Gameday Preview: Texas Stars at Bakersfield Condors

Texas Stars 4-4-1-1, 10 pts #6 Central Division

at

Bakersfield Condors 3-4-0-0, 6 pts #8 Pacific Division

November 3rd at 9:00 PM

Rabobank Arena, Bakersfield, CA

Thursday's matchup was supposed to be an easy win to right the ship for Texas. However, hot offense and a rough PK and goaltending effort left them pointless in Ontario. Bakersfield is similarly positioned as the Reign in the Pacific Division standings.

(Credit: Taylor Sammarco/Texas Stars)

The recall of Dillon Heatherington yesterday add insult to injury on the backend, literally. The Stars are averaging 3.7 goals against per game but only 3.3 for.

If you think the answer is to recall Philippe Desrosiers, that may not be the solve. Desrosiers is 2-3-1 in the ECHL this season and just let up four on 31 shots last night in Toledo.  He personally has a 2.52 GAA and .920 SV%, which admittedly beats anything going on in the AHL this season for Texas. However, the level of competition is the other question.

Texas is playing a Bakersfield team that scores a ton (4 goals/gm) but can't match those strong offensive nights with defensive performances to match. Of course, they have scored 8 goals in two different games (both against Stockton). Removing those two games from the total shifts it down to 12 goals in 5 games (2.4/gm) and gives a better picture of where they're at as a team.

One blast from the past to watch for tonight is Al Montoya. The Oilers picked up the vet tender last season in a trade with the Canadiens. He hasn't played against Texas since the four seasons he spent in San Antonio in the early 2010s.

Stars injury/call up report:
Scarlett (season-ending ACL injury)
Bayreuther (undisclosed)
Heatherington, Dowling (call up)