Gameday Preview: Texas Stars at San Antonio Rampage

            Texas Stars                         San Antonio Rampage

    29-21-5-3, 66 pts, .569      at      27-23-8-0, 62 pts, .534

    #5 Pacific Division                       #6 Pacific Division

March 4th at 3:00 PM
AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX

(credit: Texas Stars)

The Texas Stars have a chance to quickly course correct their recent skid in a matter of hours. Coming off their 4-1 loss to the Chicago Wolves on Saturday night, they make a quick jaunt to San Antonio to take on the Rampage in a late afternoon tilt. 

The going won't be any easier as the Stars have a paltry 2-4-2-1 record against their in-state rivals this season. 

Practically neck and neck with the Stars in the division standings, the Rampage will have the fresher legs, having last played in a loss to the Wolves on Friday. Winger Andrew Agozzino leads the team in points with 30, and rookie net minder Ville Husso is in the top three in the AHL with a sparkling .929 save percentage. Right winger Rocco Grimaldi (25 pts) has been a thorn in Texas' side this season with two game winning goals against the Stars.

Meanwhile, the Stars have picked a bad time to string some losses together as they have been hanging onto a playoff slot by the skin of their teeth. If they do not take care of business against a team that has had their number all season, they could find theirselves on the outside looking in before the weekend is over.

Stars coach Derek Laxdal said last week that the goaltending situation was going to be a meritocracy until the end of the season, so the decision for who starts on Sunday will be a toss-up between Landon Bow or Mike McKenna. 

To make matters more challenging, the Stars will continue to be without key players in captain Curtis McKenzie, who is still nursing his injured leg, and Jason Dickinson. Only scoring two goals total in their last two games, the Stars will have to dig deep to manufacture some offense and stave off fatigue if they are going to begin the month of March on a positive note. 

The puck drops at 3:00 PM CST.

Stars injury/call up report:

Dickinson (call-up)
McKenzie (injured)

Rampage Web Resources
Website: sarampage.com
Blog (unofficial): Runnin' With the Herd
Twitter: @SARampage
Twitter: @DanWeissPBP (play-by-play for SA)