Gameday Preview: Stars v. Oklahoma City Barons

Texas Stars 0-0-0-0 preseason

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Oklahoma City Barons 0-0-0-0 preseason

October 3rd at 7:00 PM

Cedar Park Center, Cedar Park, TX

It's gameday once again in Cedar Park. The tune-up period for the defending Calder Cup champions starts tonight against the Oklahoma City Barons. The last time these two faced off was in the opening round of the playoffs back in April. The Stars swept the Barons 3-0 in the best-of-five first round.

If the coaches aren't good about roster management, some of the Texas Stars players would end up playing a 3-in-3 this weekend, as pointed out by Coach Laxdal on Wednesday. Tomorrow's lineup will be tryout-heavy as Laxdal wants as close to final a roster as he can get for Sunday's match against the Rampage. When looking at who is playing on Saturday, you can make a few clear guesses about who will be in the lineup for Texas tonight based on the scrimmage roster and Laxdal not wanting guys to play more than two games this weekend.

Forwards will likely many of the ECHL contracted guys along with tryouts, including Steve Qualier, James Livingston, Jesse Root, Jason Bast, Wade MacLeod, and Colton Beck. There still need to be six more forwards to fill out the roster. Players on the bubble for Texas and Idaho would also probably be in tonight. Those guys might include Gemel Smith and Derek Hulak. A few other fourth liners will probably complete the roster, like Kevin Henderson or Branden Troock.

On defense, expect to see William Wrenn and Troy Vance, who are both looking like they are ECHL-bound with the assignment of Julius Honka and signing of Brenden Dillon. The rest of the blue liners will all likely be ECHL guys with so many of Texas' players in the scrimmage on Saturday and in the 'final' lineup on Sunday.

Coach Laxdal told Sean Shapiro yesterday that Henrik Kiviaho and Maxime Lagace would split the game tonight in net.

Note the early start time of 7:00 PM and brush up on the AHL rule changes that are now in effect for the season.

Stars injury/call up report:
None.

Website: okcbarons.com
Blog: Tend the Farm
Twitter: @OKCBaronsHockey