More important than the lopsided scoring lines for the Texas Stars are the goal scorers. Depth is playing a huge part in the success of the squad early. Among those 24 goals, neither Travis Morin nor Justin Dowling have found the back of the net yet. Greg Rallo, a vet player on an AHL deal, has scored four times though. The real depth here is the contribution of bottom six and younger players to the scoring.
Rookie forward Devin Shore has six goals and was named CCM/AHL Player of the Week this week.
Brendan Ranford has 3 goals and 2 assists in his four games.
Matej Stransky got scratched on opening night and used that as motivation to score 2 goals and 3 helpers in just three games.
Esa Lindell has a goal and five assists. He’s a team-leading plus-7. Stephen Johns and Mattias Backman are plus-6 and plus-5 respectively.
So… things are good in Cedar Park in the goal ledger.
Moreover, the Dallas Stars are like the Texas Stars in more ways than you know. With huge offensive numbers, the goaltending has to hold up or it’s just a track meet. John Muse took the first two games and played admirably with two wins, but a 3.48 GAA and .889 save percentage.
The real story has been Maxime Lagace. After last season saw Lagace bounce around the ECHL trying to find a home, this year has him firmly in Texas with Jack Campbell injured in Dallas. Knowing that he was destined for the ECHL again when Campbell returned if he didn’t step up his game, he has elevated himself to the next level through two games. He’s got his first two AHL wins, a 2.01 GAA and a .937 save percentage.
The Stars had a question mark in net with Lagace and Muse combination, but it looks like Lagace may have won the #1 job for the time being. That’s the catch. Goaltending could be suspect if he doesn’t stay to form.
Texas Stars’ Power Play Lights Up Chicago Wolves 7-3
Special teams were the big winner on both sides of the ledger for the Texas Stars Friday evening. A 3-for-6 power play effort and a spotless 4-for-4 penalty kill helped the Stars to a 7-3 final over the home team Chicago Wolves at Allstate Arena on Friday.
Greg Rallo and Devin Shore each scored a pair of goals. Cole Ully notched his first professional goal in his first AHL game of the season and added an assist as well. Matej Stransky and Gemel Smith rounded out the Stars’ scoring.
Texas never trailed in the contest after jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the first period on the Stransky and Smith goals. Stransky assisted on Smith’s tally, generating a turnover that led to the score.
John Muse got the win, his second of the season in as many starts.
Devin Shore’s Hat Trick Pushes Texas Stars Past Rockford IceHogs 5-2
Devin Shore’s first professional hat trick put him at six goals total on the season in just three games. Shore had the game winner for Texas. Derek Hulak and Brendan Ranford also scored for the Stars.
Maxime Lagace picked up his first AHL win in his first start of the season. He stopped 25 of 27 in net.
Texas Stars Offense Obliterates Rockford IceHogs 7-2
Texas left no doubt Sunday in Rockford as they swept the weekend’s 3-in-3 set with a 7-2 victory. Texas is 4-0 to start the season for the first time in team history.
Greg Rallo scored a pair, and Matej Stransky and Esa Lindell each had a goal and an assist. Derek Hulak and Jason Dickinson each notched two assists, and Maxime Lagace picked up his second win of the season in as many starts.
Remi Elie scored a late power play goal to put Texas up 7-2; it was his first professional goal.
The Week Ahead
Texas returns home to face the Stockton Heat (Calgary Flames) for the first time on Wednesday. Then they’ll hit the road again for a pair against the Iowa Wild (Minnesota Wild) this weekend. They’ll polish the road trip off with one against the Milwaukee Admirals (Nashville Predators), a rescheduled game
Injury Report
Justin Dowling missed Saturday and Sunday’s game with an unspecified issue. Matt Mangene was cut by a skate on a play on Saturday and missed Sunday’s game.