Gameday Preview: Stars at Houston Aeros

Texas Stars 26-12-4-2, 58 pts #4 Western Conference

at

Houston Aeros 21-15-4-3, 49 pts #7 Western Conference

February 1st at 7:00 PM

Toyota Center, Houston, TX

OK, let's review all the things that have happened on the transaction front over the past few days just to be clear.

Recalled to Dallas: Jamie Oleksiak, Antoine Roussel, Richard Bachman
Assigned from Dallas: Colton Sceviour, Reilly Smith
Recalled from Idaho: Tyler Beskorowany
Signed from Idaho: Austin Fyten
Released: Bretton Cameron

In addition, the extra week off appears to have given Francis Wathier and Travis Morin a decent bit of rest time to recover from their injuries and join the team for practice yesterday as full participants.

That means Texas has fourteen healthy forwards, six defensemen and two goalies. For the first time in a while, Coach Desjardins will have to choose someone to scratch. Even if Morin and Wathier can't go tonight, the Stars will still have twelve without them.

Texas has reversed its fortunes against the Aeros recently and that's a good thing because the Stars need these points regain first place over Charlotte Checkers. After going 1-2-1 in the first four games, Texas is 3-1 in the second set of three. With four more to go, Texas wants to get these points badly.

One of the top Stars killers this season, Mikael Granlund, is gone for good to Minnesota. Still in the AHL however is Jason Zucker. Zucker, an All-Star, has 3-6-9 in eight games against Texas. Also added to the Aeros' roster recently is Jake Dowell. Dowell is a former Dallas Star who signed with the Wild in the summer. He has a single goal in five games in Houston. Dowell has not played in the AHL since 2010, last lacing them up for the IceHogs.

And by the way, after forty, nothing has changed between these teams. Houston and Texas are a combined 35-1 when leading after forty minutes and a combined 3-23-4-2 when trailing after two. Might as well shut it down after two periods tonight.

Stars injury/call up report:
Vincour, Roussel, Oleksiak, Nilstorp (callup)
Wathier, Morin (probable)
Glennie (out, hand)

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)