Texas Stars VS. Hamilton Bulldogs Game 1 Preview

We are down to 4 in the AHL Calder Cup Playoffs. On Wednesday Night it was the Hershey Bears that beat Manchester 4-2 in the Series opener as the Bears go 9-for-9 in the playoffs as they have pulled off sweeps of Albany and Bridgeport in the first 2 Rounds.

Now it's the Western Conference's turn to start as the Hamilton Bulldogs having a huge amount of experience in the playoffs as they have reached the Conference Finals for the 3rd time in the last 7 years.

While the Texas Stars look to ride their great first year run and make some history to win the Calder Cup in their team's first year down in Austin.

It's also the 2nd straight year it's the Lone Star State VS. Canada in the AHL Western Conference Finals as the Manitoba Moose beat the Houston Aeros in 6 games in last year's Conference Finals.


From the Texas Stars Website: www.texasstarshockey.com

This is the first time that the Texas Stars will meet the Hamilton Bulldogs in the Calder Cup Playoffs. The Stars sweeped Rockford in the first round and edged Chicago in 7 games of the 2nd round to advance to the Western Conference Finals. Hamilton took out both Manitoba and Abbotsford in six games in the first and 2nd rounds, advancing to the 3rd round matchup with Texas. The two teams meet twice during the regular season with team winning on the road.

Hamilton beat Texas in the first regular season meeting on October 24 at Cedar Park Center, a 2-1 SO Win. The Stars won 5-0 at Hamilton in the 2nd meeting of the season on 2/16 at Copps Coliseum. The win was only Texas victory against a Canadian Based Team all season.

Texas went 22-14-4 on the road in the regular season and is 4-2 in the postseason. The Stars have outscored their opponents 23-17 in the first six road games of the playoffs. The Bulldogs are 5-1 in the playoffs at home, outscoring their opponents in the first six home games 22-8.

Hamilton tied Hershey for the fewest regulation losses and finished with the 2nd highest point total in the AHL, with a 52-17-11 regular season record. The Bulldogs racked up 115 points, 16 ahead of the Stars 99 points in the Regular Season.

#1N Hamilton Bulldogs VS. #2W Texas Stars

Game 1, 5/14: @ Hamilton 6:30 PM

Game 2, 5/16: @ Hamilton 1:00 PM

Game 3, 5/19: @ Texas 7:30 PM

Game 4, 5/21: @ Texas 7:30 PM

Game 5, 5/22: @ Texas 7:00 PM*

Game 6, 5/24: @ Hamilton 6:30 PM*

Game 7, 5/26: @ Hamilton 6:30 PM*

*If Necessary


Stars Call up Richard Bachman from Idaho.

The Texas Stars announced on Monday that goalie Richard Bachman has been called up from the Idaho Steelhounds (ECHL).

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 second in save percentage.

The 22 year old, played in seven regular season games for Texas in the 2009-2010 season, 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 goals against average, fourth in save percentage, tied for sixth in wins and led the league with 4 shutouts.

Stars Playoff Notes

Rookies Travis Morin and Jamie Benn lead Texas in postseason scoring. Benn has a team leading 8 goals and 15 points overall, ranking first among all AHL Rookies in playoff scoring and for tied for second overall in the AHL. Morin has a team high eight assists and 11 points in 11 playoff games. Defensemen Andrew Hutchinson is third on the team in scoring followed by Center Perttu Lindgren. Hutchinson has registered four goals and added 5 assists, while Lindgren has four goals and four assists.

Morin is tied among all AHL Rookies in playoff scoring. Hutchinson is third among all AHL Defensemen in playoff scoring, while Dan Jancevski and Maxime Fortunus are tied for 7th with 7 points each. Fortunus and Benn are tied for the league lead with a +10, followed by Jancevski's +9, Jamie Benn leads the Stars with 37 SOG, followed by Landon Wilson's 34 and Greg Rallo's 31.

Goalie Brent Krahn has a 2.32 GAA and a .928 SV%. Matt Climie has a 3.31 GAA and a .928 SV% in three games played.

Regular Season VS. Hamilton

Texas Winger Mathieu Beaudoin and defensemen Andrew Hutchinson lead the Stars in scoring in the regular season series. Both skaters posted a goal and two assists for three points in two games. Defensemen Garrett Stafford, as well as forwards Aaron Gagon, Warren Peters and Raymond Sawada also had two points in two games.

Goalie Matt Climie went 0-0-1 with a 0.93 GAA and a .974 SV%. Richard Bachman was 1-0-0 and had a shutout, which was his first Career Shutout in the AHL back in February.


Texas Stars Game 1 Party

The Texas Stars will once again will have a team party, this time at the Third Base Grill and Bar in Round Rock. The party tonight gets going at 5:30 PM with the puck drop scheduled for 6:30 PM.

Look for a variety of Food & Drink Specials, The Texas Stars Ice Girls, Merchandise, Giveaways and so much more.

Location: Third Base Grill in Round Rock

Phone Number: 512-388-BASE

Website: www.thirdbaseaustin.com/index.php/round-rock