| Texas Stars 6-6-4-0, 16 pts #10 Western Conference | v. | Oklahoma City Barons 8-4-2-2, 20 pts #7 Western Conference |
November 26th at 7:30 PM
Cedar Park Center, Cedar Park, TX
Break the streak. That's what the Stars must do tonight. To avoid setting a new franchise record for worst losing streak in team history, they must win. Get the "W" however it may come. Desperation time is here, and this group will need to dig deep to put itself back where it belongs in the playoff picture.
The good news for Texas is that reinforcements are here. Jussi Rynnas and Kevin Henderson both practiced yesterday after missing this weekend's games. Brett Ritchie is close on a lower body injury he suffered in Grand Rapids. And finally, Curtis McKenzie has been assigned from Dallas.
On the other side of the puck, Oklahoma City has had a great November. After starting the month at 2-2-2-0, they've gone 6-2-0-2, picking up points in 8 of 10 and maintaining a .700 points percentage. Texas has a .389 points percentage over the same span.
While former Star Richard Bachman has been the workhorse in net, Laurent Brossoit is also performing well, if not better. He has a higher save percentage and a lower goal against than Bachman but just hasn't gotten the run support. Brossoit is 2-3-0 while Bachman is 4-1-3.
This could be a dangerous game for the Stars or the Barons on special teams. Both teams sport top power plays and bottom penalty kills. The Barons are ranked second on the PP overall and top on the road at 32.1%.
Players to watch for the Barons include Brad Hunt. The defenseman has only played eight games this season but has a point in every one. He ranks third in defenseman scoring in the league, putting up 4-11=15. That's nearly two points per game.
Stars injury/call up report:
Jokipakka (call up)
Ritchie (lower body, questionable)
Website: okcbarons.com
Blog: Tend the Farm
Twitter: @OKCBaronsHockey
Homestand Check
ReplyDeletePlayers getting healthier Check
McKenzie back Check
Now is the time to turn this season around and it will all start with a win tonight. We need to put aside all the excuses like hangovers, the flu and injuries and come out and play like we are capable. I'm not one to panic but anything short of 6 points in these next 3 games could be an ominous sign of a long season that none of us want to endure coming off the Championship season.