Gameday Preview: Texas Stars at Iowa Wild

Texas Stars 33-29-4-3, 73 pts #5 Central Division

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Iowa Wild 34-22-7-5, 82 pts #3 Central Division

March 29th at 7:00 PM

Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, IA

The Texas Stars can keep the pressure on the Milwaukee Admirals and Rockford IceHogs, two teams they are battling for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Central, with a points in a weekend pair against the Iowa Wild. Both the Ads and the Hogs have a game in hand over the Stars, but a win in Des Moines on Friday would turn up the heat.

(credit: Iowa Wild)

It doesn't matter how the points come against the Wild, whether in overtime or otherwise, as they are all but cemented as the third seed in the Central. With the Stars down to seven games left in the season, points are as good as gold. 

With Landon Bow now called back up to the Dallas Stars for the moment and Tony Calderone sent down to the Steelheads, the Stars have enough healthy bodies to get the job done. Dillon Heatherington and Travis Morin were back in the lineup for Wednesday's win over the Moose after battling illnesses. Head coach Derek Laxdal also no choice right now but to roll out his green centermen for better or for worse. It'll be interesting to see how the youngsters respond in high stakes play down the stretch.

Speaking of youngsters, the door is now wide open for Jake Oettinger to get a start in net. It has been confirmed that the goalie's family is flying out to Des Moines. Will Laxdal and company pull the trigger on giving him a start? The likely scenario is that Phil Desrosiers at the very least gets game one on Friday.

The puck drops at 7 PM CDT. 

Stars injury/call up report:

Scarlett (season-ending ACL injury)
Laberge (upper body)

L'Esperance, Dowling, Bow (call up)