Sizzling L'Esperance shows no sign of slowing down for Texas Stars

The Texas Stars were on the road for four games last week and came away with four points, a step in the right direction for a team that has struggled away from home recently.
When the Stars won in Milwaukee last Wednesday, they snapped an eight-game skid on the road (0-7-1). Overall, Texas (24-20-5) has lost nine of its last 12 games, but it remains just one point out of the final playoff spot in the Central Division with three games in hand.
Meanwhile, center Joel L'Esperance continues to rack up the goals. The rookie forward leads the AHL in goal scoring with 27 in 49 games.
Here's the latest on the AHL affiliate of the Dallas Stars.

Wednesday, February 6: Texas 1, Milwaukee 0

Landon Bow stopped 29 shots for his first shutout of the season and the second of his AHL career as Texas defeated Milwaukee, 1-0, at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena on Wednesday to snap an eight-game road losing streak.
Bow got the only goal he would need just 71 seconds into the game when L'Esperance scored on a partial breakaway set up by Dillon Heatherington. Bow came up big in the third period, making 18 of his 29 saves over the final 20 minutes.

Saturday, February 9: Manitoba 3, Texas 2

Second-period goals by Michael Mersch and L'Esperance staked Texas to a 2-0 lead Saturday in Manitoba, but the Moose scored the final three goals of the game to defeat the Stars, 3-2, at Bell MTS Place.
The Moose scored twice late in the second to tie the game and then tallied the game-winner early in the third. Philippe Desrosiers got the start in goal and stopped 23 of 26 shots.

Sunday, February 10: Manitoba 2, Texas 0

The Stars were shut out for just the second time this season, falling 2-0 at Manitoba on Sunday. It was a scoreless game heading into the third period when Moose forward broke the tie with a backhand shot at the 4:50 mark.
Manitoba sealed the win with a late empty-net goal.
Desrosiers stopped 31 of 32 shots in goal. Moose netminder Mikhail Berdin stopped 34 shots for his first AHL shutout.

Tuesday, February 12: Texas 3, Rockford 2

Michael Mersch recorded three points (one goal, two assists) and L'Esperance scored his league-leading 27th goal of the season as Texas won 3-2 at Rockford on Tuesday.
The win pulled Texas to within one point of Rockford for the final playoff spot in the Central Division, and the Stars have three games in hand. Travis Morin also scored for the Stars, who received a 28-save effort from goaltender Desrosiers.
L'Esperance's power-play goal early in the third gave Texas a 3-1 lead and held up as the game-winner.

Prospect spotlight

Fast facts

Texas lineup

Here is the Texas lineup from the last game.
Nick Caamano - Joel L'Esperance - Erik Condra
Michael Mersch - Justin Dowling - Adam Mascherin
Travis Morin - Robbie Payne - Brad McClure
Spencer Naas - Colton Hargrove - Tony Calderone
Gavin Bayreuther - Joel Hanley
Dillon Heatherington - Niklas Hansson
Shane Hanna - Ben Gleason
Philippe Desrosiers
Colton Point

Upcoming schedule

Idaho Steelheads (ECHL)

The Idaho Steelheads were swept in a three-game series at Utah last week and are 29-17-3. Idaho ranks second in the ECHL's Mountain Division, four points behind Utah. The Steelheads host Rapid City for a three-game series this week.
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Mark Stepneski has covered the Stars for DallasStars.com since 2012. Follow him on Twitter @StarsInsideEdge.