Gameday Preview: Stars v. Chicago Wolves

Texas Stars
33-14-4-5, 75 pts
#1 Western Conference
v.Chicago Wolves
27-18-4-3, 61 pts
#7 Western Conference
March 5th at 7:30 PM
Cedar Park Center, Cedar Park, TX

Not too long after it began, the season series is ending for the Stars and Wolves. After playing their first game against each other on January 16th, the series will end tonight just a month and a half later in Cedar Park. Texas is looking to even the score on the year after dropping last Friday's contest to the Wolves 2-0. Chicago and Texas split the games in Illinois in January, both in regulation.

Texas is in the midst of a three-game losing streak, something they haven't had since the AHL's Christmas break when they dropped two to OKC in regulation and a third to Houston in OT. After a win one lose one end to 2012, that losing skid sent the Stars into a record setting 2013. The Stars won six straight and nine of ten to start the calendar year.

Texas's injured players are getting healthy according to Coach Desjardins. The Stars organization has always played injury information close to the vest. Alex Chiasson skated in a red no-contact jersey in last week's practice along with Maxime Fortunus and Tyler Sloan. Chiasson is out with a shoulder injury. Glennie has been working out with Dallas Stars' strength and conditioning coach JJ McQueen while he rehabs a hand injury. The second year forward came into 2012 out of shape and needs to make waves to get himself noticed and acknowledged as a Dallas prospect by the Metroplex brass. Work with McQueen should help to move that boulder.

Patrick Nemeth and Luke Gazdic could be longer term as there is no precise estimate on their return dates. The Stars have stated that they do expect "most" of the their players back within two weeks.

Elsewhere, the Stars just might have a budding goalie controversy. After an uneven outing on Saturday, Cristopher Nilstorp is not looking like the top tender he was before being recalled to Dallas. Meanwhile, Jack Campbell just finished off a fantastic month of February, going 6-2-1 with a 1.65 GAA and .932 SV%. Even in the 2-0 loss, Campbell had solid saves down the stretch to keep Texas in striking distance, which they just couldn't do. Usually, two goals against is good enough to keep a team in it, especially when that team is averaging nearly three goals per game.

It is entirely possible that Texas rides Jack Campbell out to weather the storm until things turn more healthy on the skater front.

Stars injury/call up report:
R. Smith, Roussel, Benn, Oleksiak (call up)
Glennie, Nemeth, Sloan, Chiasson, Fortunus, Gazdic (injured)
Dowling (questionable)

Website: chicagowolves.com
Twitter: @Chicago_Wolves
Twitter: @theshaves (Wolves PxP)

Comments

  1. I hope Nilstorp can get back into his groove again soon. I have watched him play for awhile, and I know he can do better. I hope he's not letting the pressure get to him or anything..

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thanks for commenting. Remember to keep it civil. Using a name will help us identify replies and build a Texas Stars community.