Heading Out West: Texas Stars

The Texas Stars are looking to continue their fifth season where they ended their fourth season. The AHL affiliate of the Dallas Stars finished the 2012-2013 season at the top of the Western Conference. They made it to the second round of the playoffs, losing to the Oklahoma City Barons.

For their fifth season, Texas kicked things off with two home games on Saturday, October 5th and Sunday, October 6th. On Saturday, they hosted the Chicago Wolves. The first goal of the season, and the game, came from Colton Sceviour who is returning for his fifth season in the Dallas organization, most of which he has spent with Texas. The Stars went on to win 4-1. The second goal came from Maxime Fortunas, also back for his fifth season on the team and second as captain. Returning center Travis Morin scored the other two goals and had assists on the first two, taking part in every goal.

For their second game, Texas hosted the Rockford IceHogs. Despite putting up an impressive 44 shots, the Stars fell 4-3. The Stars opened up the scoring in the game with Morin finding the back of the net for his third tally of the season. Second year forward Curtis McKenzie added his first of the season. The IceHogs went on to score the next three goals. Mike Hedden tied up the game for Texas. But, Rockford pulled ahead again towards the end of the second and neither team was able to score in the final frame.

In an unusual scheduling situation, the Texas Stars did not have another game for over a week. The next game was Tuesday, October 15th when they visited the Oklahoma City Barons. Unfortunately, the Stars found themselves not quite getting the start they hoped for as they lost 2-1. Sceviour scored his second of the season early in the third to force overtime, but the Barons won it just 32 seconds into OT.

Texas looks to bounce back tonight as they visit the San Antonio Rampage. Following tonight’s game, they head back home. Saturday they will play the Rampage again, this time on their own home turf. Sunday, they host the Abbotsford Heat and Wednesday, they host the Barons for the second time of the season, but the first time at home. Over those four games, the Stars look to start to stringing together wins to get back to the top of their division.

For the upcoming games, Texas will still be without goaltender Jack Campbell. He was recalled to Dallas when Kari Lehtonen was put on injured reserved after suffering a lower back injury. Additionally, Texas announced earlier this week that they were sending Ryan Button, Taylor Vause, and Hubert Labrie to the Idaho Steelheads, their ECHL affiliate. Vause was the only one who had already appeared in games, going pointless in his first two games. To add to their roster, Dallas assigned Aaron Rome and Chris Mueller to their AHL affiliate. Rome was reactivated off the injured reserve and assigned to Texas for a conditioning assignment. Mueller signed with Dallas in the offseason skated in the opening night game for Dallas before being sent down earlier in the week.