Gameday Preview: Texas Stars at Chicago Wolves

(Credit: Texas Stars)

Texas's first non-weekend game of the year is an exception in more ways than one. In addition to being on a weekday, of course, this is a day game. Texas seems to draw the short straw on these day games in Chicago more often than most.

The club will have reinforcements in tow as they roll into the Windy City. Joel Hanley and Rhett Gardner were both sent down by Dallas yesterday. For Gardner, today's will be his first game of the season in a Texas Stars uniform. He was recalled before the season even began followed the spate of injuries on opening night in Big D.

Chicago and Texas both started the season out rough and are looking to extend point streaks today. Texas is on a four-game streak, having won their last three outright and collecting a shootout loss point in the fourth from last. Chicago has a win and overtime loss in its last two contests after starting the year 1-3-1.

Rookie center Lucas Elvenes leads the Wolves on offense (3-6=9 in 6 GP). Former Stars Curtis McKenzie is 2-1=3 but with a minus-6 rating. Chicago is currently carrying three goalies, including former Dallas seventh round pick Dylan Ferguson, now a rookie in the Vegas system. The Wolves also picked up another former seventh rounder on the free agent market, Jermaine Loewen. Dallas passed on giving the WHL product an entry-level contract. He does not have any points in three games so far.