Gameday Preview: Texas Stars v. Tucson Roadrunners, Game 4

Texas Stars 38-24-8-6, 90 pts, 0.592 #2 Pacific Division

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Tucson Roadrunners 42-20-5-1, 90 pts, 0.662 #1 Pacific Division

May 9th at 7:00 PM

H-E-B Center at Cedar Park, Cedar Park, TX

Stars lead 2-1

The Texas Stars are a poised, confident bunch heading into the game four of the second round of the playoffs against the Tucson Roadrunners on Wednesday night. They have a right to be after they benefitted from key contributions throughout the lineup during Monday's overtime win to give them a one game lead.

(credit: Andy Nietupski/Texas Stars)

Though Mike McKenna didn't have his best showing (33 saves on 37 shots), head coach Derek Laxdal expects both he and Tucson goaltender Adin Hill to bounce back in what he predicts to be a tighter game during Wednesday's tilt. In other words, the nine goals scored on Monday will be the exception, not the rule, going forward.

That depends on whether or not the top nine for the Stars have anything to say about it. Jason Dickinson, Brian Flynn, Roope Hintz, and Remi Elie all chipped in on Monday with two points a piece. Dickinson was especially pleased, considering he had yet to notch a goal in the postseason. He weighed in after the game. "It’s nice. It’s been frustrating. I want to contribute as much as I can so it was nice to get a couple points. If you get to the net, usually good things happen. That’s what I’m trying to do and I was rewarded. So I’m going to keep trying it."

Helping Dickinson get to the net are his line mates Remi Elie and the suddenly famous Sheldon Dries after his overtime game winner on Monday. Dries is warranting some well earned praise in the hockey community as of late, but this is par for the course for what he's been about all season. When placed on such a skilled line, he's really getting to show what he can do. Laxdal lauded the trio as the team's best line during Monday's win.

Dickinson expects a harder forecheck from the Roadrunners and a sense of desperation on Wednesday. They’re gonna come out hard. We gotta match it. We can’t think about the lead. We can’t think about maybe stepping into a 3-1 lead. We just have to worry about [Wednesday] because that’s all that matters."

The puck drops at 7:00 PM CDT.

Stars injury report:

Fyten (injured)

Roadrunners Web Resources
Website: tucsonroadrunners.com
Twitter: @RoadrunnersAHL
Coverage: @CallahanOnAir (Tucson PBP)