Gameday Preview: Texas Stars v. Chicago Wolves

Texas Stars 23-20-1-2, 49 pts, 0.533 #5 Pacific Division

v.

Chicago Wolves 29-17-3-3, 64 pts, 0.615 #2 Central Division

February 17th at 7:30 PM

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

The Texas Stars can match their longest win streak of the season with a W against the Chicago Wolves tonight. It will be a tough test though. The Wolves have won four of their last five, losing a close one in Milwaukee to a very good Admirals squad.

(Credit: Christina Shapiro/Texas Stars)

These two teams have only played once this season. Chicago won 4-3 on November 30th in Illinois. The series will conclude in the next month with these two games in Texas and one more on March 15th in Rosemont.

Texas, of course, should expect to see Justin Peters in net. Another Justin is also likely to be in the mix. At practice on Tuesday, Justin Dowling was a full participant. He has been out of the lineup since January 11th with a hand injury. His skill as a two-way forward should give the Stars more strength down the middle.

For most of the season, Chicago has been splitting time between Pheonix Copley and Jordan Binnington. The team is coming off a 4 day break and could play one of the two goalies twice. However, it's unlikely.

Two of the top threats for Chicago are currently unavailable on recall to St. Louis. Kenny Agostino (18-42=60) and Wade Megan (23-22=45) rank first and fourth in the league scoring table. Chicago's third and fifth ranked scorers, Ivan Barbashev (19-18=37) and Brad Hunt (9-20=29), are also out of the lineup on recall. Finally, the last of the top five scorers for Chicago, Andrew Agozzino (11-21=32), is suspended for tonight's game.

So, tonight's game is a chance to catch the Texas Stars, who have improved their defense and goaltending over the past few weeks, to catch a team that is without a lot of fire power.

Stars injury/call up report:
Dowling (hand injury, probable)

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