Texas Stars Weekly Update - Mar. 27, 2017
Mar 27, 2017
Stars Close Out Homestand Tuesday before Hitting the Road
Last week’s record: 2-1-0-0
Overall record: 30-31-1-4
CEDAR PARK, Texas – The Texas Stars will close out their four-game homestand on Tuesday against the Stockton Heat before visiting the Midwest this weekend for three games in three nights.
-- THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE --
March 28 at 7:30 p.m. CST vs. Stockton Heat:
The Texas Stars and Stockton Heat meet for the season series finale, and the last of three straight games, against one another. The Heat and the Stars split the previous two meetings of their current three-game set, with Stockton taking the first game 5-4 and Texas taking the second game 5-4 in a six-round shootout. Gemel Smith tallied three assists and scored the shootout-winner on Saturday in the Texas win. The Heat’s Linden Vey leads all skaters in the series with seven points (2-5=7).
March 31 at 7:00 p.m. CST vs. Rockford IceHogs:
The Texas Stars and Rockford IceHogs meet for the final time of the 2016-17 regular season on Friday to begin a three-in-three stretch. Texas has earned points in the three prior meetings against the IceHogs, posting a 2-0-0-1 record. Stars forward Mark McNeill returns to face his former team after being acquired by Texas at the NHL’s Trade Deadline. Brandon DeFazio leads all skaters in the series with four points (2-2=4) for the Stars.
April 1 at 6:00 p.m. CST and April 2 at 3:00 p.m. CST vs. Milwaukee Admirals:
The Texas Stars and Milwaukee Admirals square off for the third and fourth times to close out their regular season series. The Admirals won both prior matchups against the Stars in Cedar Park and are currently third in the Central Division while trying to catch the Chicago Wolves for second. Milwaukee netminder Marek Mazanec has posted a 2.00 GAA and a .940 SV% in two games against Texas this season.
-- LAST WEEK’S RESULTS --
March 22 vs. Tucson Roadrunners, 4-3 Win:
The Tucson Roadrunners rallied in the third to force overtime, but Matej Stransky stuffed home the game-winner to give the Texas Stars a 4-3 win at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park. Stransky's goal was his fifth game-winner and his 21st overall to lead the Stars in both categories this season. Justin Peters stopped 26 of 29 shots in net to improve to 3-0 over his former club, and Brandon DeFazio tallied two assists in the Texas win.
March 24 vs. Stockton Heat, 5-4 Loss:
Ethan Werek's two goals, and a 4-1 lead late in the second, were not enough as the Stockton Heat pulled off a 5-4 comeback win over the Texas Stars at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park. The Heat added two goals in the final four minutes of the second, and two more in the third, to overtake Texas in the win. Dillon Heatherington also scored his first goal as a Star. Morgan Klimchuck was credited with the game-winner for Stockton.
March 25 vs. Stockton Heat, 5-4 Win:
Gemel Smith ended things in the sixth round of a shootout to give the Texas Stars a 5-4 win over the Stockton Heat at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park. Travis Morin’s third-round goal in the shootout extended the night for the Stars to pick up the win just 24 hours after they lost to the Heat by the same score. Smith finished with three assists in the game along with the deciding goal. Mike McMurtry and Matt Mangene each tallied a goal and an assist in the win, and Texas snapped a four-game losing skid to Stockton in the marathon battle.
-- NEWS, NOTES AND UPCOMING MILESTONES --
Gemel Smith’s three-assist game on Saturday was a career high for the Texas forward. Texas is currently second in the AHL overall with 13 shorthanded goals this season. Six of the Stars’ final 10 games this season will be played on the road. Jason Dickinson was recalled to the NHL’s Dallas Stars on Saturday. Saturday’s game against Stockton was the 200th in Julius Honka’s professional career.
-- UPCOMING PROMOTIONS --
Tuesday’s game against Stockton is an H-E-B Night with the Stars. Fans can donate an H-E-B-branded, non-perishable food item at the box office for $5 off their ticket purchase.
After their weekend on the road, the Stars return home on Wednesday, April 5, to host the Bakersfield Condors at 7:30 p.m. on the final Winning Wednesday game of the season. If the Stars win, fans can redeem their ticket stub for a free ticket to the team’s next Wednesday home game on April 12 against the San Antonio Rampage.
The Texas Stars are the primary development affiliate of the NHL’s Dallas Stars, and are currently playing 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.