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

This weekends Southwest Actions

After last nights 4-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets where the special teams killed them last night with a 5 minute major boarding penalty that got James Neal ejected last night and a 2 game suspension handed down earlier today.

This weekend, they get a Devils team who's looking to get into the Eastern Conference lead as they trail the Washington Capitals by just 1 point and currently lead the Pittsburgh Penguins by just one point right now.

In the AHL, the West Division leading Texas Stars continue the road trip as they are in Michigan to take on the Grand Rapids Griffins have come back from a slow start to have a 10-5-0 record despite being only in 5th place and have played the fewest games in the league right now. After tonight's game in Michigan, they will head to Illinois to take on the Rockford Icehogs for the 2nd time on the road trip.

In Houston, the Aeros are the only team at home this weekend with a Friday and Sunday home stand with the Milwaukee Admirals. Finally for the San Antonio Rampage, the Rampage who are looking to reverse a 9 game losing streak as they are in the middle of a 5 game home stand as they play the Peoria Rivermen, before ending the home stand with a pair of games against the Milwaukee Admirals.

After ending the 8 game Odessa Jackalopes winning streak, the Brahmas look to get the season back on track with a South Texas road trip against the Laredo Bucks and the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees this weekend. Elsewhere, the Odessa Jackalopes will also be heading to South Texas as they play the Laredo Bucks and Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees as well.


NHL

11/21

@American Airlines Center
New Jersey Devils VS. Dallas Stars 7:00 PM



AHL

11/20

@Van Andel Arena
Texas Stars VS. Grand Rapids Griffins 6:00 PM

@AT&T Center
Peoria Rivermen VS. San Antonio Rampage 7:00 PM

@Toyota Center
Milwaukee Admirals VS. Houston Aeros 7:35 PM

11/21

@Rockford Metro Center
Texas Stars VS. Rockford Icehogs 7:05 PM

11/22

@Allstate Arena
Texas Stars VS. Chicago Wolves 3:00 PM

@Toyota Center
Milwaukee Admirals VS. Houston Aeros 4:05 PM


CHL

11/20

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

@Desoto Civic Center
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs VS. Mississippi Riverkings 7:05 PM

@Indpendence Event Center
Tulsa Oilers VS. Missouri Mavericks 7:05 PM

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

@Dodge Center
Texas Brahmas VS. Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees 7:35 PM


11/21

@Kansas Coliseum
Tulsa Oilers VS. Wichita Thunder 7:05 PM

@Amarillo Civic Center
Arizona Sundogs VS. Amarillo Gorillas 7:05 PM

@Laredo Entertainment Center
Texas Brahmas VS. Laredo Bucks 7:30 PM

@Allen Event Center
Corpus Christi Icerayz VS. Allen Americans 7:30 PM

@Dodge Arena
Odessa Jackalopes VS. Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees 7:35 PM


11/22

@Amarillo Civic Center
Corpus Christi Icerayz VS. Amarillo Gorillas 4:05 PM

@BOK Center
Wichita Thunder VS. Tulsa Oilers 4:05 PM


NAHL

11/20

@Dr. Pepper Arena
Wichita Falls Wildcats VS. Texas Tornado 7:30 PM

11/21

@Dr. Pepper Arena
Wichita Falls Wildcats VS. Texas Tornado 7:00 PM

Weekend Action in the Southwest

This weekend will have several big time games as the Dallas Stars after winning their first game in a shootout tomorrow night as the Stars came back from a 2-0 hole late in the 2nd period to come back with James Neal getting his team leading 10th goal of the season.

As they started the comeback early in the 3rd period while Mike Modano tied the game with his 1st of the year after being out for nearly with a month as he has barely missed a step while he was out with the injury and has played a big factor away from the puck and has not been afraid to be hit.

Then in the SO, an unlikely game winner came from Stephane Robadias gave the Stars the first SO Winner of the year and only the 2nd goal in the SO for the entire team. Head Coach Marc Crawford decided to make a few changes to turn around the bad fortune in the SO which included making it the first thing they do in practice a couple times recently and putting in Jamie Benn.

When the Stars trailed 2-0, Mike Ribero kept it that way just 22 seconds into the 3rd period when a give away lead to a re directed shot from Patrick Marleau was blocked. Trevor Daley stopped another great chance just a couple of minutes deflected a shot from Doug Murray that was deflected over Marty Turco.

With the win last night and a loss to the Phoenix Coyotes helped the Stars get up to 3rd place just 2 points back of LA and are up to 6th place with 22 points through 18 games.

This weekend for the Stars: Just one game this weekend will come tomorrow with a trip to Phoenix as the Stars will look to distance themselves from the Phoenix Coyotes and continue to move up the Western Conference Standings.

Phoenix has had a good start, but to me, with all the distractions with the ownership situation and the lack of high quality talent on the team right now, sooner or later, they will fall off the pace in the Very tight Pacific Division and expect Anaheim to get off this slump and eventually past them. However, Dave Tippett has been getting a lot out of this team right now and has them believing right now.

@Jobbing.com Arena
Dallas Stars VS. Phoenix Coyotes 8:00 PM

American Hockey League:

After an OT Loss against the Peoria Rivermen on Wedesnday night, The Texas Stars continue their set of games against the Illinois Teams as a road trip to the Rockford Icehogs then a home tilt against the Chicago Wolves as the Stars continue to lead the West Division by 6 points over the Peoria Rivermen right now, several players are tied with 10 points as Greg Rallo, Perttu Lindgren, Aaron Gagon, and Brad Lukowich.

After the Chicago Wolves, the next game in the Lone Star Faceoff as they will take the short trip to San Antonio to take on the Rampage who are on a 7 game losing streak

The other big thing that's helping the Stars is the team discipline as only 3 players are in double digit penalty minutes for the season and not giving opponent's many chances on the PP.

Maybe some home cooking can do the Rampage some good right now as a 7 game losing streak plagues them right now. 2 games for the Rampage this weekend as they host the Chicago Wolves which despite playing better, are still last in the West Division with Chris Chelios playing pretty well with 7 points (1G 6A) since he joined the team back on October 23 against the Manitoba Moose. Point to be taken, the Wolves will be much tougher to play against as the new coaching staff has had some success so far this season.

Then on Sunday afternoon, they will host the West Division Leading Texas Stars for the latest edition of the Lone Star Faceoff.

Houston has a busy weekend with a 2 game set with the Lake Erie Monsters in Ohio, the Aeros are still looking fine in 3rd place, but a successful weekend against what will be a desperate team in the Monsters as the Monsters are looking to get back in the North Division race with teams like the Manitoba Moose and the Grand Rapids Griffins.

After getting home from Ohio, the team starts a 4 game home stand on Sunday against Chicago, next week, the homestand continues with the Peoria Rivermen on November 18 and 2 games against Milwaukee on November 20 and 22.

11/13

@Quicken Loans Arena
Houston Aeros VS. Lake Erie Monsters 6:30 PM

@AT&T Center
Chicago Wolves VS. San Antonio Rampage 7:00 PM

@Rockford Metro Center
Texas Stars VS. Rockford Icehogs 7:05 PM


11/14

@Quicken Loans Center
Houston Aeros VS. Lake Erie Monsters 12:00 PM

@Cedar Park Center
Chicago Wolves VS. Texas Stars 7:00 PM


11/15

@AT&T Center
Texas Stars VS. San Antonio Rampage 3:00 PM

@Toyota Center
Chicago Wolves VS. Houston Aeros 4:05 PM


Central Hockey League

The Texas Brahmas have been in an early season rut with a 4-5-2 record through 11 games, however it's just 4 points back of the Laredo Bucks for 2nd in the Southern Conference. The defending champions will host a weekend set with the Amarillo Gorillas and the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees at the NYTEX Sports Center.

Elsewhere in the South, The Odessa Jackalopes are coming off a perfect road trip with a pair of wins over the Corpus Christi Icerayz and Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, the Jackalopes will begin a 4 game home stand with the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees, a pair of games against the West Texas Rivals Amarillo Gorillas and the Texas Brahmas as they look for revenge after the Brahmas knocked out the Jackalopes in the Southern Conference Final last season.

Other big games include the Allen Americans against the Colorado Eagles on Friday and Sunday, while the Tulsa Oilers will look to continue their good start with games against the Rapid City Rush and the Mississippi Riverkings. For the Mudbugs, a road trip to Mississippi to take on the

11/13

@NYTEX Sports Center
Amarillo Gorillas VS. Texas Brahmas 7:05 PM

@Desoto Civic Center
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs VS. Mississippi Riverkings 7:05 PM

@Ector County Coliseum
Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees VS. Odessa Jackalopes 7:05 PM

@BOK Center
Rapid City Rush VS. Tulsa Oilers 7:35 PM

@Prescot Valley Event Center
Corpus Christi Icerayz VS. Arizona Sundogs 9:05 PM


11/14

@Centruy Tel Center
Rapid City Rush VS. Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs 7:05 PM

@Ector County Coliseum
Amarillo Gorillas VS. Odessa Jackalopes 7:05 PM

@NYTEX Sports Center
Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees VS. Texas Brahmas 7:05 PM

@BOK Center
Mississippi Riverkings VS. Tulsa Oilers 7:35 PM

@Budwiser Events Center
Allen Americans VS. Colorado Eagles 8:05 PM

@Prescot Valley Event Center
Corpus Christi Icerayz VS. Arizona Sundogs 9:05 PM

11/15

@Laredo Entertainment Center
Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees VS. Laredo Bucks 4:00 PM

@Budwiser Events Center
Allen Americans VS. Colorado Eagles 8:05 PM


NAHL

As both the Texas Tornado and the Wichita Falls Wildcats continue to struggle, the Texas Tornado play the 2nd part of their northwest Roadtrip as the Tornado head to Alaska for a weekend series against the Fairbanks Ice Dogs.

After losing both games to the Wenatchee Wild, the Tornado are looking for better things as the Ice Dogs have Mark Pustin whose among the lead leaders in goals with 13, on the play maker front, Michael Juola is also among the assist leaders with with 22 where he has a crisp and gets away the puck very quickly. For the Tornado, stopping these 2 will need to be stop to have a shot of having any success in the first of 2 road trips to Alaska this season.

For Wichita Falls, a weekend set in Kansas awaits them as the Roadrunners look to extend their lead in the South over the St. Louis Bandits. For Wichita Falls, Brian Sheehan will need to be big for them as he's leading the team with 12 goals while no one else has more then 5 goals on the team.

11/13

@Kansas Expocenter
Wichita Falls Wildcats VS. Topeka Roadrunners 7:05 PM

@Big Dipper Ice Arena
Texas Tornado VS. Fairbanks Ice Dogs 7:30 PM Alaska Time

11/14

@Kansas Expocenter
Wichita Falls Wildcats VS. Topeka Roadrunners 7:05 PM

@Big Dipper Ice Arena
Texas Tornado VS. Fairbanks Ice Dogs 7:30 PM Alaska Time