Texas Stars Weekly Update
Feb 23, 2015
CEDAR PARK, Texas – The Texas Stars end their season-long six-game road trip on Tuesday in their final matchup ever against Oklahoma City, then return home this weekend to start a seven-game homestand.
Last week’s record: 2-1-0-0
Overall record: 25-17-10-1, 61 pts. (3rd, West Division. 7th, Western Conference)
-- THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE --
Feb. 24 at Oklahoma City Barons, 7 p.m. CST:
Tuesday will be the last regular season matchup ever between the Texas Stars and Oklahoma City Barons as the Barons will relocate to Bakersfield, Cali. next year to join the AHL’s new Pacific Division. Texas holds a 5-3-3-0 record against their division rivals this season, and Oklahoma City enters the game with the Western Conference’s best record at 32-14-3-3. Texas is surging right now, going 7-2-0-1 in their last 10 games. Six of the previous 11 meetings have been decided by a goal.
Feb. 27 at 7:30 p.m. CST and Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. CST vs. Rockford IceHogs:
Texas and Rockford hook up for the second and third overall meetings this year, and their first matchup since Nov. 16, when the IceHogs topped the Stars in a 3-2 final. TJ Brennan (36 points) is the IceHogs’ leading scorer this season. Rockford currently sits fifth in the AHL’s Western Conference, five points ahead of the seventh-place Stars. Both games highlight Texas’ fifth annual Pink in the Rink weekend to raise money and awareness in the fight against breast cancer.
Broadcast Info: TexasStarsHockey.com, Texas Stars Mobile App, and AHLlive.com
-- LAST WEEK’S RESULTS --
Feb. 18 at Utica Comets, 5-2 Loss:
A pair of power play goals by the Utica Comets was the difference on Wednesday night as the Texas Stars’ three-game winning streak came to an end in a 5-2 loss at Utica Memorial Auditorium. Former Star Dustin Jeffrey struck late in the first period to give Utica a 2-1 lead on the power play, and Brendan Gaunce also scored on the man-advantage midway through the second to extend it to a three-goal cushion and pull the Comets away for good in the Texas loss. It was the first time in 15 road games the Stars had given up a power play goal, as they entered the game as the AHL's top penalty killing team away from home.
Feb. 20 at Rochester Americans, 5-2 Win:
A hat trick performance by Justin Dowling sparked the Texas Stars to a 5-2 road win on Friday night over the Rochester Americans at Blue Cross Arena. Travis Morin (two assists) and Scott Glennie (goal, assist) also tallied multi-point nights for the Stars along with Dowling. Jussi Rynnas turned aside 30 of 32 shots for his 17th win of the season.
Feb. 21 at Toronto Marlies, 3-1 Win:
Two goals in the opening minutes of the third period, and another strong performance in net by Jussi Rynnas, propelled the Texas Stars to a 3-1 win over the Toronto Marlies in the regular season finale between the two clubs on Saturday afternoon. Scott Glennie and Eric Faille each scored in the opening 4:29 of the third to open up a 3-0 lead for the Stars. Faille's goal was the first of his AHL career, and came after he was initially credited with the Stars' opening goal, but credit was changed to Kevin Henderson. Rynnas stopped 31 of 32 shots for his 18th win of year, and was less than two minutes away from his fifth shutout of the season before Toronto scored their lone goal with 1:37 remaining.
-- PRACTICE/TRAVEL SCHEDULE --
Monday: Practice in Oklahoma City, Okla.
Tuesday: Texas Stars at Oklahoma City Barons, 7 p.m. CST
Wednesday: Day off
Thursday: Practice, TBD
Friday: Texas Stars vs. Rockford IceHogs, 7:30 p.m. CST
Saturday: Texas Stars vs. Rockford IceHogs, 7 p.m. CST
Sunday: Day off
-- NEWS, NOTES AND UPCOMING MILESTONES –
Brendan Ranford made his NHL debut for the Dallas Stars on Feb. 19, against the San Jose Sharks, and was reassigned back to Texas on Feb. 22. Last season’s Calder Cup hero, Patrik Nemeth, was assigned to Texas on Feb. 19, and has appeared in two games so far for the Stars. Jussi Rynnas has improved his record to 5-1-0 over his last six games, giving up two goals or less in five of those matchups. Justin Dowling’s hat trick on Friday was the fourth hat trick this season for the Stars. Travis Morin, Derek Hulak, and Brett Ritchie scored the other three. The Stars have been perfect on the penalty kill in 17 of their last 18 road games, and hold the AHL’s best penalty killing percentage on the road at 91.3%.
-- UPCOMING PROMOTIONS --
The Stars return home on Friday for their fifth annual Pink in the Rink celebration, presented by Cedar Park Regional Medical Center. The team has partnered up again with the Breast Cancer Resource Centers of Texas for the event, as the Stars will wear specialty pink-themed jerseys when they host the Rockford IceHogs on Friday, Feb. 27, at 7:30 p.m. CST and Saturday, Feb. 28, at 7 p.m. CST 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 BCRC through the game-worn jersey silent auction and a Chuck-a-Puck contest during the second intermission of both games. Additionally, a portion of money from tickets sold through BCRC will benefit the organization. Last year’s Pink in the Rink Weekend raised $21,000 to support local women diagnosed with breast cancer – the largest donation by the Texas Stars Foundation in its history.
The Texas Stars entered the 2014-15 season as the AHL’s defending Calder Cup Champions. 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.