Texas Stars Report: Point Streak Snapped

It was a tough week for your Texas Stars (21-13-2-2, #4 West) to say the least.  Coming into the week with a seven game point streak, expectations were high for the club.  Winger Fabian Brunnstrom had a 3 game goal scoring streak going and two teams that were easily beatable were up next on the schedule.

Instead, Texas failed to gain points in either contest and has fallen from #2 in the West to #4 in the West in a matter of 7 days.  The West Division of the AHL is the most competitive by far.  For example, if you were to take any team, first through eighth, and place them in the North Division, they would all qualify for the playoffs.  At one point this week, only five points separated the first place team from the fifth place team.

Rampage Halt Texas' Point Streak at 7, Beat Stars 5-1
(HDH blog link)

After a six day layoff, the Stars traveled to San Antonio to face off with their closest divisional rivals.  The Rampage (Phoenix Coyotes) had struggled this year against the Stars (1-3-1-0).  I say 'had' because Friday's game was no struggle.

Texas got the first goal off the stick of Fabian Brunnstrom, who extended his goal streak to four straight games.  The unassisted tally for the winger would be Texas's only goal as they ceded the next five unanswered by the Rampage.  I attended this game personally in San Antonio, and from what I saw the team appeared listless and lacked execution.

The game was what you would consider a "four-point game" and San Antonio's victory allowed them to open up a three point lead on the Stars in the standings, who could have leapfrogged the Rampage with the win. The loss halted Texas's point streak at seven games.

Stars Outmatched By Lake Erie, Lose 3-1
(HDH blog link)

After a tough loss to San Antonio, Texas had a big chance to get back on the horse against the worst team in the conference, the Lake Erie Monsters (Colorado Avalanche).  With no hockey in Austin for the last three weeks, anxious fans sold out the Cedar Park Center and a capacity crowd was ready for some action.

The same problems as the night before plagued the Stars, who should have handily beat such a team.  Missed passes, defensive and offensive zone turnovers, and a seeming lack of energy defeated the Stars more than the Lake Erie Monsters really did.

Texas was never really in the game.  Lake Erie scored the first three and Texas's goal was a mere afterthought.  Aaron Gagnon was your goal scorer, with assists from Francis Wathier and Tomas Vincour.

More about the week ahead and who is actually doing well despite the losses after the jump...