Gameday Preview: Texas Stars at Milwaukee Admirals

Texas Stars 28-23-4-3, 63 pts #4 Central Division

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Milwaukee Admirals 24-22-12-1, 61 pts #6 Central Division

March 5th at 7:00 PM

UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena, Milwaukee, WI

The Stars hit the road to the midwest for two quick games this week. Up first tonight is Milwaukee, a club that has been beset as of late with losing ways. Since last playing Texas, a 4-2 loss last Wednesday, the Admirals did manage three of four points in San Antonio. The lone win was only their second since January.

(Credit: Andy Nietupski/Texas Stars)

What is keeping the Ads afloat is the same thing that kept Texas afloat last season: overtime losses. There can and should be much vigorous debate about the value of the 'loser' point, but today it's pretty clear which side of that debate the Milwaukee Admirals would sit on. Their 12 OTLs have netted them 12 points and they would be solidly out of contention without them.

Texas got no help at the deadline, mostly due to a dried up market. So many teams are close that no one was willing to part with an asset that they might regret giving up in a few weeks as they made the final push to the playoffs. Milwaukee did pick up one player. The transfer of defenseman Adam Plant, who has played in 14 games with Laval this season, is unlikely to make a big impact on the roster.

Veteran Travis Morin figures to return to the lineup tonight after a bout of the flu this weekend. Morin played sick on Friday but was held out on Saturday as the club hoped he would recover in time for the road trip. Denis Gurianov also looks to check in on offense.

Stars injury/call up report:

Scarlett (season-ending ACL injury)
Morin (questionable, flu)
Laberge (upper body)

L'Esperance (call up)