CEDAR PARK, Texas – The Texas Stars defeated the Lake Erie Monsters 4-0 in front of 6,289 fans at Cedar Park Center on Saturday night. Texas goalie Jack Campbell (3-2-0) stopped all 30 shots he faced, securing his first professional shutout.
The Stars netted three goals in the first period of play and crusied to a four-goal win. Four Stars’ skaters registered multi-point nights. Left wing Matt Fraser scored twice, as Texas ended a six-game winless streak at home. Forwards Mike Hedden and Luke Gazdic each added a goal and an assist. Center Travis Morin put up two assists, as the Stars improved to 17-15-2-1 at home this season.
Lake Erie goalie Cedrick Desjardins (13-10-5) stopped 25 of 29 shots faced in 43 minutes of play.
The Stars started the scoring at 6:51 of the first period, left wing Mike Hedden slipped the puck into the Lake Erie net off a wraparound. His 15th goal of the year was assisted by center Scott Glennie and forward Luke Gazdic for the 1-0 lead. Texas struck again with 1:47 remaining in the period. Left wing Matt Fraser put in his 32nd tally of the season, generating a 2-0 lead.
Right wing Austin Smith and center Travis Morin each provided an assist. The Stars added to their lead in the last minute of the game. Morin and Hedden found Gazdic in the left wing circle of the Monsters zone.
Gazdic snapped a wrist shot past Cedrick Desjardins with 17 seconds remaining in the period. His 11th goal of the year gave Texas a 3-0 lead after one period of play.
After a scoreless second period, the Stars strengthened their lead to 4-0. Left wing Matt Fraser netted his second goal of the night just 1:02 into the third period. Defensemen Dan Spang and Brenden Dillon set up the play.
The Stars will face off against the Monsters on Sunday, April 1st. The team will host Lake Erie at 5:00 p.m. and fans will be permitted to bring their dog to the game, while sitting in a designated pet-friendly section – equipped with water and relief stations
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Author Archives: Pro Hockey News Staff Report (with Texas Stars press release)
Hamilton drops Stars, 4-2
CEDAR PARK Texas – The Stars were defeated by Hamilton 4-2 in front of 5,824 fans at Cedar Park Center on Thursday night. Texas goalie Jack Campbell (2-2-0) stopped 35 of 38 shots, including a team season-high 19 shots in the first period. Center Travis Morin scored his 11th goal of the year, breaking the team’s record for most points in one season with 59. Rookie right wing Austin Smith registered his first professional point with an assist, while fellow rookie Taylor Vause notched his first professional assist on the night. Left wing Luke Gazdic scored for the Stars.
Hamilton center Joonas Nattinen scored the game-winning goal with 1:16 left in the third period.
Forwards Travis Novak, Gabriel Dumont, and defenseman Mark Mitera also scored for the Bulldogs. Hamilton goalie Robert Mayer (11-15-1) stopped 28 shots, taking the team’s road record to 15-17-1-1.
The Stars got on the board late in the first period. Morin beat Hamilton goalie Robert Mayer with 2:26 remaining. Defenseman Drew Schiestel and right wing Austin Smith helped on the play, giving Texas a 1-0 lead.
Texas struck again midway through the second period. Left wing Luke Gazdic fired a shot to the back of the net at 11:12. Gazdic’s tenth goal of the season was set up by center Taylor Vause, extending the Stars’ lead to 2-0. Hamilton dug into Texas’ lead, 2-1 with 6:01 left in the period. Forward Travis Novak scored with assists from forward Ryan Flanigan and right wing Alain Berger.
Hamilton tied the game, 2-2 with 6:09 remaining in the third period. Center Gabriel Dumont snuck the puck past Campbell on the power play. Center Robert Slaney added an assist on the game-tying play.
Center Joonas Nattinen scored the game-winning goal with 1:16 left in the final frame. Andreas Engqvist added an assist.
Hamilton extended its lead to 4-2 with an empty-net goal from defenseman Mark Mitera. Right wing Brian Willsie notched an assist on the final goal of the night.
On Saturday, Texas will host Lake Erie at 7:00 p.m. at Cedar Park Center.
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Stars outshine Lake Erie in 4-3 SO win
CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Texas Stars defeated Lake Erie 4-3 in a shootout at the Quicken Loans Arena on Tuesday night. Texas rookie goalie Jack Campbell (2-1-0) continued his stellar play, finishing with a career-high 36 saves, including eight in overtime to force a shootout. In his first pro shootout, Campbell stopped five of seven attempts to give the Stars their second straight road win. Rookie Taylor Vause sealed the win with the deciding goal in the seventh round of the shootout.
Rookie forwards Austin Smith and Colton Sceviour also netted shootout goals for the Stars. Left wing Francis Wathier scored a goal in regulation and added an assist in his 400th pro game. Texas center Travis Morin scored his tenth goal of the year, tying the team record for points in a season with his 58th of the season.
Forward Mike Hedden added his 14th goal of the year for the Stars, who posted back-to-back road wins to finish the road swing. Lake Erie goalie Cedrick Desjardins (12-9-5) stopped 28 of 31 shots in regulation and four of seven in the shootout defeat. Defenseman Cameron Gaunce, as well as forwards Greg Mauldin and Mike Connolly, each had a goal in the Lake Erie loss.
The teams were scoreless until 13:15 of the first period. Lake Erie defenseman Cameron Gaunce opened the scoring with 6:45 left in the period, potting a rebound for the 1-0 Monsters lead. Forwards Ryan Stoa and Brad Malone helped set up Gaunce’s fifth goal of the year, as Lake Erie carried a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
Texas stormed back to take the lead with two goals in the last four minutes of the second period. Center Travis Morin picked off the puck and created his own breakaway. The Stars all-time leading scorer beat Lake Erie goalie Cedrick Desjardins with a backhander, netting his tenth goal of the year at 16:26 of the period for the 1-1 tie. Morin’s tally tied him for the team record with the most points in one season, bringing his total to 58 on the year.
The Stars created a turnover in the Monsters zone at 18:39, with Mike Hedden capitalizing for his 14th goal of the year and a 2-1 Texas lead. Left wing Francis Wathier set up the goal as the Stars carried a one-goal lead into the break.
In the third period, the Monsters tied the game 2-2 just 3:54 into the final frame. Veteran forward Greg Mauldin put in a rebound for his 16th goal of the year. Texas countered to regain the lead at 7:54, left wing Francis Wathier swatted the puck away from defenseman Danny Richmond and into the Lake Erie net,
scoring his 18th goal of the season for the 3-2 lead. Monsters center Mike Connolly slipped in a rebound with 1:59 left in regulation, tying the game 3-3 and forcing overtime.
After a scoreless overtime, the teams skated to a seven-round sudden-death shootout. Texas netted three goals from Colton Sceviour, Austin Smith and Taylor Vause.
Goalie Jack Campbell stopped five of seven Monsters for the win. Lake Erie’s Ryan Stoa and Mike Connolly each scored in the shootout.
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Stars double up Toronto, 4-2
TORONTO – The Stars defeated Toronto 4-2 at Ricoh Coliseum on Sunday. In just his second pro start, Texas rookie goalie Jack Campbell (1-1-0) carried a shutout into the third period and finished with 32 saves for his first pro win. Rookies Matt Fraser, Mike Hedden and Taylor Vause also tallied markers, as Texas improved to 4-2-0-0 all-time against Toronto. Center Travis Morin added two assists, moving within one point of tying the team record for most points in a season. Left wing Francis Wathier sealed the win with an empty-net goal, ending the team’s six-game losing skid.
Toronto goalie Jussi Rynnas (9-8-1) stopped 18 of 21 shots in the loss. Marlies forwards Greg Scott and Marcel Mueller each scored in only the team’s tenth loss of the year at home.
The Stars claimed a 1-0 lead with the lone goal of the opening period. Rookie center Taylor Vause picked off the puck in the Marlies zone. The 20-year old snapped a wrist shot from the high slot, over the shoulder of Jussi Rynnas, and into the Toronto net. Vause’s first goal as a pro gave Texas a one-goal lead.
Texas made it 2-0 at 3:01 of the second period after Mike Hedden put in a rebound for his 13th goal of the year. Left wing Shawn Wellar and defenseman Maxime Fortunus added assist on the play, making it 2-0 Stars.
Toronto got on the board at 3:40 of the third and final period. Forward Marcel Mueller scored his 13th goal of the season from Nazim Kadri, trimming the Stars lead to 2-1. Texas countered to regain the two-goal lead at 14:52. Rookie Matt Fraser extended his team record for most goals in a season, potting his 31st tally of the year. Forwards Scott Glennie and Travis Morin each had an assist on the play to give Texas a 3-1 lead. Toronto pulled within a goal with 2:16 remaining in regulation. Greg Scott finished off a centering pass from Ryan Hamilton, netting his 18th goal of the year and cutting the Stars lead to 3-2. Texas left wing Francis Wathier scored his 17th goal of the season with 16-seconds left in the third period. Morin had the lone assist on the play, giving the Stars a 4-2 win.
Texas concludes a three-game road trip on Tuesday, March 27th at Lake Erie at 6:00 p.m. (CT). Texas returns home to face the Hamilton Bulldogs on Thursday, March 29th at 7:30 p.m.
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Barons dull Stars in 3-1 win
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla – Texas was defeated by the Oklahoma City Barons 3-1 at the Cox Convention Center on Friday night. Oklahoma City goalie Yann Danis (23-11-2) made 34 saves on 35 shots, as the Barons became the second team in the AHL to secure a 40-win season. Forwards Mark Arcobello and Anton Lander, as well as defenseman Kevin Montgomery, each scored as Oklahoma City improved to 19-9-3-2 at home this year.
Texas goalie Jack Campbell (0-1-0) made his professional debut, turning aside 32 of 35 shots in the defeat. Stars forward Mike Hedden scored the team’s lone goal in the defeat.
Oklahoma City netted the only goal of the first period, opening the scoring at 13:56. Defenseman Kevin Montgomery sent a wrist shot from the left point, through traffic, and past Stars goalie Jack Campbell. Montgomery’s second goal of the season made it 1-0 Oklahoma City.
Barons Colton Tuebert and Magnus Paajarvi each had an assist on the play. Campbell made 14 saves in his first pro period, as the Stars were outshot 15-5.
Oklahoma City opened up a 2-0 lead at 10:43 of the second period. Forward Anton Lander tipped a shot from the point by defenseman Colton Tuebert, scoring his first goal of the year. Texas countered less than two minutes later, as Mike Hedden finished off a 2-on-1 with a wrist shot past Yann Danis at 12:39 of the second period. Hedden’s 12th goal of the year went unassisted and cut the Barons lead to 2-1.
Oklahoma City countered only 45-seconds later, claiming a 3-1 lead. Center Mark Arcobello scored his 14th goal of the year with a snap shot from the Texas slot.
Texas continues a three-game road trip on Sunday, March 25th at Toronto at 2:00 p.m. (CT). The trip concludes on Tuesday, March 27th at 6:00 p.m. against the Lake Erie Monsters.
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Dallas signs Texas native, Austin Smith to NHL contract
CEDAR PARK, Texas – The Dallas Stars announced on Wednesday that the club signed forward Austin Smith to a two-year entry-level contract. Smith, 23, reported on Tuesday to the Texas Stars under an Amateur Tryout Agreement prior to signing his professional contract, Dallas’ primary affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL), after completing a four-year career at Colgate University.
The 5-11, 180-pound forward from Dallas, TX led the NCAA this season in goals (36) and ranks third in overall scoring with 57 points. He is also one of 10 student-athletes nominated for the Hobey Baker Award, given annually to the top player in NCAA Division I hockey. “Austin Smith is one of the best young prospects in the NCAA and we are very excited for his future in this organization,” Dallas Stars General Manager Joe Nieuwendyk said. “Austin is a tremendously gifted player and is a testament to the growth of hockey in the North Texas area.”
Dallas’ fifth-round selection (No. 128 overall) in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, Smith was born in Dallas and grew up playing hockey in the Dr Pepper StarCenter Youth Hockey system. Smith was the first native Texan drafted by the Dallas Stars organization and attended Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas for his first two years of high school prior to playing for the Penticton Vees of the British Columbia Hockey League.
During his senior season at Colgate, Smith led the Eastern College Athletic Conference in points (57) and goals (36). He also notched 16 multi-point games and nine multi-goal games during the 2011-12 campaign. Over his four-year career at Colgate, Smith appeared in 153 games, collecting 79 goals and 81 assists for 160 points.
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