Gameday Preview: Stars v. Houston Aeros

Texas Stars
11-8-1-1, 24 pts
#9 Western Conference
v.Houston Aeros
11-6-1-2, 25 pts
#6 Western Conference
December 7th at 7:30 PM
Cedar Park Center, Cedar Park, TX

With the way the Stars have performed on the road over the last six games, maybe fans at the Cedar Park Center tonight should cheer for the Aeros to see if it helps.

Including their 5-1 mark over the last six days, Texas is 7-3 on the road this season. Compare that to a 4-5-1-1 record at home. Most typical teams hope to win most of their games at home and go about even on the road. For Texas, it's the opposite so far this season.

This may be a factor of the Stars figuring out their team dynamic as they were about to embark on a six game road trip. Before the last home stand, Texas was 2-4-0-1 at home. their 2-1-1 record on the last stand improved that mark and they will look to further improve with two at home against Houston and Peoria.

Houston comes to the Cedar Park Center on a five game win streak. Matt Hackett has been just one save better than the opposing tender in those five contests, the win margin at one for each. These were not pushover games either. The last three games were against Abbotsford and OKC. Since losing to Texas on November 11th, Houston is 6-1. Texas is 7-2-1.

Due to all this winning at the 'bottom' and some losing at the top (Charlotte is on an 0-5 streak), the standings are very compressed. Just two points separate the #2 Checkers and #9 Texas. Two points may not guarantee Texas a spot in the top eight with so many games tonight among the other teams, but it certainly won't hurt.

In other news for Houston, Mikael Granlund looks to be ready to return to the lineup this evening. He has not played since November 2nd. He has an active seven game point streak reaching back to October 14th.

The Stars will do well to limit penalties this evening as Houston ranks #4 in the league on the power play and number one on the road power play.

Stars injury/call up report:
None.

Website: aeros.com
Blog (official): Pilot to Gunner
Blog (unofficial): The Third Intermission
Twitter: @Houston_Aeros
Twitter: @aero_joe (play-by-play)
Twitter: @TheJoshFisher (PR)

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