Gameday Preview: Stars v. Hershey Bears, Game 4

Texas Stars
46-27-3-4, 99 pts
#2 West Division
v.Hershey Bears
60-17-0-3, 123 pts
#1 East Division
Stars lead 2-1

June 9th at 7:30 PM
Cedar Park Center, Cedar Park, TX


With Hershey's win on Monday, the Stars still have a chance to close out the series on home ice and win their first playoff series in Texas in history. The Stars will need a solid 60 minute effort tonight to do that though. After 20 minutes, the elation in the CPC was palpable and talks of sweep abounded. As the Stars were quick to point out though, you couldn't have expected the Bears to simply roll over.

A lot was made of the nasty travel schedule that the Stars had for the ride back to Texas. From Hershey, the Stars bussed to Philadelphia and then flew commercial to Austin with one stop in between. The Bears, meanwhile, flew charter on "Bear Force One". Stars Coach Glen Gulutzan feels that Texas will benefit from recovering at home over the past 48 hours.

It is unclear if Texas can simply play the same game that they did during the first 20 minutes on Monday and still be successful. The Bears now have a certain confidence that they lacked during the first period on Monday. Frustration mounted for the Bears in the game, who gave Texas seven power play opportunities in the game. Texas was only able to score on the first PP.

The surely packed house will be wiating with bated breath every time the puck hits the stick of Jamie Benn. Benn, who has yet to have his breakout game for the series, is due for a goal or two.

Stars injury/call up report:
Krahn (concussion, day-to-day)

Andrew Hutchinson did not play the last half of the third period after a knee-on-knee collision with Steve Pinizzotto of the Bears. No word on his status for tonight's game. Hutchinson was on the ice for morning skate. If he is unavailable for any reason, Trevor Ludwig would likely slide into the lineup paired with Stafford while Fortunus would pair with Graham.

Website: hersheybears.com
Twitter: @TheHersheyBears
Twitter (play-by-play): @jwaltonhockey
Blog (unofficial): Hershey Bears Hockey
Blog (unofficial): Stack the Pads

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