43 GP.
Leading Goaltender: John Muse (G) – 2.76 GAA, 0.912 save pct., 17-11-0 and 3 SO in 30 GP.
Who’s Hot: LW Zach Boychuk (23-22-45) leads the team in goals and points, ranks first in the AHL in power-play goals (13), fourth in the AHL in goals, 12th in the AHL in points and has 17 points (8 goals, 9 assists) and a +2 rating in his last 10 games. LW Chris Terry (17-27-44) is tied for second on the team in points, leads the team in assists, is currently on a three-game point streak and has 15 points (3 goals, 12 assists) and a +1 rating in his last 10 games. C Brett Sutter (6-20-26) has 11 points (3 goals, 8 assists) in his last 10 games. D Ryan Murphy (0-10-10) is currently on a six-game assist streak and has 10 assists in his first 10 games with Charlotte.
Week 20 Game Results:
February 15, 2014 Texas 3 @ Hamilton 2 – OT
February 16, 2014 Texas 4 @ Rochester 5 – OT
February 17, 2014 Texas 1 @ Toronto 4
Stars Player of the Week: (Week 20)
Curtis McKenzie – LW – #16 2 GP, 3 points (1 G, 2 A), +1, 0 PIMs
Curtis McKenzie has sustained his strong form throughout a fantastic rookie season with the Texas Stars and he continues to lead all AHL rookies in points. The Golden, British Columbia native, who has 48 points (17 goals, 31 assists) in 52 games for the Stars, has delivered on the top-line playing with veterans Travis Morin and Colton Sceviour. Not only does he rack up points at even strength, McKenzie has 25 points (8 goals, 17 assists) while playing on the top unit of the AHL’s leading power-play. On February 15th in Hamilton, McKenzie assisted on Travis Morin’s goal and then scored the game-tying goal in the second period. The next afternoon in Rochester, he notched the sole assist on linemate Colton Sceviour’s 30th goal of the season.
Stars Quick Hits:
· 30 GOAL CLUB – Right wing Colton Sceviour scored his 30th goal of the season last Sunday night at Rochester. This is the third time a Stars player has scored 30 or more goals, but Sceviour is the second player to hit this milestone. Matt Fraser scored a team record 37 goals during the 2011-2012 season and scored 33 goals the next season. For Sceviour, 30 goals is an AHL career high and he has 23 games remaining to reach Fraser’s team record.
· THE SCORIN’ MORIN – Center Travis Morin tallied his career-best, and AHL-leading, 70th point of the season when he notched an assist on Sunday afternoon at Rochester. Morin has already surpassed his own team record (66), which he set during the 2011-2012 season. Currently, Morin leads the league in assists (42) and ranks second in goals (28). If Morin continues on his current pace, he would finish the season with 113 points; which would be tied for 22nd in AHL history for points in a season.
· DOWLING’S ASSIST STREAK – Center Justin Dowling had a six-game assist streak from January 24th to February 9th, totaling eight assists over that span. It was the longest such streak in his AHL career and one game shy of tying the Texas Stars record, held by four players: Raymond Sawada (2010-2011), Greg Rallo (2010-2011), Matt Fraser (2012-2013), and Reilly Smith (2012-2013) each had seven-game assist streaks with the Stars.
· A SHOOTING SHOW – The Stars’ top line of Travis Morin, Colton Sceviour and Curtis McKenzie have totaled 522 shots so far this season. Sceviour leads the AHL with 197 shots and Curtis McKenzie is tied for first in rookie shots. The trio has scored 75 goals this season, coming out to a 14.4% shooting percentage.
· A POSITIVE ATTITUDE – Of the 23 active skaters on the Stars’ roster, a total of 14 players have a positive plus/minus rating, ranking them tied for 10th in the AHL. Travis Morin (+12) and Colton Sceviour (+11) lead the team in plus/minus. Overall, the Stars have a team plus/minus of +24.
· SHOOTING GALLERY – Right wing Colton Sceviour is the Texas Stars’ all-time franchise leader in shots on goal (930). The Red Deer, Alberta native has an AHL-best 197 shots in 46 games played this year, equating to a 4.28 shots-per-game average. That means Sceviour is on pace to record his 1,000th career AHL shot on goal before the end of the 2013-14 season. He has recorded at least one shot on goal in 95 consecutive regular season AHL games dating back to December 5, 2012.
· ALL ABOUT THE POWER – At this point of the season, the Stars have the AHL’s leading power-play, converting on 27.4% of their chances. The Stars have both the best home (28.5%) and road (26.3%) power-plays and lead the league in power-play goals (65). If the Stars can continue their dominance on the power-play, they have a chance to break the AHL record for single-season power-play percentage (26.78%), set by the Springfield Indians in the 1993-1994 season.
· APPROACHING STARS MILESTONES – D Maxime Fortunus is 2 assists away from his 150th career AHL assist and 5 GP away from his 750th career pro game. C Toby Petersen is 3 GP shy of his 550th career AHL game and 5 GP shy of his 950th career pro game. LW Francis Wathier is 2 points shy of his 200th career pro point, 2 assists shy of his 100th career AHL assist and 12 GP shy of his 500th career AHL game. RW Colton Sceivour is 3 goals away from his 100th career AHL goal and is 10 GP away from his 350th career AHL game. C Travis Morin is 4 assists from his 300th career pro assist. LW Mike Hedden is 5 points away from his 200th career pro point and 12 GP away from his 200th career AHL game. RW Scott Glennie is 9 GP shy of his 150th career pro game and 10 GP shy of his 150th career AHL game.
Stars Week 20 Transactions:
February 20 – DELETE – Ryan Button (D) – Reassigned by Dallas (NHL) to Idaho (ECHL).
Texas Stars Team Leaders:
Games Played: Mike Hedden & Curtis McKenzie (52)
Goals: Colton Sceviour (30)
Assists: Travis Morin (42)
Points: Travis Morin (70)
Plus/Minus: Travis Morin (+12)
Penalty Minutes: Curtis McKenzie (68)
Power Play Goals: Chris Mueller (12)
Short Handed Goals: Seven Tied (1)
Game-Winning Goals: Colton Sceviour (6)
Shots: Colton Sceviour (197)
Shooting Percentage: Scott Glennie & Mike Hedden (17.0%)
Saves: Cristopher Nilstorp (854)
Wins: Cristopher Nilstorp (17)
GAA: Jack Campbell (1.40)
Save Percentage: Jack Campbell (0.947)
Shutouts: Cristopher Nilstorp (2)
The Texas Stars are back at Cedar Park Center on Friday, February 21st as they host the Charlotte Checkers at 7:30 p.m. Friday’s game kicks off Pink in the Rink Weekend presented by Cedar Park Regional Medical Center and is a $3 Beer and $4 Robert Mondavi Private Selection Wine Night. Pro-rated full and partial 2013-14 Texas Stars Season Tickets are on sale now. For more information on Texas Stars season tickets call (512) GO-STARS (467-8277) or visit www.TexasStarsHockey.com.