Gameday Preview: Stars v. Lake Erie Monsters

Texas Stars
2-1-0-0, 4 pts
#6 West Division
v.Lake Erie Monsters
2-3-0-1, 5 pts
#6 North Division
October 22nd at 7:30 PM
Cedar Park Center, Cedar Park, TX

The Lake Erie Monsters (Colorado Avalanche) come to town for the first time this year. For the Monsters, it is their 7th game of the year. For the Stars, this will only be their 4th tilt of the new season. Texas has lain dormant on the weekdays for much of the past two weeks, which will certainly have a payback in the second half of the season.

For the Monsters, this will be their 5th game in the past 7 days, a grueling schedule. In their West Division swing, they have gone 0-3-0-1 against Oklahoma City and San Antonio. Texas hopes to help the Monsters continue that streak against the West tonight.

These Monsters are not the same team that we saw last year. Leading scorer from the last 3 season, T.J. Hensick, is now with the Peoria Rivermen and franchise leader in wins, Tyler Weiman, is now with Manitoba.

These new look Monsters are led between the pipes by a tandem at this point, John Grahame and Jason Bacashihua. Each has one win and two losses to their name and 69 saves in three games. Bacashihua is a former Dallas Stars first round draft pick, going 26th overall in 2001. He never reached the NHL with the Stars but played 38 games with the St. Louis Blues from 2005-07.

For the Stars, they regain a key piece of the puzzle in Aaron Gagnon. Gagnon played in Dallas's game with Tampa Bay on Monday night and was reassigned when Jamie Benn was cleared to play last night against the Panthers.

With Texas facing back-to-back games this weekend, we might see one start from each of the starting golatenders. Krahn has started all three of Texas games this season and was chased in his most recent appearance against Peoria.

Stars injury/call up report:
Sawada (undisclosed injury)

Website: lakeeriemonsters.com/
Blog (unofficial): Cleveland Plain Dealer
Twitter: @monstershockey

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