Texas Stars Report: Nov. 6

The Texas Stars played only one game over the past week, falling 4-1 to Grand Rapids at Cedar Park Center on Saturday. It was the fifth loss in the last six games for the Stars, who are now 3-5-0-0 on the season.

Texas coach Willie Desjardins was asked after Saturday’s loss about some of the key areas the team will focus on moving forward.

“We have to work on our specialty teams. It’s been a theme since we started here. There’s nothing you can do but keep working at it,” Desjardins said. “And our compete level on the one-on-ones. They seem to be hungrier and that can’t happen, especially in your rink.”

Saturday, Grand Rapids at Texas: Griffins 4, Stars 1

Forward Colton Sceviour returned to the lineup after missing the first seven games of the season with a hand injury and scored a goal for Texas, but it wasn’t enough as the Stars lost to the Grand Rapids Griffins, 4-1.

“We’ve got to win our battles, work hard and move our feet. That’s how you win hockey games,” said Sceviour. “You can’t go out there and rely on your skill to win games. You have to work hard and we didn’t do that enough tonight to get the win.”

The Stars played well in the first period, outshooting Grand Rapids 15-7, but they still trailed by a 2-1 score going into the first intermission.

After Adam Almquist staked the Griffins to a 1-0 lead 3:08 into the game, Sceviour answered for Texas. After taking a pass from Jamie Oleksiak off the rush, Sceviour scored off a wrist shot at the 13:48 mark.

Less than two minutes later, the Griffins got the lead back when Joakim Andersson scored off a scramble in front of the Texas net.

Grand Rapids made it a 3-1 game early in the second when Almquist tallied on the power play. Gustav Nyquist scored with 4:00 left in regulation to round out the scoring in the game.

Jack Campbell got the start in goal for Texas and stopped 23 of 27 shots. Petr Mrazek, making his AHL debut, stopped 29 of 30 shots for Grand Rapids.

Texas forward Scott Glennie, who sat out the first seven games as a scratch, played his first game of the season on Saturday. He had no points, no shots and an even rating.

Statistical notes

The Texas Stars are off to a slow start this season. Here are a few statistical notes on their first eight games.

*The Stars rank 28th in the AHL in scoring at 2.00 goals per game.

*The Stars have scored two goals or fewer in five of their eight games.

*The Stars rank 25th in goals against at 3.38 per game.

*Texas has given up four goals or more in five of its last six games.

*Texas ranks 28th in the league on the power play at 8.1 percent (3-37)

*Texas ranks last in the league (30th) on the penalty kill at 66.7 percent (22-33).

*Cody Eakin (4) and Travis Morin (2) are the only Texas players to have scored multiple goals this season.

*Eakin leads the team in goal scoring (4), points (7) and plus/minus (+4).

*Right wing Tomas Vincour leads the team in assists with 5.

*Rookie Jamie Oleksiak leads the team’s defensemen in scoring with 4 points (1 goal, 3 assists).

*Vincour and defensemen Cam Barker lead the team in shots on goal with 24 each.

Upcoming schedule

Friday: Toronto at Texas, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday: Lake Erie at Texas, 7:00 p.m.
Sunday: Texas at Houston, 5:05 p.m.

Idaho Steelheads

The Idaho Steelheads, Dallas’ ECHL affiliate, played just one game over the past week, defeating Utah 3-2 to run their points streak to seven games (6-0-0-1). Goaltender Tyler Beskorowany stopped 29 of 31 shots for Idaho, which improved to 6-2-0-1 on the season.

Texas Stars Statistics

*Indicates player under contract to Texas Stars. x-Indicates not currently on roster

Idaho Steelheads Statistics

Stats of Dallas players in Idaho