This Weekends Southwest Action

I'm having to take another trip to Oklahoma to deal with some family issues this weekend, so here's this weekend preview.

Just one game for the Stars this weekend as the Stars face the Oilers in the first afternoon matchup of the season at the AAC. Last night, the Stars won with 2 of the most unlikely goals you will probably see this season after giving up a Ducks goal in the first 2 minutes this season.

If the Stars will get a chance to win against Edmonton, the defense will need to be show up as the Oilers had an impressive 4-1 win over the Red Wings last night.

Dustin Penner will need to be stopped as he's leads the team 30 points (15G 15A) and will need to stop Nikolai Khabibuln as he has a 7-9-2 record at the moment, he also has been not as good as he used to be. But he can be as he very athletic and one of the few goalies of the NHL that can handle the puck as good as Turco and he will be used like a 3rd defenesemen on the ice.

The Stars will also need to match the Oilers desperation as the Oilers are currently 13th in the Western Conference and are just 5 points back of 8th place Nashville. Edmonton has also been in the roller coaster ride the last few weeks since a 6 game losing streak in Mid November that they have suffered where 5 of those games were at home.

In the AHL, the San Antonio Rampage got a much needed 6-3 win in Houston last night as the Rampage have just won 2 of their last 13 games and are looking to dig out of a deep hole in the West Division. As the Rampage and Aeros will play again tonight before another home game on Sunday against West Division Leading Texas Stars.

For the Texas Stars, a 3 game road trip which includes trips to Milwaukee and Chicago before coming back to San Antonio on Sunday night. Since winning 6 of their last 8, Chicago have been improving fast since a coaching change and bringing the ageless Chris Chelios aboard and have them up to 6th place in the West. But the Wolves are just 4 points back of 2nd place Rockford as the Wolves look to get back in the playoffs after finishing 6th last season.

Houston also has 3 games this weekend with a road trip to San Antonio before returning home to take on the Peoria Rivermen and Rockford Icehogs this weekend. The Aeros are starting to get dragged into this tight race as the gap between 2nd and 6th is just 4 points and with playing the Rivermen and Icehogs as they hope to stay in the playoff places as the Aeros have been shaky on home ice as of late with just 1 home win in their last 5.

This will be a good chance to get that turned around against some teams they could be battling for playoff spots later in the season with 7 of their next 8 at home. In that stretch, they will play Grand Rapids Griffins, matches against Texas and San Antonio in the Lone Star Faceoff and the Syracuse Crunch to end the home stand.

For the Texas Tornado, this may be their chance to prove that they can challenge in the South Division with the high scoring Topeka Roadrunners who have scored 102 goals through 24 games played which is 3rd in overall scoring, only behind the Wenatchee Wild and Fairbanks Ice Dogs.

In 2 weeks, the Tornado will head to Kansas to play their final games of the season's first half, this will take them into the league's Holiday Break which goes until December 28. For the Tornado, they first game back won't be until January 8 against the Topeka Roadrunners.

They need to get it done at home, because they play the Roadrunners on December 18 and 19 in Kansas which will be a huge challenge to win in Topeka where they have a 9-1-1 home record. The Tornado will need to be physical and stop their 3 top scores Cole Schneider (14 G), Erik Highby (12 G) and Bryce Johnson (10 G). If the Tornado can at least split this home stand, it would prove that the Tornado will need to be taken seriously.

For Wichita Falls, the Wildcats travel host the Springfield Jr. Blues this weekend as the Wildcats will need to stop Nick Curry and Jared Rickord who are in the top 5 overall in scoring with 32 and 31 points to their credit. Wichita Falls needs a strong December to start digging out of this hole that the Wildcats are in. If they contuine to struggle, it's going to be a long season and no playoff chances for the Wildcats this season.

This weekend's Southwest Schedule

NHL

12/5

@American Airlines Center
Edmonton Oilers VS. Dallas Stars 12:30 PM


AHL

12/4

@Bradley Center
Texas Stars VS. Milwaukee Admirals 7:00 PM

@AT&T Center
Houston Aeros VS. San Antonio Rampage 7:00 PM


12/5

@Allstate Arena
Texas Stars VS. Chicago Wolves 7:00 PM

12/6

@AT&T Center
Texas Stars VS. San Antonio Rampage 5:00 PM


CHL

12/4

@Century Tel Center
Amarillo Gorillas VS. Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs 7:05 PM

@Ector County Civic Center
Laredo Bucks VS. Odessa Jackalopes 7:05 PM

@NYTEX Sports Center
Corpus Christi Icerayz VS. Texas Brahmas 7:05 PM

@Allen Event Center
Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees VS. Allen Americans 7:30 PM

@Rushmore Plaza Civic Arena
Tulsa Oilers VS. Rapid City Rush 8:05 PM


12/5

@American Bank Center
Allen Americans VS. Corpus Christi Icerayz 7:05 PM

@Independence Events Center
Amarillo Gorillas VS. Missouri Mavericks 7:05 PM

@NYTEX Sports Center
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs VS. Texas Brahmas 7:05 PM

@Laredo Enterainment Center
Odessa Jackalopes VS. Laredo Bucks 7:30 PM

@Dodge Arena
Arizona Sundogs VS. Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees 7:35 PM

@Rushmore Plaza Civic Center
Tulsa Oilers VS. Rapid City Rush 8:05 PM


NAHL

12/4

@Kay Yeager Coliseum
Springfield Jr. Blues VS. Wichita Falls Wildcats 7:05 PM

@Dr. Pepper Arena
Topeka Roadrunners VS. Texas Tornado 7:30 PM


12/5

@Dr. Pepper Arena
Topeka Roadrunners VS. Texas Tornado 7:00 PM

@Kay Yeager Coliseum
Springfield Jr. Blues VS. Wichita Falls Wildcats 7:05 PM