GRIFFINS' HOME WEEK FEATURES CLASHES BETWEEN TWO MOST RECENT CALDER CUP CHAMPIONS

This Week’s Games
Wed., Nov. 12 Lake Erie Monsters at GRIFFINS 7 p.m. WOOD 106.9 FM/1300 AM / AHLLive.com
Fri., Nov. 14 Texas Stars at GRIFFINS 7 p.m. WOOD 106.9 FM/1300 AM / AHLLive.com
Sat., Nov. 15 Texas Stars at GRIFFINS 7 p.m. WOOD 106.9 FM/1300 AM / AHLLive.com

Last Week’s Results
Wed., Nov. 5 Chicago Wolves 3 at GRIFFINS 1 3-4-1-0, 7 pts. (5th, Midwest Division)
Fri., Nov. 7 GRIFFINS 0 at Milwaukee Admirals 4 3-5-1-0, 7 pts. (5th)
Sat., Nov. 8 GRIFFINS 1 at Rockford IceHogs 3 3-6-1-0, 7 pts. (5th)

Streaking Downward: Last week, the Griffins extended their losing streak to six games after dropping a home contest, 3-1, to the Chicago Wolves on Wednesday and falling in back-to-back road games against the Milwaukee Admirals, 4-0, on Friday and the Rockford IceHogs, 3-1, on Saturday. Andy Miele notched the Griffins’ lone tally against the Wolves and Landon Ferraro connected against the IceHogs, but Grand Rapids was outscored by an overwhelming 10-2 majority over the course of the week. The drought is unfamiliar territory for this incarnation of the Griffins, as the previous longest winless streak under head coach Jeff Blashill was four games (0-2-1-1), most recently occurring from April 6-13, 2013. The Griffins’ last winless streak of at least six games was from Jan. 17-Feb. 3, 2010, when the team dropped seven in a row (0-7-0-0) under head coach Curt Fraser. The Griffins’ 3-6-1-0 record equates to a 0.350 winning percentage, and it marks the first time the team has been under 0.500 since Fraser’s last tour as head coach in the 2011-12 season, when Grand Rapids had an 8-11-1-0 record prior to a Dec. 2 victory (6-3 vs. TOR). Grand Rapids looks to change its fortunes with three home games this week, including clashes between the two most recent Calder Cup champions when the Texas Stars visit Van Andel Arena on Friday and Saturday.

Winning Wednesday: Wednesday’s game against the Lake Erie Monsters is an Amway Winning Wednesday. Every time the Griffins win at home on Wednesday, each fan in attendance will receive a free ticket to the next Wednesday game. Additionally, the first 300 fans to visit the Amway table in Section A will receive a gift. Fans can also enjoy a buy-one, get-one-free deal on a 16 oz. Pepsi all game long at any concession stand that sells fountain drinks. (Winning Wednesday and BOGO Pepsi offers exclude Dec. 31 game.)

Friday Night Promotions: Friday’s game gives fans the opportunity to enjoy $2 hot dogs and $2 domestic drafts from 6-8 p.m., while supplies last. Fans can also take advantage of College Night specials, where college students can purchase an upper bowl ticket for $14 (or $13 in advance at The Zone) and stop by the McFadden’s concourse table to receive a free pass to the post-game party at McFadden’s. Every Friday night is also a Griffins D-Zone night, where fans can have $2 beers and $2 hot dogs served directly to their seats. D-ZONE tickets are only available by calling 616-774-4585 ext. 2 or at griffinshockey.com/.

LEGO Night Promotions: Everything is awesome at Van Andel Arena when the Griffins host their first-ever LEGO Night, featuring LEGO-themed videos, music, concourse displays and on-ice entertainment. The first 2,500 children (12 and under) will receive a Griffins player OYO blockhead, courtesy of DTE Energy.

No Place Like Home?: With last Wednesday’s 3-1 loss to the Chicago Wolves, the Griffins dropped their fifth consecutive game at home (0-4-1-0), remaining winless at Van Andel Arena on the season. This is the fourth time in franchise history that a six-game overall winless streak has coincided with a five-game home winless streak. The most recent occurrence was in early 2007-08, when the team had a 10-game overall winless streak (0-8-0-2 from Oct. 28-Nov. 23) and an eight-game home winless streak (0-7-0-1 from Oct. 20-Nov. 23).

Calder Clash: The Griffins’ weekend set against the Texas Stars at Van Andel Arena will be the first clashes between the two most recent Calder Cup Champions since the Norfolk Admirals (2012) hosted the Binghamton Senators (2011) at Norfolk Scope Arena on April 5-6, 2013.

Serial Penalty Killers: The Griffins currently lead the league in penalty killing, allowing only three power play goals in 41 times shorthanded (92.7%). The team has been strongest shutting down the extra skater on the road (95.2%) but has also produced a worthy percentage at Van Andel Arena (90.0%). Grand Rapids ranks 20th overall on the power play (15.6%).

Resilience: Despite a 2-4-1 record and five consecutive losses, Griffins goaltender Tom McCollum ties for 12th among all AHL goaltenders with a 2.16 goals against average. In his 2013-14 campaign, McCollum began the season with a six-game winning streak in his first eight appearances. On Nov. 11, 2013, McCollum owned a 2.25 GAA, which is higher than his current average despite his winning record. The sixth-year pro was recalled by the Detroit Red Wings on Monday to serve backup to Wings netminder and former Griffin Jimmy Howard. Detroit’s first choice (30th overall) in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, McCollum resigned with Detroit this summer after spending last season on an AHL contract, setting career-bests in games played (46), wins (24), save percentage (0.922) and ranking fourth overall among AHL goaltenders with a 2.30 GAA.

Missed Opportunities: Despite their recent losses, the Griffins have had their share of chances in front of the net. In 10 games this season, Grand Rapids has only been outshot one time in a 6-5 overtime loss to the Chicago Wolves at Van Andel Arena on Oct. 31. On Saturday, the Griffins went even with the Rockford IceHogs at 25 shots apiece. In all, the Griffins have outshot their opponents 309-247.

Griffins Leaders: Right wing Teemu Pulkkinen (4-4—8) continues to lead the Griffins in scoring and has done so since the second game of the season. Pulkkinen has also rifled off a team-high 35 shots, followed by Landon Ferraro’s 33 shots. Center Andy Miele (4-2—6) ranks second in scoring, in addition to leading the team with a 40.0% shooting percentage and 0.86 points per game. Center Andreas Athanasiou (1-4—5) and defensemen Xavier Ouellet (1-4—5) and Nathan Paetsch (1-4—5) are all tied for third place in scoring.

The Midwest: An eight-game winning streak by the Rockford IceHogs (10-2-0-1, 21 pts.) sees the team on the top of the Midwest Division. The Chicago Wolves (8-2-2-0, 18 pts.) rank second, followed closely by the third-place Milwaukee Admirals (8-2-0-0, 16 pts.). The Lake Erie Monsters (4-5-1-1, 10 pts.) sit in fourth place, while the Griffins (3-6-1-0, 7 pts.) round out the division in fifth.

Walleye World: The ECHL’s Toledo Walleye had a successful weekend, winning both of their games and improving their record to 6-2-0-0. On Saturday, the Walleye melted the Evansville IceMen, 5-0, at the Huntington Center. Griffins-contracted forwards Tyler Barnes and Kyle Bonis and Detroit product Marek Tvrdon all put away goals in the contest, while Barnes (1-2—3) and Tvrdon (1-3—4) each enjoyed multipoint nights. Prior to Toledo’s game against the Cincinnati Cyclones on Sunday, the Detroit Red Wings reassigned goaltender Jared Coreau to the Walleye. The decision proved fruitful as Coreau manned the pipes and led the Cyclones to a 5-4 victory in a 13-round shootout. Griffins forward Alden Hirschfeld notched Toledo’s game-tying goal at 17:32 of the third period to force overtime and the eventual marathon shootout. The Walleye rank third in the North Division behind the Fort Wayne Komets (8-1-0-0, 16 pts.) and the Kalamazoo Wings (6-2-1-0, 13 pts.). Coreau is now off to a 3-1-0 ECHL record, in comparison to his 1-12-6 record during 2013-14, and he owns a 2.67 goals against average.

Evans Suspended: The American Hockey League on Monday announced that Grand Rapids Griffins defenseman Brennan Evans has been suspended for four games as a consequence of a kneeing incident in Friday’s game at Milwaukee. Evans was suspended under the provisions of AHL Rule 28.1 (supplementary discipline). He will miss Grand Rapids’ games Wednesday (Nov. 12) vs. Lake Erie, Friday (Nov. 14) vs. Texas, Saturday (Nov. 15) vs. Texas and Nov. 21 at Lake Erie.

Goalie Shifts: The Detroit Red Wings on Monday assigned goaltender Petr Mrazek to the Griffins and recalled goaltender Tom McCollum from their AHL affiliate. In addition, the Wings reassigned goaltender Jared Coreau from the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye to Grand Rapids. Detroit’s fifth choice (141st overall) in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, Mrazek has garnered a 3.08 goals against average, a 1-2-0 record and a 0.854 save percentage in four games with the Griffins this season. In his 2013-14 campaign, the Ostrava, Czech Republic, native ranked second among AHL netminders with a 2.10 GAA and a 22-9-1 record in 32 games, earning him a spot on the AHL’s Second All-Star Team. Detroit’s first choice (30th overall) in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, McCollum ties for 12th among AHL netminders with a 2.16 GAA, in combination with a 0.909 save percentage and a 2-4-1 record in seven games with Grand Rapids this season. Last season, the 6-foot-2, 212-pound McCollum finished fourth overall among league goaltenders with a 2.30 GAA and set career bests in games played (46), wins (24) and save percentage (0.922). A native of Perth, Ontario, Coreau has garnered a 2.67 GAA in four games with Toledo this season, alongside a 3-1-0 record and a 0.900 save percentage. During his 2013-14 campaign, the 6-foot-5, 235-pound goaltender registered a 4.03 GAA in 20 games with the Walleye and a 4.39 GAA in five games with the Griffins.

Scouting Report

Wed., Nov. 12 vs. Lake Erie Monsters (4-5-1-1) – Van Andel Arena – 7 p.m.
Radio: WOOD 106.9 FM/1300 AM at 6:35 p.m. Web Casts: Video web cast at AHLLive.com, free audio available through woodradio.com. All-Time Series: 27-18-2-6 Overall, 16-10-0-1 Home. Season Series: 1-2-0-0 Overall, 0-2-0-0 Home. Fourth of 10 meetings overall, third of five at Van Andel Arena. NHL Affiliation: Colorado Avalanche. Head Coach: Dean Chynoweth (2nd season). Notes: The Monsters, who are on a two-game losing streak, or the Griffins, who are on a six-game losing streak, will see one of their droughts come to an end in Wednesday’s matchup at Van Andel Arena…The Monsters rank fourth in the Midwest Division with 10 points...Defenseman Stefan Elliot (4-5—9) and center Colin Smith (3-6—9) lead the Monsters in scoring, while left wing Paul Carey (3-5—8) and center Mike Sgarbossa (0-8—8) tie for third…Lake Erie has a high success rate when scoring first, earning at least one point six out of seven times (4-1-1-1) when notching the initial tally…The Monsters’ overall penalty killing record is 76.7% (27th), giving up 10 goals on 43 times shorthanded.

Fri., Nov. 14 vs. Texas Stars (6-3-2-0) – Van Andel Arena – 7 p.m.
Sat., Nov. 15 vs. Texas Stars – Van Andel Arena – 7 p.m.
Radio: WOOD 106.9 FM/1300 AM at 6:35 p.m. (Fri. and Sat.) Web Casts: Video web cast at AHLLive.com, free audio available through woodradio.com. All-Time Series: 13-8-1-2 Overall, 7-3-0-2 Home. 2013-14 Series: 3-1-0-0 Overall, 2-0-0-0 Home. Season Series: First of four meetings overall, first of two at Van Andel Arena. NHL Affiliation: Dallas Stars. Head Coach: Derek Laxdal (1st season). Notes: The reigning Calder Cup champion Texas Stars rank first in the West Division with 14 points….Derek Laxdal has taken over Texas’ bench after Willie Desjardins accepted the head coaching position for the Vancouver Canucks. Laxdal, 48, joins the Stars after concluding a four-year stretch (2010-2014) as head coach of the Western Hockey League’s Edmonton Oil Kings, highlighted by winning the 2014 Memorial Cup as Canadian Hockey League champions…2013-14 All-Star center Travis Morin leads the Stars in scoring with 18 points (6-12—18). In addition to one power play goal, eight of Morin’s 12 assists have come on the power play. Morin is tied for first in scoring in the league with Hershey’s Kris Newbury (8-10—18)…Right wing Brett Ritchie (3-4—7) ranks first in the AHL with 52 shots...The Stars’ home record (4-0-1-0) has been stronger than their road record (2-3-1-0)…Texas has put away 14 goals on 58 power play opportunities (24.1%, 3rd) but has allowed eight goals in 50 times shorthanded (84.0%, 18th).

This Week’s Games
Wed., Nov. 12 Lake Erie Monsters at GRIFFINS 7 p.m. WOOD 106.9 FM/1300 AM / AHLLive.com
Fri., Nov. 14 Texas Stars at GRIFFINS 7 p.m. WOOD 106.9 FM/1300 AM / AHLLive.com
Sat., Nov. 15 Texas Stars at GRIFFINS 7 p.m. WOOD 106.9 FM/1300 AM / AHLLive.com

Last Week’s Results
Wed., Nov. 5 Chicago Wolves 3 at GRIFFINS 1 3-4-1-0, 7 pts. (5th, Midwest Division)
Fri., Nov. 7 GRIFFINS 0 at Milwaukee Admirals 4 3-5-1-0, 7 pts. (5th)
Sat., Nov. 8 GRIFFINS 1 at Rockford IceHogs 3 3-6-1-0, 7 pts. (5th)

Streaking Downward: Last week, the Griffins extended their losing streak to six games after dropping a home contest, 3-1, to the Chicago Wolves on Wednesday and falling in back-to-back road games against the Milwaukee Admirals, 4-0, on Friday and the Rockford IceHogs, 3-1, on Saturday. Andy Miele notched the Griffins’ lone tally against the Wolves and Landon Ferraro connected against the IceHogs, but Grand Rapids was outscored by an overwhelming 10-2 majority over the course of the week. The drought is unfamiliar territory for this incarnation of the Griffins, as the previous longest winless streak under head coach Jeff Blashill was four games (0-2-1-1), most recently occurring from April 6-13, 2013. The Griffins’ last winless streak of at least six games was from Jan. 17-Feb. 3, 2010, when the team dropped seven in a row (0-7-0-0) under head coach Curt Fraser. The Griffins’ 3-6-1-0 record equates to a 0.350 winning percentage, and it marks the first time the team has been under 0.500 since Fraser’s last tour as head coach in the 2011-12 season, when Grand Rapids had an 8-11-1-0 record prior to a Dec. 2 victory (6-3 vs. TOR). Grand Rapids looks to change its fortunes with three home games this week, including clashes between the two most recent Calder Cup champions when the Texas Stars visit Van Andel Arena on Friday and Saturday.

Winning Wednesday: Wednesday’s game against the Lake Erie Monsters is an Amway Winning Wednesday. Every time the Griffins win at home on Wednesday, each fan in attendance will receive a free ticket to the next Wednesday game. Additionally, the first 300 fans to visit the Amway table in Section A will receive a gift. Fans can also enjoy a buy-one, get-one-free deal on a 16 oz. Pepsi all game long at any concession stand that sells fountain drinks. (Winning Wednesday and BOGO Pepsi offers exclude Dec. 31 game.)

Friday Night Promotions: Friday’s game gives fans the opportunity to enjoy $2 hot dogs and $2 domestic drafts from 6-8 p.m., while supplies last. Fans can also take advantage of College Night specials, where college students can purchase an upper bowl ticket for $14 (or $13 in advance at The Zone) and stop by the McFadden’s concourse table to receive a free pass to the post-game party at McFadden’s. Every Friday night is also a Griffins D-Zone night, where fans can have $2 beers and $2 hot dogs served directly to their seats. D-ZONE tickets are only available by calling 616-774-4585 ext. 2 or at griffinshockey.com/.

LEGO Night Promotions: Everything is awesome at Van Andel Arena when the Griffins host their first-ever LEGO Night, featuring LEGO-themed videos, music, concourse displays and on-ice entertainment. The first 2,500 children (12 and under) will receive a Griffins player OYO blockhead, courtesy of DTE Energy.

No Place Like Home?: With last Wednesday’s 3-1 loss to the Chicago Wolves, the Griffins dropped their fifth consecutive game at home (0-4-1-0), remaining winless at Van Andel Arena on the season. This is the fourth time in franchise history that a six-game overall winless streak has coincided with a five-game home winless streak. The most recent occurrence was in early 2007-08, when the team had a 10-game overall winless streak (0-8-0-2 from Oct. 28-Nov. 23) and an eight-game home winless streak (0-7-0-1 from Oct. 20-Nov. 23).

Calder Clash: The Griffins’ weekend set against the Texas Stars at Van Andel Arena will be the first clashes between the two most recent Calder Cup Champions since the Norfolk Admirals (2012) hosted the Binghamton Senators (2011) at Norfolk Scope Arena on April 5-6, 2013.

Serial Penalty Killers: The Griffins currently lead the league in penalty killing, allowing only three power play goals in 41 times shorthanded (92.7%). The team has been strongest shutting down the extra skater on the road (95.2%) but has also produced a worthy percentage at Van Andel Arena (90.0%). Grand Rapids ranks 20th overall on the power play (15.6%).

Resilience: Despite a 2-4-1 record and five consecutive losses, Griffins goaltender Tom McCollum ties for 12th among all AHL goaltenders with a 2.16 goals against average. In his 2013-14 campaign, McCollum began the season with a six-game winning streak in his first eight appearances. On Nov. 11, 2013, McCollum owned a 2.25 GAA, which is higher than his current average despite his winning record. The sixth-year pro was recalled by the Detroit Red Wings on Monday to serve backup to Wings netminder and former Griffin Jimmy Howard. Detroit’s first choice (30th overall) in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, McCollum resigned with Detroit this summer after spending last season on an AHL contract, setting career-bests in games played (46), wins (24), save percentage (0.922) and ranking fourth overall among AHL goaltenders with a 2.30 GAA.

Missed Opportunities: Despite their recent losses, the Griffins have had their share of chances in front of the net. In 10 games this season, Grand Rapids has only been outshot one time in a 6-5 overtime loss to the Chicago Wolves at Van Andel Arena on Oct. 31. On Saturday, the Griffins went even with the Rockford IceHogs at 25 shots apiece. In all, the Griffins have outshot their opponents 309-247.

Griffins Leaders: Right wing Teemu Pulkkinen (4-4—8) continues to lead the Griffins in scoring and has done so since the second game of the season. Pulkkinen has also rifled off a team-high 35 shots, followed by Landon Ferraro’s 33 shots. Center Andy Miele (4-2—6) ranks second in scoring, in addition to leading the team with a 40.0% shooting percentage and 0.86 points per game. Center Andreas Athanasiou (1-4—5) and defensemen Xavier Ouellet (1-4—5) and Nathan Paetsch (1-4—5) are all tied for third place in scoring.

The Midwest: An eight-game winning streak by the Rockford IceHogs (10-2-0-1, 21 pts.) sees the team on the top of the Midwest Division. The Chicago Wolves (8-2-2-0, 18 pts.) rank second, followed closely by the third-place Milwaukee Admirals (8-2-0-0, 16 pts.). The Lake Erie Monsters (4-5-1-1, 10 pts.) sit in fourth place, while the Griffins (3-6-1-0, 7 pts.) round out the division in fifth.

Walleye World: The ECHL’s Toledo Walleye had a successful weekend, winning both of their games and improving their record to 6-2-0-0. On Saturday, the Walleye melted the Evansville IceMen, 5-0, at the Huntington Center. Griffins-contracted forwards Tyler Barnes and Kyle Bonis and Detroit product Marek Tvrdon all put away goals in the contest, while Barnes (1-2—3) and Tvrdon (1-3—4) each enjoyed multipoint nights. Prior to Toledo’s game against the Cincinnati Cyclones on Sunday, the Detroit Red Wings reassigned goaltender Jared Coreau to the Walleye. The decision proved fruitful as Coreau manned the pipes and led the Cyclones to a 5-4 victory in a 13-round shootout. Griffins forward Alden Hirschfeld notched Toledo’s game-tying goal at 17:32 of the third period to force overtime and the eventual marathon shootout. The Walleye rank third in the North Division behind the Fort Wayne Komets (8-1-0-0, 16 pts.) and the Kalamazoo Wings (6-2-1-0, 13 pts.). Coreau is now off to a 3-1-0 ECHL record, in comparison to his 1-12-6 record during 2013-14, and he owns a 2.67 goals against average.

Evans Suspended: The American Hockey League on Monday announced that Grand Rapids Griffins defenseman Brennan Evans has been suspended for four games as a consequence of a kneeing incident in Friday’s game at Milwaukee. Evans was suspended under the provisions of AHL Rule 28.1 (supplementary discipline). He will miss Grand Rapids’ games Wednesday (Nov. 12) vs. Lake Erie, Friday (Nov. 14) vs. Texas, Saturday (Nov. 15) vs. Texas and Nov. 21 at Lake Erie.

Goalie Shifts: The Detroit Red Wings on Monday assigned goaltender Petr Mrazek to the Griffins and recalled goaltender Tom McCollum from their AHL affiliate. In addition, the Wings reassigned goaltender Jared Coreau from the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye to Grand Rapids. Detroit’s fifth choice (141st overall) in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, Mrazek has garnered a 3.08 goals against average, a 1-2-0 record and a 0.854 save percentage in four games with the Griffins this season. In his 2013-14 campaign, the Ostrava, Czech Republic, native ranked second among AHL netminders with a 2.10 GAA and a 22-9-1 record in 32 games, earning him a spot on the AHL’s Second All-Star Team. Detroit’s first choice (30th overall) in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, McCollum ties for 12th among AHL netminders with a 2.16 GAA, in combination with a 0.909 save percentage and a 2-4-1 record in seven games with Grand Rapids this season. Last season, the 6-foot-2, 212-pound McCollum finished fourth overall among league goaltenders with a 2.30 GAA and set career bests in games played (46), wins (24) and save percentage (0.922). A native of Perth, Ontario, Coreau has garnered a 2.67 GAA in four games with Toledo this season, alongside a 3-1-0 record and a 0.900 save percentage. During his 2013-14 campaign, the 6-foot-5, 235-pound goaltender registered a 4.03 GAA in 20 games with the Walleye and a 4.39 GAA in five games with the Griffins.

Scouting Report

Wed., Nov. 12 vs. Lake Erie Monsters (4-5-1-1) – Van Andel Arena – 7 p.m.
Radio: WOOD 106.9 FM/1300 AM at 6:35 p.m. Web Casts: Video web cast at AHLLive.com, free audio available through woodradio.com. All-Time Series: 27-18-2-6 Overall, 16-10-0-1 Home. Season Series: 1-2-0-0 Overall, 0-2-0-0 Home. Fourth of 10 meetings overall, third of five at Van Andel Arena. NHL Affiliation: Colorado Avalanche. Head Coach: Dean Chynoweth (2nd season). Notes: The Monsters, who are on a two-game losing streak, or the Griffins, who are on a six-game losing streak, will see one of their droughts come to an end in Wednesday’s matchup at Van Andel Arena…The Monsters rank fourth in the Midwest Division with 10 points...Defenseman Stefan Elliot (4-5—9) and center Colin Smith (3-6—9) lead the Monsters in scoring, while left wing Paul Carey (3-5—8) and center Mike Sgarbossa (0-8—8) tie for third…Lake Erie has a high success rate when scoring first, earning at least one point six out of seven times (4-1-1-1) when notching the initial tally…The Monsters’ overall penalty killing record is 76.7% (27th), giving up 10 goals on 43 times shorthanded.

Fri., Nov. 14 vs. Texas Stars (6-3-2-0) – Van Andel Arena – 7 p.m.
Sat., Nov. 15 vs. Texas Stars – Van Andel Arena – 7 p.m.
Radio: WOOD 106.9 FM/1300 AM at 6:35 p.m. (Fri. and Sat.) Web Casts: Video web cast at AHLLive.com, free audio available through woodradio.com. All-Time Series: 13-8-1-2 Overall, 7-3-0-2 Home. 2013-14 Series: 3-1-0-0 Overall, 2-0-0-0 Home. Season Series: First of four meetings overall, first of two at Van Andel Arena. NHL Affiliation: Dallas Stars. Head Coach: Derek Laxdal (1st season). Notes: The reigning Calder Cup champion Texas Stars rank first in the West Division with 14 points….Derek Laxdal has taken over Texas’ bench after Willie Desjardins accepted the head coaching position for the Vancouver Canucks. Laxdal, 48, joins the Stars after concluding a four-year stretch (2010-2014) as head coach of the Western Hockey League’s Edmonton Oil Kings, highlighted by winning the 2014 Memorial Cup as Canadian Hockey League champions…2013-14 All-Star center Travis Morin leads the Stars in scoring with 18 points (6-12—18). In addition to one power play goal, eight of Morin’s 12 assists have come on the power play. Morin is tied for first in scoring in the league with Hershey’s Kris Newbury (8-10—18)…Right wing Brett Ritchie (3-4—7) ranks first in the AHL with 52 shots...The Stars’ home record (4-0-1-0) has been stronger than their road record (2-3-1-0)…Texas has put away 14 goals on 58 power play opportunities (24.1%, 3rd) but has allowed eight goals in 50 times shorthanded (84.0%, 18th).