Home Playoff Schedule Set as Texas Awaits First Round Opponent

(Credit: Andy Nietupski/Texas Stars)

[Ed. Note: Dallas starts their playoff run tonight. If you want to join me and Sean Shapiro to discuss the game (and our book) in between periods tonight, either tweet us @100degreehockey or @seanshapiro or send us an email with proof (wewinhere2014@gmail.com) that you have the book or bought a copy.]

The Stars know when they'll play next at H-E-B Center but have no idea yet where to book tickets for Game 1 and 2.

Thanks to their Central Division title, Texas will play the winner of the play-in round between Iowa and Rockford, which gets started Wednesday. The first round is a best-of-5 series, putting the Stars on the road for two before returning to Texas for at least one and up to three games, if necessary.

There was initially some concern that Elsa, Anna, and Olaf were going to put a kink in the home playoff schedule for Texas. However, things have worked out nicely where the Stars will play on the road in either Rockford or Des Moines while Disney on Ice is in Cedar Park from April 25 loadout to April 30's final show.

I've heard from building operations folks that the ice is actually better after Disney on Ice, so it's not a bad thing. The setup for Disney puts an extra coat of ice on the surface to white out all the hockey markings and advertisements. This is shaved down after the final show on Sunday, April 30th.

All told, Texas starts their Calder Cup push at home on May 3 with games 4 and 5 coming on May 5 and 6, if needed. All games start at 7pm.

Game 3 – Wed., May 3 at Texas, 7:00
Game 4 – Fri., May 5 at Texas, 7:00
Game 5 – Sat., May 6 at Texas, 7:00

Both the BMO Harris Bank Center and Wells Fargo Arena are wide open the week prior for Games 1 and 2. I would assume with no inside knowledge that the schedule tries for at least one game on Friday or Saturday to maximize turnout and ticket revenue.