Gameday Preview: Stars v. Toronto Marlies, Game 2

Texas Stars 48-18-3-7, 106 pts #1 Western Conference

v.

Toronto Marlies 45-25-2-4, 96 pts #3 Western Conference

Toronto leads 1-0

May 26th at 7:30 PM

Cedar Park Center, Cedar Park, TX

UPDATE: Taylor Peters in for Derek Hulak on the fourth line. Brad Ross in for the Marlies.

OK, rerack.

How often would you expect to watch a team lob 50 shots on an opposing goaltender at home and only get one past him? MacIntyre was the story of Game 1. There is no question about that. The real question is whether his performance is sustainable. Coming into the series, his save percentage was .949. That suggests he would have saved just 47 or 48 of those 50 shots from Game 1.

It wasn't the way Texas wanted to come out in their first game, but the truth of it is that they don't need to change all that much. After two flatulent mental mistakes in the middle frame, it was 3-0. if you take those mistakes away, mistakes that Texas hasn't been prone to all year, it's 1-0. If MacIntyre has an average game for him coming into the series, it's 2-1 Texas final. Even if you give Toronto the power play goal, it's 2-2 and the Stars have a shot at overtime.

That's a few ifs, no doubt, but it shows how close Texas was in the game. When would you rather see Texas have a 'bad' game and lose 5-1? Would you rather it Game 1 of a seven game series at home or in a deciding Game 6? Maybe the score might be 7-1 in that latter case?

Morning skate will tell more about the lineups and any potential changes the game could bring.

It goes without saying that the Stars have to win tonight's contest. They cannot go to Ontario down 2-0 after what the Marlies did to the Wolves there. If Texas can't win tonight, this might be the last time the home fans get to see their Texas Stars this season.

Stars injury/call up report:
Klingberg, Dowling, Campbell, Petersen (injury)

Website: torontomarlies.com
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Twitter: @TorontoMarlies