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Gameday Preview - Game 4: Milwaukee at Texas

April 20, 2011 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Texas Stars News Release


TEXAS STARS MEDIA NOTES

Milwaukee Admirals (1-2, Trail series 2-1) at Texas Stars (2-1, Lead series 2-1)

The Stars rallied on Tuesday night in Game 3 to claim a 2-1 series lead with a 3-2 overtime victory over the Milwaukee Admirals. The West Division Semifinal was tied after the first two games of the series at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee. The Admirals claimed the series lead after taking Game 1 in Milwaukee on Thursday by a score of 5-2. Texas countered with a 3-1 victory in Game 2 on Saturday night.

Texas and Milwaukee meet for the first time in Calder Cup Playoff history. Texas finished the regular season as the fourth seed in the West Division after compiling a 41-29-4-6 (92 points) regular season record. The Admirals claimed the best record in the Western Conference of the AHL, taking the West Division title with a 44-22-6-8 mark (102 points) in the regular season. The 102 points was the third highest total in the league. The Stars return to the Calder Cup Playoffs after a run to the Calder Cup Finals last June, falling in six games to the Hershey Bears. In two seasons in the AHL, Texas has qualified for the playoffs both years, going 16-11. The Admirals took their fourth division title in the last eight years, topping 100 points for the fifth time since 2003-04. They have one playoff series win in the last six tries. Milwaukee won a Calder Cup in 2004 and lost in the finals in 2006. In playoff history, Texas is 6-3 in overtime, while Milwaukee is 10-5. The Stars are 3-1 in four all-time playoff series, while the Admirals are 9-7. Milwaukee is 48-39 all-time in the playoffs.

West Division semifinal (best of seven)

Texas and Milwaukee Radio

Game 1: Texas 2 at Milwaukee 5 1530 AM

Game 2: Texas 3 at Milwaukee 1 1530 AM

Game 3: Milwaukee 2 at Texas 3 OT (Texas leads 2-1) 1530 AM

Game 4: Milwaukee at Texas on Wednesday, April 20 at 7:30 PM 1530 AM

Game 5: Milwaukee at Texas on Friday, April 22 at 7:30 PM 1530 AM

Game 6: Texas at Milwaukee on Monday, April 25 at 7:00 PM -X 1530 AM

Game 7: Texas at Milwaukee on Tuesday, April 26 at 7:00 PM -X 1530 AM

X - If Necessary

The two teams met a total of six times during the 2010-11 season. Texas won five of the six games. In 14 all-time regular season meetings, Texas is 10-4-0-0 against Milwaukee, including a 5-2-0-0 record at the Bradley Center. The Admirals took the first game of the regular season series, with the Stars claiming the next five. Five of the six games in the season series were decided by one goal. In the six meetings this season, four times the winning team scored two goals and twice the winning team scored three goals. Texas outscored Milwaukee 12-7 in the season series. The Stars went two for 26 (7.69%) on the power play against the Admirals this year, including a two for nine mark at the Bradley Center. The Admirals went four for 24 (16.6%) against Texas, including a one for 11 mark (9.09%) at home. Texas and Milwaukee were the two most disciplined teams in the AHL this season. The Stars averaged a league-low 12.83 penalty minutes per game, while the Admirals were second lowest in the league at 13.13 penalty minutes per game.

Texas went 19-17-1-3 away from Cedar Park Center this season. The team wrapped up the final ten games of the regular season with a 5-5-0-0 mark. The club dropped five of the last six games of the regular season. The Stars went 22-6-4-6 in one-goal games this year and 25-1-1-1 when leading after two periods of play this season. When trailing after two periods of play, the Stars were 9-23-2-1 mark. The nine wins were the most of any team in the AHL when trailing after two frames. Texas outscored its opponents 72-57 in the first period of play this year. In the final two frames, the team was outscored 143-129. Texas went 28-7-2-2 when scoring the first goal of the night.

Milwaukee was 23-12-2-3 at home this year and 6-3-1-0 in the last ten games of the regular season. The Admirals finished with the second fewest regulation losses in the AHL overall at 22. Milwaukee outscored its opponents 119-94 at the Bradley Center this season. The Admirals allowed the fewest goals on home ice in the AHL this season. Milwaukee went 27-3-3-4 when scoring the first goal of the night. When leading after the first period, the Admirals were 22-1-1-4 and when leading after the second period the team was 30-1-2-3.

In the six-game regular season series, right wing Greg Rallo, center Travis Morin and right wing Raymond Sawada led Texas in scoring with four points each. Morin only played in three games, posting three goals and four points. Rallo scored two goals and had two assists in six games. Sawada played in five games, scoring twice and setting up two others. Defenseman Philip Larsen and forward Sean Backman each had three points in the series. Milwaukee defensemen Grant Lewis (2g-2a) led his club in scoring against Texas this season with four points. Fellow defenseman Roman Josi (1g, 2a) finished the series with three points. Texas goalie Richard Bachman was 3-1-0 with a 0.96 goals against average and an .965 save percentage against Milwaukee this season. Tyler Beskorowany went 2-0-0 with a 1.50 goals against average and a .957 save percentage. Admiral Mark Dekanich went 1-2-0 with a 1.37 goals against average and a .953 save percentage against the Stars. Jeremy Smith was 0-1-1 with a 1.96 goals against average and a .918 save percentage.

Playoff Series Leaders

Milwaukee's Gabriel Bourque leads all scorers in the series with seven points off three goals and four assists. He is tied for second in the Calder Cup Playoffs for points. Texas center Travis Morin is second in the series with six points after scoring and setting up two others in Game 3. Morin has two goals and four assists in the series. He ranks first in the AHL with four power-play points and he is tied for fourth in playoff scoring. Morin and right wing Raymond Sawada lead Texas with four assists each. Admirals' winger Chris Mueller ranks tied for seventh in league scoring with five points off three goals and two assists. Mueller and Bourque lead all skaters in the Calder Cup Playoffs with a +6. Stars defenseman Philip Larsen is tied for fourth in rookie scoring with three points in three games.

Monast Reassigned to Texas

The Texas Stars announced on Saturday that defenseman Guillaume Monast has been reassigned from the Idaho Steelheads (ECHL) to the Texas Stars.

Monast had one assist in 14 games for Texas over four separate recalls from Idaho. He registered his first AHL point with the Stars this season at Lake Erie on February 16. He recently helped the Idaho Steelheads advance to the second round of the ECHL's Kelly Cup Playoffs. Monast was scoreless in one playoff game, a series clinching win at Las Vegas. In 48 regular season games for Idaho this year, Monast scored one goal and had seven assists, while adding 38 penalty minutes. The Quebec native spent his rookie season with Idaho, setting up six goals in 68 games played, helping the Steelheads reach the 2010 Kelly Cup Finals. Monast attended training camp in Dallas and in Texas each of the last two years.

SERIES RECAP:

Game One

Texas 2 at Milwaukee 5 4/14/11

The Texas Stars were defeated by the Milwaukee Admirals 5-2 in Game 1 of the West Division semifinal on Thursday night in front of 2,587 fans at the Bradley Center. Admirals' rookie Gabriel Bourque scored two goals and set up three others to lead Milwaukee to a 1-0 series lead. Linemate Chris Mueller added two goals and two assists for four points in the win. In all, the two combined for nine points against Texas. Milwaukee goalie Jeremy Smith made 22 saves for the win. Texas goalie Richard Bachman made 13 saves in two periods of work, taking the defeat. He was pulled in favor of Tyler Beskorowany after surrendering four goals. Stars forwards Aaron Gagnon and Mathieu Tousignant each had a goal in the loss.

Game Two

Texas 3 at Milwaukee 1 4/16/11

The Texas Stars defeated the Milwaukee Admirals 3-1 in Game 2 of the West Division Semifinal on Saturday night in front of 6,819 fans at the Bradley Center. Trailing 1-0 heading into the second period, the Stars scored the final three goals to tie the series 1-1. Texas goalie Richard Bachman stopped 29 shots in his first career Calder Cup Playoff victory. Texas centers Travis Morin and Aaron Gagnon, as well as defenseman Philip Larsen each had a goal in the win. Right wing Raymond Sawada set up the final two goals for the Stars. Milwaukee goalie Jeremy Smith made 26 saves in the defeat. Defenseman Teemu Laakso scored the Admirals' lone goal.

Game Three

Texas 3 at Milwaukee 2 OT 4/19/11

The Texas Stars defeated the Milwaukee Admirals 3-2 in overtime of Game 3 of the West Division Semifinal on Tuesday night in front 5,320 fans at Cedar Park Center. Center Travis Morin scored the game-winning goal at 8:44 of overtime to give the Stars a victory and a 2-1 series lead. Defenseman Brad Lukowich scored the game-tying goal with 21 seconds left in the third period to force the extra session. Defenseman Philip Larsen started the rally at 4:09 of the third as the Stars erased a two-goal deficit in the last five minutes. Morin finished with three points after setting up the first two goals of the night. Texas goalie Richard Bachman stopped 21 shots in the win. Milwaukee goalie Jeremy Smith made 37 saves in the defeat. Forwards Chris Mueller and Gabriel Bourque each scored a goal for the Admirals

The Texas Stars

Right wing Greg Rallo led the team in points with 54 (26g-28a). Ralllo also led the team with 26 goals and 254 shots on net. He finished tied for third in the league with seven game-winning goals and he ranked in the top five for shots on goal. Center Travis Morin was second for Texas in scoring with 21 goals and 24 assists for 45 points in 64 games played. Colton Sceviour was third on the team with 41 points and he was fourth with 25 assists in 77 games played. Dan Spang finished fourth overall on the team with 37 points. He was third on the team in assists (27), as well as leading all defensemen in goals (10) and shots on goal (173). Left wing Francis Wathier was third on the team with 19 goals and second 177 shots in 68 games played. Defenseman Maxime Fortunus led the team with a career-high 29 assists in 73 games played. Center Mathieu Tousignant led the team with 120 penalty minutes.

Texas Stars goalies Richard Bachman and Tyler Beskorowany fill the net for the Stars. Bachman appeared in 55 games, going 28-19-5 with a 2.20 goals against average and a .927 save percentage. Bachman ranks in the top five of the AHL for goals against average and save percentage. Bachman started 36 of the last 49 games and he ranked second in the AHL with 3,191 minutes played in net. Overall, Beskorowany was 7-8-1 with a 2.58 goals against average and a .927 save percentage.

The Milwaukee Admirals

The Milwaukee is the AHL Affiliate of the Nashville Predators. Lane Lambert is in his fourth season as the head coach of the Admirals. Lambert has qualified for the playoffs each season and posted over 90 points four years straight.

Right wing Chris Mueller led the team in scoring with 24 goals and 50 points in 67 games played. Newcomer Linus Klasen was second for the Admirals with 45 points in 47 games played, including 22 goals. Left wing Ryan Thang was tied for third among all skaters with 41 points in 78 games played. He had 14 goals and 27 assists on the year. Defenseman Roman Josi was fourth on the team with 40 points in 69 games played. Winger Kelsey Wilson and defenseman Scott Ford led the team in penalty minutes. Ford had a team-high 164 in 80 games played, while Wilson has 145 in 74 games played.

In net, the Admirals feature goalies Jeremy Smith and Atte Engren, while Mark Dekanich is out with an injury. Dekanich was among the league leaders with 2.02 goals against average, .931 save percentage and four shutouts. He was 23-12-5 at the time of his injury. Smith (16-8-2) was drafted in the 2nd round (#54 overall) by Nashville in 2007. He had a 2.26 goals against average and a .921 save percentage. Engren recently joined the team on an ATO. He went 2-2-0 with a 2.43 goals against average and a .914 save percentage.

Special Teams

The Stars rank 12th overall (12 of 16) on the penalty kill at 81.8% in the playoffs. Texas is second out of 16 by converting 25.0% of its power plays in the postseason. The Admirals fifth overall on the power play, converting 18.2% of the time. Milwaukee is 15th in the AHL on the penalty kill, stopping 75.0% of its opponents' power plays.

Defense - Offense

The Stars are tied for eighth in the 2011 Calder Cup Playoffs with a 2.67 goals against average and they sit tied for seventh with a 2.67 per game average. Milwaukee is tied for eighth in goals for (2.67) and tied for seventh in goals against average (2.67).

Check out the Texas Stars Statistics

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