Texas Stars VS. Chicago Wolves Game 7 Preview

With the 7th and deciding game tonight up in Chicago. The winner of tonight's game will be moving on the Western Conference Finals against the Hamilton Bulldogs who ousted the Abbotsford Heat in 6 games last night with a 4-0 victory in Hamilton, Ontario.

The big story going into tonight as Texas' starting goaltender Brent Krahn was injured late in the first period, then Matt Climie had a strong showing by stopping 26 of 27 shots in the 2-0 shutout.

To replace Krahn for tonight, the Texas Stars have brought up Richard Bachman's of the Idaho Steelheads, which is the Dallas Stars ECHL Affiliate

From the Texas Stars Website: www.texasstarshockey.com

The winner of Game 7 will advance to the AHL Western Conference Final. Chicago forced the 7th and series decisive game with a 2-0 shutout in Game 6 on Sunday Night. Texas won Game 1 in Chicago, as well as Games 4 and 5 in Cedar Park Center. Chicago won Game 2 and 6 at home. And also took Game 3 at Texas.

This is the first time Texas meets Chicago in the Calder Cup Playoffs. The Stars swept the Rockford Icehogs to advance to the West Division Finals. Chicago edged Milwaukee in seven games to get to their 2nd round matchup with Texas. The two teams met eight times during the regular season with each team winning four times. The road team went 3-1-0 in the regular season series. So far in the postseason, the road team is 2-4.

Texas went 22-14-4 on the road in the regular season and is 3-2 in the postseason. The Stars have outscored their opponents 17-12 in their first five road games of the playoffs. Chicago had one of the best home records in the AHL with a 29-8-3 record at Allstate Arena in the regular season. The Wolves are 5-2 in the playoffs at home, outscoring opponents in the first seven home games 25-17. The first two games of this series in Chicago went to overtime, including double overtime in Game 2. Chicago has outscored Texas 9-7 in the three games at Allstate Arena in this series.

West Division Finals Update: Series Tied 3-3

Game 1: Texas Stars 4 Chicago Wolves 3 (OT)

Game 2: Texas Stars 3 Chicago Wolves 4 (2OT)

Game 3: Chicago Wolves 5 Texas Stars 3

Game 4: Chicago Wolves 2 Texas Stars 3

Game 5: Chicago Wolves 3 Texas Stars 5

Game 6: Texas Stars 0 Chicago Wolves 2

Game 7: Texas Stars VS. Chicago Wolves 7:00 PM


Series Leaders

Chicago's Anthony Stewart leads all skaters in the West Division Finals with six goals in six games played. Stewart posted two goals in Game 2 and Game 5. Texas rookie Jamie Benn is tied with Chicago's Brett Sterling for second in scoring of the West Division Finals with 7 points each. Defensemen Andrew Hutchinson and Dan Jancevski, along with the Left Wing Francis Wathier, each have five points in the six game series. Stars center Aaron Gagon and Perttu Lindgren are second on the team with three goals against the Wolves.

Texas goalie Brent Krahn is 3-3 with a 3.10 GAA and a .905 SV% against Chicago. Wolves Goalie Peter Mannino is 2-3 with a 3.40 GAA and a .874 SV% against the Stars. Chicago's Drew Maclntyre pitched a shutout in Game 6, stopping all 28 Texas Shots. Stars goalie Matt Climie is 0-0 in 62 minutes of work with a 1.93 GAA and a .939 SV%.

The Wolves have gone 8-25 on the power play against the Texas Stars in the West Division Finals, including 3-6 in Game 3 on Tuesday Night at Cedar Park Center. Chicago has scored at least one power-play goal in every game of this series. Texas is 4-24 on the power-play against Chicago in the playoffs after going 2/28 in the regular season against the Wolves. The Stars have been outscored 19-18 in the series.

Richard Bachman recalled from Idaho

The Texas Stars have announced on Monday that goalie Richard Bachman has been recalled from the Idaho Steelhounds, the Dallas Stars ECHL Affiliate.

Bachman was in the ECHL's National Conference Finals with Idaho, playing in 8 Kelly Cup Playoff Games. The rookie netminder was 6-2 in the postseason with a 1.43 GAA, one shutout and a .959 SV%. Bachman ranked first in the postseason in goals against average and 2nd in SV%.

The 22 year old, played in seven regular season games for Texas in 2009-2010, going 4-3 with a 2.03 GAA, one shutout and a .933 SV%. In 35 regular season appearances with Idaho, Bachman went 22-7-4 with a 2.28 GAA and a .910 SV%. He finished first in the ECHL in GAA, 4th in SV%, tied for 6th in wins and led the league with 4 shutouts.

Stars Playoff Notes

Rookies Travis Morin and Jamie Benn in postseason scoring. Benn has a team-leading seven goals and 13 points, raking first among AHL Rookies in playoff scoring and fourth overall in the AHL. Morin has a team-high seven assists and nine points in 10 playoff games. Defensemen Andrew Hutchinson and center Perttu Lindgren are tied for third on the team with 8 points in 10 games. Hutchinson has registered three goals and five assists, while Lindgren has four goals and four assists. Morin is tied for 2nd among all AHL Rookies in playoff scoring. Hutchinson is tied for fifth among AHL Defensemen in playoff scoring, while Dan Jancevski is tied for seven points. Jancevski leads all AHL skaters with a +10 in the postseason. Jamie Benn leads the Stars with 30 shots on goal, followed by Greg Rallo's 28 and Landon Wilson's 27.

Goalie Brent Krahn sits sixth among AHL Goaltenders with a 2.32 GAA and a .928 SV%. Matt Climie is third with a 1.93 GAA against average and a .939 SV% in two appearances.


Stars Watching Party

The Texas Stars will be having a Game 7 Watching Party at Hayahsa Sushi and Grill in Cedar Park as the team looks to advance to the Western Conference Finals against the Hamilton Bulldogs. The Series should be getting underway later this week or this weekend in Hamilton, Ontario as the Bulldogs have clinched home-ice advantage for the entire Western Conference Playoffs.

Specials include Half Price Appetizers, Food & Drink Specials, The Team Ice Girls, giveaways and so much more. The party starts at 6:00 PM with the game starting at 7:00 PM.

Address: 1335 E. Whiteston Blvd. Suite T-140 in Cedar Park

Phone #: 512-986-7176

Website: www.hayashigrill.com