Gameday Preview: Texas Stars at Rockford IceHogs

      Texas Stars                        Rockford IceHogs
13-8-0-1, 27 pts, .614      at      12-9-1-0, 25 pts, .563
#3 Pacific Division               #3 Central Division

December 2nd at 6:00 PM
BMO Harris Bank Center, Rockford, IL

(Credit: Rockford IceHogs)
UPDATE: The Dallas Stars have called up Curtis McKenzie to play against the Chicago Blackhawks as Antoine Roussel is dealing with the flu.

No one could've reasonably expected the seven game road trip to go this well, but don't tell the Texas Stars. Outside of the Manitoba Moose, they are hotter than anyone in the AHL and are coming off a 5-4 shootout victory in Grand Rapids, running their current win streak to five. In that game, they had to come back from down two in the third period to send the game to overtime. On Saturday evening, they conclude their long journey away from Cedar Park and current foray through the Central division with a match against the Rockford IceHogs.

Save for the San Antonio Rampage, the IceHogs will make for perhaps the stiffest competition during this stint. They currently sit in third place in the Central division and are led in scoring by point per game player Vinnie Hinostroza. Rockford is coming off a victory of their own on Friday night against the Chicago Wolves, which took overtime. Jeff Glass got the start for them in net and finished with 32 saves on 35 shots. He will likely get the start as J-F Berube was recalled to Chicago yesterday to backup Anton Forsberg in Dallas's game against the Blackhawks tonight.

Mark McNeill finally drew into the lineup against the Griffins and rewarded his team with a goal. It'll be interesting to see if he is able to go against the IceHogs, his former team. Mike McKenna had a decent night against Grand Rapids, but it could've been a strategic move to buy red hot Landon Bow some rest. The smart money would be on Bow to get the start against Rockford to finish out the road trip strong. Contributions from the usual suspects have carried the Stars through this statement making road trip. Look for Roope Hintz and Jason Dickinson to come up big and continue to help the Stars climb the standings in the Pacific. 

The puck drops at 6:00 PM CST.

Stars injury/call-up report:
Elie, Honka, McKenzie (call-up)

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