Texas Stars Weekly Update - Apr. 11, 2016
Apr 11, 2016
Stars Close Out Regular Season after Punching Playoff Ticket
Last week’s record: 1-1-0-0
Overall record: 39-25-7-3, .595 Win Pct. (3rd, Pacific Division)
CEDAR PARK, Texas – The Texas Stars qualified for the Calder Cup Playoffs over the weekend for the sixth time in seven years, and now prepare to close out the regular season with a pair of home games this week.
-- THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE --
April 13 vs. San Antonio Rampage, 7:30 p.m. CST:
The Stars and the Rampage face off for the 14th and final time this season to close out the I-35 Rivalry. Texas is 7-5-1-0 against the Rampage this season. Travis Morin of the Stars, Joey Hishon and Mikko Rantanen of San Antonio each have 16 points in the season series. The Rampage have been eliminated from playoff contention, but boast the AHL’s top rookie scorer in Rantanen with 59 points (23-36=59).
April 16 vs. Manitoba Moose, 7 p.m. CST:
The Stars close out the 2015-16 regular season on Saturday against the Moose for their annual Fan Appreciation Game. The Stars are 3-0 against the Moose this season. Two of the three prior meetings have been decided by just a goal, including one in a shootout. Jason Dickinson has six points (4-2=6) in three head-to-head matchups against Manitoba this season to lead the Stars.
-- LAST WEEK’S RESULTS --
April 8 vs. San Jose Barracuda, 3-0 Loss:
The Texas Stars put together a lopsided shot count, but Aaron Dell’s 33 saves led the San Jose Barracuda to a 3-0 shutout win on Friday night in front of 6,458 in attendance at Cedar Park Center. Texas outshot the Barracuda, 33-19, but suffered only their third shutout loss this season. San Jose stayed alive in the hunt for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference with the win.
April 9 vs. San Jose Barracuda, 8-5 Win:
The Texas Stars rallied from a 5-2 deficit behind the offense of Jason Dickinson, Justin Dowling and Matej Stransky to earn a playoff berth with an 8-5 win over the San Jose Barracuda in front of a sold out crowd at Cedar Park Center. All three players finished with two goals for Texas, who recorded their highest offensive output of the season with eight goals just 24 hours after being shut out by the Barracuda. The Stars and Barracuda split their six-game season series with three wins each.
-- PRACTICE/TRAVEL SCHEDULE --
Monday: Practice, 10 a.m. CST
Tuesday: Practice, 10 a.m. CST
Wednesday: Texas Stars vs. San Antonio Rampage, 7:30 p.m. CST
Thursday: TBD
Friday: Practice, 10 a.m. CST
Saturday: Texas Stars vs. Manitoba Moose, 7 p.m. CST
Sunday: Day Off
-- NEWS, NOTES AND UPCOMING MILESTONES –
The Stars first-round opponent in the Calder Cup Playoffs will be the San Diego Gulls. Which team earns home-ice advantage for the series and game dates have yet to be determined. The Stars eight goals on Saturday against San Jose were one short of the franchise record of nine goals in a game, set in the 2013-14 season against the Abbotsford Heat. Julius Honka has points in six of his last seven games for the Stars. For the second time in his last five games, Justin Dowling tallied a four-point night on Saturday with two goals and two assists against San Jose.
-- UPCOMING PROMOTIONS --
Wednesday’s game against the San Antonio Rampage is an H-E-B Night and a Winning Wednesday. Fans can donate an H-E-B-branded, non-perishable food item at the box office for a $5 discount off their ticket purchase. If the Stars win, all ticket holders receive a free ticket to the first home playoff game.
Saturday’s game is Fan Appreciation Night with the Texas Stars. Prizes, autographed items and more will be given away to various lucky seats and rows throughout Cedar Park Center as the Stars thank their fans for their support this season. The game will also feature a Stars Tote Bag Giveaway, and post-game open ice where fans can walk or skate on the Cedar Park Center ice after the game.
Saturday is also a Texas Lottery Lucky Row Night and features Coke Zero Family Four-Packs. The first Stars player to score will win free scratch-off tickets for a lucky row of fans at Cedar Park Center, courtesy of the Texas Lottery, and fans can also purchase four tickets, four hot dogs and four soft drinks starting at $16 per person, courtesy of Coke Zero.
The Texas Stars are the primary development affiliate of the NHL’s Dallas Stars and currently in their seventh season at Cedar Park Center. Full season, 24-game and 12-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.