The Texas Stars went 2-0-1-0 over the past week. The Stars have won nine of their last 13 games (9-2-2-0) and are now 12-8-2-1 on the season. Through Monday, they sit in sixth place in the AHL’s Western Conference and in third place in the South Division.
Wednesday December 5, Texas at Milwaukee: Stars 2, Admirals 1 (OT)
The Stars wrapped up a six-game road trip with a 2-1 overtime win in Milwaukee on Wednesday. The Stars, who won five of six on the trip (5-1-0-0), surrendered the first goal in each of the six games, but were able to still pick up 10 of a possible 12 points.
On Wednesday, the Stars trailed 1-0 after two periods, but Cody Eakin’s power play goal with 6:25 remaining in the third tied it and then Colton Sceviour won the game with a goal 1:56 into overtime.
Cristopher Nilstorp stopped 24 of 25 shots in goal.
Friday December 7, Houston at Texas: Aeros 2, Stars 1 (OT)
The Stars returned home from their road trip to take on the Houston Aeros at Cedar Park Center Friday night. The Stars fell behind 1-0 in the first period, and the score stayed that way until late in the third, when Brenden Dillon’s goal with 6:36 remaining tied the game at 1-1.
The Stars couldn’t get the extra point this time, as Houston’s Jason Zucker scored 3:07 into overtime to give the Aeros a 2-1 victory.
“It’s good to get the point,” said Texas coach Willie Desjardins. “Houston is a good team. It’s always tough to come off the road and play well. I thought we played a real good game. We had chances to win. But Houston is just a good team.”
Nilstorp stopped 18 of 20 shots for the Stars.
Saturday December 8, Peoria at Texas: Stars 4, Rivermen 1
The Stars and Rivermen played a physical, hard-hitting contest that featured three fights in the first six minutes of the game.
Peoria scored first, but 36 seconds later Reilly Smith scored to tie the game at 1-1. Matt Fraser scored twice in the second period to give Texas a 3-1 lead, and then Smith added his second goal of the night in the third period to make it a 4-1 final.
“They tried to play a physical game and take over the game that way. We had a lot of guys that really stood up and really turned the game around for us,” said Smith. “I think that really was the catalyst in us turning the game around early.”
Nilstorp, who overcame a spear by Peoria’s Anthony Peluso late in the second period, stopped 23 of 24 shots for Texas.
Injury notes
*Forward Scott Glennie missed Saturday’s game with a hand injury. Coach Willie Desjardins said Glennie could be out a “little bit.”
*Forward Alex Chiasson left Saturday’s game and did not return after blocking a shot. The status of Chiasson, who had to be helped off the ice and wasn’t putting any weight on his right left, is still up in the air. (Update: According to Hundred Degree Hockey, Chiasson appeared fine in Tuesday’s practice.)
Statistical notes
*Over their last 13 games, the Stars have allowed 2.15 goals per game (excluding goals awarded for a shootout win). In their first 10 games of the season, they allowed 3.40 goals per game.
*In their first nine games of the season, the Stars averaged 1.67 goals per game (excluding goals awarded for a shootout win). In their last 14 games, the Stars have averaged 2.86 goals per game.
*The Stars are 12-59 (20.3 percent) on the power play over their last 14 games.
*The Stars have allowed power play goals in only four of their last 14 games. They are 54-61 (88.5 percent) on the penalty kill during that stretch.
*In his last 11 starts, Cristopher Nilstorp has a 7-3-0 record with a 1.77 goals against average and .933 save percentage.
*Nilstorp ranks seventh in the AHL in goals against average (2.25), is tied for fifth in shutouts (2) and leads the league in shootout save percentage (.895).
*Forward Matt Fraser has scored nine goals in his last 17 games.
*Forward Reilly Smith has scored five goals in his last seven games.
*Jamie Oleksiak is tied for seventh in scoring among rookie defenseman with 10 points (1 goal, 9 assists).
*Oleksiak is tied for the lead among all rookies with two shorthanded assists.
Idaho Steelheads
The Idaho Steelheads went 2-0-1-0 over the past week to run their points streak to six games (5-0-1-0). The Steelheads are 16-5-1-2 on the season, and rank third in the ECHL’s Western Conference.
Forward Austin Smith scored five goals and chipped in one assist in three games over the past week, and ran his points streak to nine games. Smith has 15 points (11 goals, 4 assists) during the streak. He has 20 points (14 goals, 6 assists) in 15 games with the Steelheads this season
Goalie Tyler Beskorowany has won his last two starts for Idaho, stopping 57 of 60 shots. Beskorowany is is 6-5-1 on the season with a 2.89 goals against average and .903 save percentage.
Texas Stars Statistics
*Indicates player under contract to Texas Stars. x-Indicates not currently on roster
| No. | PLAYER | POS | GP | G | A | PTS | +/- | PIM | PP | SH | SOG | S% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | Cody Eakin | C | 23 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 6 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 54 | 13.0 |
| 23 | Travis Morin | C | 23 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 6 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 46 | 8.7 |
| 7 | Colton Sceviour | RW | 16 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 44 | 13.6 |
| 25 | Matt Fraser | LW | 23 | 9 | 3 | 12 | 3 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 64 | 14.1 |
| 17 | Tomas Vincour | RW | 23 | 3 | 9 | 12 | -1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 6.3 |
| 28 | Reilly Smith | RW | 23 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 1 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 55 | 9.1 |
| 8 | Jordie Benn | D | 20 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 3 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 50 | 8.0 |
| 6 | Jamie Oleksiak | D | 23 | 1 | 9 | 10 | -1 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 3.7 |
| 38 | Francis Wathier | C | 23 | 0 | 9 | 9 | -2 | 37 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 0.0 |
| 22 | Cam Barker* | D | 22 | 3 | 5 | 8 | -5 | 24 | 1 | 0 | 64 | 4.7 |
| 27 | Antoine Roussel | LW | 23 | 4 | 3 | 7 | -5 | 77 | 1 | 1 | 27 | 14.8 |
| 4 | Brenden Dillon | D | 23 | 2 | 5 | 7 | -2 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 5.6 |
| 18 | Maxime Fortunus | D | 23 | 1 | 5 | 6 | -3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 3.6 |
| 29 | Alex-Chiasson | RW | 19 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 13.6 |
| 19 | Toby Petersen | C | 23 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 3.3 |
| 15 | Scott Glennie | C | 13 | 2 | 1 | 3 | -1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 28.6 |
| 26 | Mike Hedden* | LW | 10 | 0 | 3 | 3 | -2 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0.0 |
| 12 | Patrik Nemeth | D | 19 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0.0 |
| 5 | Tyler Sloan | D | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0.0 |
| 41 | Cristopher Nilstorp | G | 17 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 34 | Luke Gazdic | LW | 19 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -4 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0.0 |
| 14 | x-Hubert Labrie | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 |
| 9 | x-Austin Smith | RW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 |
| 40 | x-Mathieu Tousignant | C | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 |
| 13 | Taylor Vause* | C | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0.0 |
| 1 | Jack Campbell | G | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| No. | GOALIE | GP | MINS | W | L | SOL | SO | GA | GAA | SA | SVS | SV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | Cristopher Nilstorp | 17 | 931:53 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 35 | 2.25 | 392 | 357 | 0.911 |
| 1 | Jack Campbell | 10 | 466:11 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 3.35 | 223 | 197 | 0.883 |
Idaho Steelheads Statistics
Stats of Dallas players in Idaho
| No. | PLAYER | POS | GP | G | A | PTS | +/- | PIM | PP | SHG | SOG | S% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | Austin Smith | F | 15 | 14 | 6 | 20 | +14 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 54 | 25.9 |
| 81 | Tristan King | F | 16 | 8 | 6 | 14 | -1 | 17 | 4 | 0 | 40 | 20.0 |
| 5 | Jace Coyle | D | 16 | 1 | 10 | 11 | +3 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 3.4 |
| 88 | Mathieu Tousignant | F | 15 | 2 | 8 | 10 | +3 | 51 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 5.9 |
| 55 | Hubert Labrie | D | 19 | 1 | 2 | 3 | +7 | 42 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 5.3 |
| No. | GOALIE | GP | MINS | W | L | SOL | SO | GA | GAA | SA | SVS | SV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | Tyler Beskorowany | 12 | 728 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 2.89 | 362 | 327 | .903 |
