Stars Take Three Points Out of Four at Abbotsford
Feb 13, 2014
After All-Star Break, Texas Plays Grueling Road Three-in-Three
2013-14 Record: 29-15-2-4, 64 points (19-6-0-1 Home, 10-9-2-3 Road), Second Place – West Division
Week 19 Recap:
The Texas Stars went 1-1-0-1 in Week 19, taking three of a possible six points, but falling out of first place in the West Division. Texas suffered its second straight home loss on Tuesday, falling to the Oklahoma City Barons 5-2 at Cedar Park Center. The Stars dominated the opening minutes, but found themselves behind on goals by Mark Arcobello and Taylor Fedun. It could have been 3-0 OKC, but goaltender Josh Robinson stopped Ben Eager’s penalty shot. Jamie Oleksiak scored five minutes into the second period to wake up the home crowd, but the crucial goal was scored by Barons’ forward Jack Combs with 50 seconds left in the frame. Travis Morin scored an unassisted goal 29 seconds into the third period, pulling Texas within one, but Anton Lander scored a vital power play goal at 15:34 and Eager added an empty net goal to close out the scoring.
Texas made its first trip of the season to British Columbia last weekend as the Stars faced the Abbotsford Heat for a two-game weekend series. Rookie Brett Ritchie opened the scoring ten minutes into the first period on Saturday night, but Abbotsford rallied early in the second period with two goals in the span of 57 seconds. Defenseman Derek Smith blasted home a power play goal and then Josh Jooris scored to give the Heat a 2-1 lead. Hubert Labrie, who hadn’t scored a goal in the AHL since December of 2011, tipped in a Max Fortunus shot at 8:25 to tie the game and the final 30 minutes of regulation went without another goal. The Stars hit the post during a power play in overtime, but failed to convert and the game went to a shootout. Dustin Jeffrey and Chris Mueller scored in each of the first two rounds for Texas, but the Stars were unable to close out the Heat, even with several shots to win the shootout. Blair Jones tied the shootout at two with Abbotsford’s fifth round attempt and then Sven Baertschi won it in the seventh round for the home team.
After coming so close to victory on Saturday night, the Stars responded with dominant performance on Sunday, beating Abbotsford 7-2 to take three points out of four on the weekend from their first place division rival. Colton Sceviour struck just 53 seconds into the game, but Max Reinhart tied the score at one and 2:14 into the second period defenseman Shane O’Brien scored a shorthanded goal to put the Heat on top 2-1. That was the last time that Abbotsford led in the contest as the Stars scored six unanswered goals to rout their hosts. Brett Ritchie tied the game with a power play goal at 3:30 of the second period and Scott Glennie scored a shorthanded goal to give Texas a 2-1 lead; it was the first shorthanded goal of Glennie’s pro career. Just under three minutes later, Glennie scored again, which chased Abbotsford starting goaltender Olivier Roy from the game. In came Joni Ortio and a mere 27 seconds later Jyrki Jokipakka fired a shot off the crossbar and in; the first shot Ortio faced. Two minutes after that Texas scored two power play goals in the span of 22 seconds. First, Mike Hedden scored his 18th of the year and then Sceviour found the net for the second time in the game, his AHL-leading 29th of the season, giving the Stars a 7-2 blowout victory. Texas went 3-for-6 on the power play in the game, snapping an uncharacteristic 0-for-14 drought on the power play.
2014 AHL All-Star Classic Recap:
Travis Morin and Colton Sceviour represented the Texas Stars at the 2014 AHL All-Star Classic against Swedish Hockey League team Färjestad BK at the Mile One Centre in St. John’s, Newfoundland. During Tuesday’s Skills Competition Morin participated in the Puck Control Relay, while Sceviour was a shooter in the goaltending Rapid Fire contest, where he scored twice on five shots. Both players were passers for the Accuracy Shooting contest and then both shot in the Breakaway Relay, with Sceviour scoring of FBK goalie Pekka Tuokkola. The AHL All-Stars would win the Skills Competition 18-17, having to go to sudden death breakaway rounds to settle the contest.
In the All-Star Game on Wednesday, Morin and Sceviour skated together on a like with Rochester Americans left wing Luke Adam. Morin scored the AHL All-Stars’ fourth goal of the night, finding the net at 18:37 of the first period, assisted by Sceviour and Springfield Falcons defenseman Cody Goloubef. FBK scored twice in the third period, but the AHL All-Stars cruised to a 7-2 victory.
Week 20 Preview:
The Stars resume their game schedule on Saturday, February 15th with their second three-in-three of the season, this time against three different teams from the North Division. Saturday, Texas will face the Hamilton Bulldogs at 6:00 p.m. CT at the newly re-named FirstOntario Center in downtown Hamilton. The Stars then drive across the border for a 2:05 p.m. CT faceoff with the Rochester Americans on Sunday, February 16th at Blue Cross Arena. Texas will cap off a grueling three-in-three on Monday, February 17th as they face the Toronto Marlies for a 2:00 p.m. CT puck drop at Air Canada Centre, home of the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs. Monday’s game against the Marlies technically counts as part of Texas’ Week 21 schedule, but it all blends into one short, but strenuous, road trip.
C Travis Morin (27-41-68) leads the AHL in assists and points, ranks second in the league in goals and is on a six-game point streak, with seven points (2 goals, 5 assists) and a +1 rating during that span. RW Colton Sceviour (29-24-53) leads the AHL in goals, shots (191) and game-winning goals (6), ranks third in points, and has seven points (2 goals, 5 assists) and a +2 rating in his last six games. C Justin Dowling (5-20-25) is on a six-game assist streak, with eight assists and a +2 rating during that span. D Jamie Oleksiak (4-11-15) has six points (1 goal, 5 assists) and a +3 rating in his last six games. LW Mike Hedden (18-20-38) is tied for 12th in the league in goals, is tied for 18th in points and has eight points (4 goals, 4 assists) and a +1 rating in his last eight games. LW Curtis McKenzie (16-29-45) leads all AHL rookies and is tied for sixth overall in points and has four points (2 goals, 2 assists) and a +1 rating in his last five games. C Chris Mueller (21-24-45) is tied for the AHL lead in power play goals (12), is tied for fifth in the league in goals, is tied for sixth in points and has five points (2 goals, 3 assists) in his last five games.
Week 20 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)
Saturday, February 15 – 6:00 p.m. – FirstOntario Centre – Hamilton, Ontario
@ Hamilton Bulldogs (22-22-0-4, 48 pts.)
Third Place, North Division
Team Notes: The Hamilton Bulldogs come into the AHL All-Star Break 3-7-0-0 in their last 10 games and sit in third place in the North Division, four points out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Hamilton has a losing record at home (10-12-0-3) this season and has lost their last three games at FirstOntario Centre. The game against the Stars on February 15th will be the first home game for the Bulldogs since January 26th, playing their last six games on the road, in the span of 10 on the road. With a record of 5-0 in overtime, Hamilton is tied for the most overtime wins and is one of only three AHL teams without an overtime loss. Hamilton’s power-play ranks 26th overall (14.6%) in the AHL, while their penalty-kill ranks 12th (83.1%). When leading after the second period, the Bulldogs have not lost a game in regulation this season (15-0-0-1). On February 6th, the Montreal Canadiens trade right wing Steve Qualier to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for center Robert Czarnik. After recently playing in 11 NHL games with Montreal, defenseman Nathan Beaulieu (4-12-16) was sent back to Hamilton on February 9th, before the NHL’s Winter Olympics roster freeze. On Monday, rookie right wing Sven Andrighetto was named the CCM/AHL Player of the Week for Week 19. Andrighetto had eight points (3 goals, 5 assists) in four games, including a four-point game at Rockford on February 4th and a two-goal game on February 9th at Toronto.
Leading Scorer: Martin St. Pierre (C) – 33 points (8 goals, 25 assists) and a -14 rating in 45 GP.
Leading Goaltender: Dustin Tokarski (G) – 2.35 GAA, 0.918 save pct., 16-11-2 and 1 SO in 31 GP.
Who’s Hot: C Martin St. Pierre (8-25-33) leads the team in points and is on a four-game assist streak, with five assists over that span. RW Sven Andrighetto (12-15-27) leads the team in goals, ranks second in points and has eight points (3 goals, 5 assists) and a +1 rating in his last four games. RW Christian Thomas (7-10-17) has six points (4 goals, 2 assists) and a +3 rating in his last six games.
Sunday, February 16 – 2:05 p.m. – Blue Cross Arena – Rochester, NY
@ Rochester Americans (23-17-3-3, 52 pts.)
Second Place, North Division
Team Notes: The Rochester Americans are second place in the North Division and currently hold a three point lead for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. In their last 10 games, the Americans have gone 8-2-0-0. After losing to the Stars 4-1 on January 15th, the Americans won their next seven straight, including five on the road, and outscored their opponents 28-10 over that span. When leading after two periods Rochester has not lost a game in regulation this season (17-0-0-1). The Americans’ power-play is ranked 13th overall (18.2%) in the AHL, while their penalty-kill ranks 24th (79.5%). Linus Omark, who was acquired from the Edmonton Oilers on December 19, 2013, played 14 games for the Buffalo Sabres before being sent down to Rochester on February 8th, just prior to the NHL roster freeze. Against teams in their own division Rochester boasts the best record in the AHL at 16-4-2-2 (0.750); the Americans are 8-13-1-1 (0.391) against teams outside the North division.
Leading Scorer: Luke Adam (C) – 34 points (20 goals, 14 assists) and a +13 rating in 32 GP.
Leading Goaltender: Nathan Lieuwen (G) – 2.37 GAA, 0.924 save pct., 10-7-1 and 2 SO in 20 GP.
Who’s Hot: C Luke Adam (20-14-34) leads the team in goals and points and has 11 points (5 goals, 6 assists) and a +7 rating in his last 10 games. C Johan Larsson (6-17-23) has 13 points (3 goals, 10 assists) and a +8 rating in his last 10 games. RW Jamie Tardif (13-14-17) is third on the team in points and has eight points (5 goals, 3 assists) and a +1 rating in his last 10 games.
Week 19 Game Results:
February 4, 2014 Oklahoma City 5 @ Texas 2
February 8, 2014 Texas 2 @ Abbotsford 3 – SO
February 9, 2014 Texas 7 @ Abbotsford 2
Stars Player of the Week: (Week 19)
Justin Dowling – C – #10 3 GP, 4 points (0 G, 4 A), Even, 0 PIMs
Center Justin Dowling has shaken off a slow start to the season and is now really starting to heat up. The Cochrane, Alberta native, who has 30 points (16 goals, 14 assists) in 38 games for the Stars last season, began 2013-14 with just seven points in his first 23 games. Since the beginning of the 2014 calendar year, Dowling has ignited, posting 13 points (3 goals, 10 assists) and a +7 rating in 14 games played. In Week 19, he had assists in all three games, extending his current assist streak to six games (8 assists). Dowling had an assist on Tuesday night in a 5-2 home loss to the Oklahoma City Barons, had another assist on Saturday night in a 3-2 shootout loss at Abbotsford, then set up two power play goals on Sunday afternoon in a 7-2 blowout of the Heat. For the season, Dowling has 25 points (5 goals, 20 assists) and a +6 rating in 48 games for Texas.
Stars Quick Hits:
· ANOTHER RECORD FALLS – Center Travis Morin, who leads the AHL in points, broke his own single-season franchise point record last Saturday at Abbotsford. Morin had an assist in the game, giving him 67 points on the season, breaking his own record that he set during the 2011-12 season. Morin has 68 points (27 goals, 41 assists) in 44 games played this year.
· A CAREER FIRST – Right wing Scott Glennie scored the first shorthanded goal of his professional career on Sunday at Abbotsford. The goal, which was the eventual game-winner, was part of a two-goal effort for the Winnipeg, Manitoba native, which was his third career multi-goal game and first since January 13, 2012 at Grand Rapids. Glennie is in his third full pro season and has 68 points (25 goals, 43 assists) in 138 career games (137 AHL and 1 NHL).
· LEAGUE-LEADING ASSISTANCE – Center Justin Dowling is currently on a six-game assist streak, which is the longest active assist streak in the AHL. Dowling has eight assists and a +2 rating over that span. The streak ties Travis Morin for the longest assist streak by a Texas skater this season and is one game shy of the franchise record (7), which is shared by four players: Ray Sawada (2010-11), Greg Rallo (2010-11), Matt Fraser (2012-13) and Reilly Smith (2012-13).
· ON THE CUSP – Right wing Colton Sceviour is just one goal away from becoming the second player in Texas Stars history to reach the 30-goal mark in one season. Matt Fraser did it in back-to-back years and holds the Stars’ single-season goals record (37). Sceviour, who leads the AHL in goals (29), scored two on Sunday at Abbotsford to pull himself within eight goals of the team record.
· MORE SCEVIOUR MAGIC – All-Star forward Colton Sceviour had three points (2 goals, 1 assist) on Sunday at Abbotsford, tying his career-best for points (53), which he set during the 2011-12 season. Sceviour currently leads the AHL in game-winning goals (6) and is just one game-winner away from tying the Texas Stars single-season record (7), which was set by Greg Rallo during the 2010-11 campaign.
· SIX-GOAL SENSATION – The Texas Stars tied a franchise record by scoring six goals during the second period of last Sunday’s 7-2 demolition of the Abbotsford Heat. It was the third time in team history that the Stars had scored six goals in one period. It was the second time this season that Texas has put a “6” on the board in a single frame, coincidentally, both came against Abbotsford, with the first coming on October 20th at Cedar Park Center in a 9-3 romp over the Heat.
· RUNAWAY TOP FIVE – The Texas Stars top five scorers: Travis Morin (68), Colton Sceviour (53), Chris Muller (45), Curtis McKenzie (45) and Mike Hedden (38) have combined for 249 points so for this season. That absolutely blows away any other AHL team’s top five scores. Binghamton ranks second (200), a whopping 49 points lower, while Toronto is third (192) and Abbotsford (184) is fourth.
· NOT HIS FIRST, BUT IT’S BEEN A WHILE – Defenseman Hubert Labrie scored his third career AHL goal, his first of the 2013-14 season, during the Stars’ 3-2 shootout loss to the Abbotsford Heat on Saturday at Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre. It was Labrie’s first AHL goal since December 21, 2011 at Houston, when he scored a second period goal on Aeros’ goalie Matt Hackett, sparking Texas to a 3-2 comeback victory. Labrie has 9 points (3 goals, 6 assists) and 99 penalty minutes in 89 career AHL games, all with the Stars.
· APPROACHING STARS MILESTONES – D Maxime Fortunus is 2 assists away from his 150th career AHL assist and 7 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 3 points shy of his 200th career pro point and 2 assists shy of his 100th career AHL assist. RW Colton Sceviour is 3 GP away from recording his 350th career pro game and 1 goal away from his 100th career pro goal. C Travis Morin is 5 assists from his 300th career pro assist. D Cameron Gaunce is 2 GP shy of his 250th career AHL game. LW Mike Hedden is 7 points away from his 200th career pro point and 15 GP away from his 200th career AHL game.
Stars Week 19 Transactions:
February 6 – ADD – Dustin Jeffrey (C) – Returned on loan from Dallas (NHL).
February 5 – DELETE – Brock Montgomery (RW) – Returned on loan to Idaho (ECHL).
Texas Stars Team Leaders:
Games Played: Mike Hedden & Curtis McKenzie (49)
Goals: Colton Sceviour (29)
Assists: Travis Morin (41)
Points: Travis Morin (68)
Plus/Minus: Travis Morin & Colton Sceviour (+12)
Penalty Minutes: Curtis McKenzie (66)
Power Play Goals: Chris Mueller (12)
Short Handed Goals: Seven Tied (1)
Game-Winning Goals: Colton Sceviour (6)
Shots: Colton Sceviour (191)
Shooting Percentage: Scott Glennie (19.0%)
Saves: Cristopher Nilstorp (802)
Wins: Cristopher Nilstorp (16)
GAA: Jack Campbell (1.40)
Save Percentage: Jack Campbell (0.947)
Shutouts: Cristopher Nilstorp (2)
Following the AHL All-Star Break the Texas Stars will return to action on Saturday, February 15th at 6:00 p.m. CT against the Hamilton Bulldogs at FirstOntario Centre. The Stars will return to Cedar Park Center on Friday, February 21st as they host the Charlotte Checkers at 7:30 p.m. The February 21st home 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.