Texas Stars Weekly Release
Nov 3, 2014
CEDAR PARK, Texas – The Texas Stars, American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL’s Dallas Stars, return home on Wednesday for a rematch of last season’s Western Conference Final against Toronto before continuing their stretch of seven road contests in eight games this weekend in Charlotte.
Last week’s record: 1-1-1-0, 3 pts.
Overall record: 4-2-2-0, 10 pts. (T-1st, West Division)
-- THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE --
Nov. 5 vs. Toronto Marlies, 7:30 p.m. CST:
The Stars and Marlies hook up for the first of four total meetings this season on Wednesday in a rematch of last year’s Western Conference Final, which the Stars won in seven games. Toronto is currently 4-4-0-0 on the season and led by first-year forward Connor Brown, who leads the team with six points overall (two goals, four assists). Last season, the Stars went 2-1-0-1 against the Marlies head-to-head. Maxime Fortunus led all skaters with five points (three goals, two assists) in the season series.
Nov. 8 at Charlotte Checkers, 6 p.m. CST:
Saturday the Stars hit the road again to visit Charlotte for the first of eight total meetings this season. Charlotte is currently 3-6-0-0 on the year and led by Greg Nemisz, who has tallied four goals and two assists on the year for six points. Last year, the Stars won the regular season series going 5-3-0-0 against the Checkers. Curtis McKenzie led all skaters in the series with 12 points (two goals, eight assists) in eight games.
Broadcast Info: TexasStarsHockey.com, Texas Stars Mobile App, and AHLlive.com
-- LAST WEEK’S RESULTS --
Oct. 29 vs. Oklahoma City, 5-4 (OT) Win:
Curtis McKenzie scored a power play goal late in the third to tie the game, and Justin Dowling added the overtime-winner 42 seconds into the extra frame in the Stars 5-4 win over the Barons. Five different players scored for Texas and Jack Campbell stopped 24 shots for his second win of the season.
Oct. 31 at Lake Erie Monsters, 5-2 Loss:
The Lake Erie Monsters scored four unanswered goals through the first two periods before Maxime Fortunus and Derek Meech each found the scoresheet for the Stars. Down 4-2, late in the third, Texas opted for the extra attacker, but Kenny Ryan scored an empty-net goal for Lake Erie.
Nov. 1 at Lake Erie Monsters, 4-3 (OT) Loss:
The Monsters jumped out to an early lead again with two goals in the opening five minutes of the game. John Klingberg brought the deficit to one late in the first, and Brendan Ranford made it a 3-2 deficit midway through the second. Brett Ritchie forced overtime for the Stars, knotting the game at 3-3 with 21 seconds left in regulation, but Michael Schumacher scored in the extra frame for Lake Erie.
-- PRACTICE/TRAVEL SCHEDULE --
Monday: Practice, 10 a.m.
Tuesday: Practice, 10 a.m.
Wednesday: Texas Stars vs. Toronto Marlies, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday: Practice, 10 a.m. (at Chaparral Ice Center, 2525 West Anderson Lane)
Friday: Travel Day
Saturday: Texas Stars at Charlotte Checkers, 6 p.m.
Sunday: Off day in Charlotte, N.C.
**All times Central (CST)
-- NEWS, NOTES AND UPCOMING MILESTONES --
John Klingberg is second overall in the AHL among rookies, and leads all rookie defensemen, with nine points (three goals, six assists) this season.
Defensemen John Klingberg and Derek Meech each hit milestones on Nov. 1 against Lake Erie. Klingberg scored his 50th professional point and Meech appeared in his 400th career AHL game.
Valeri Nichushkin was recalled by the NHL’s Dallas Stars on Sunday from his conditioning assignment with Texas. He appeared in both of the club’s games against Lake Erie.
Justin Dowling is one game shy of 150 in his AHL career, and Cameron Gaunce is one game shy of 300 in his professional career.
Texas assigned forward Brandon Troock to the ECHL’s Idaho Steelheads last Friday.
-- UPCOMING PROMOTIONS --
Wednesday night against Toronto will be another Winning Wednesday promotion. If the Stars win the game, fans in attendance will receive a ticket to the next Wednesday home game for the team on Nov. 26 against the Oklahoma City Barons.
Wednesday’s game is also an H-E-B Night. Fans can receive five dollars off their ticket purchase by donating any H-E-B branded, non-perishable food item at the Cedar Park Center box office.
The Wednesday game will also feature the Raising Cane’s Challenge. If the Stars score at least three goals, fans attending will receive a Buy One, Get One free offer good at the Raising Cane’s Cedar Park and Georgetown locations.
The Texas Stars are the AHL’s defending Calder Cup Champions for the 2014-15 season. Single-game tickets and season ticket packages for the 2014-15 campaign are on sale now. For more information, call (512) GO-STARS (467-8277) or visit TexasStarsHockey.com.
Photo credit: John Saraya/Lake Erie Monsters