Texas Stars stay hot, continue climb up standings

The Texas Stars just keep on rolling.
The Stars won all three of their games last week and continued to climb up the AHL's Central Division standings. The six points last week pushed the Stars (21-11-5) into the fourth and final playoff spot in the division, and with as many as three games in hand on the teams ahead of them, the Stars are tops in the division based on points percentage (.635).
Texas is currently on a five-game point streak (4-0-1), has points in nine of its last 10 games (7-1-2) and has a 14-3-3 mark over the last 20. The Stars also have points in their last 11 games at home (10-0-1).
Joel L'Esperance had another strong week, recording five points (three goals, two assists), and Denis Gurianov found the back of the net twice.
Here's the latest on the AHL affiliate of the Dallas Stars

Wednesday, January 9: Texas 3, Bakersfield 2

Texas ran its home point streak to nine games (8-0-1) with a 3-2 victory over Bakersfield Wednesday at H-E-B Center. Adam Mascherin and Tony Calderone both had one goal and one assist, and Ben Gleason also scored for Texas. Goaltender Landon Bow stopped 28 shots for the Stars. Gleason (power play) and Calderone scored in the first period to stake Texas to a 2-0 lead. After the Condors cut the lead to 2-1 early in the second, Mascherin scored from the right circle to push the lead to 3-1.

Friday, January 10: Texas 4, Rockford 3 (SO)

Gurianov scored two goals, L'Esperance tallied his 20th of the season, and Travis Morin scored the lone goal of the shootout as the Texas Stars defeated Rockford, 4-3, Friday to extend their home point streak to 10 games (9-0-1). Nick Caamano notched two assists, and Bow stopped 20 shots in regulation and overtime and all three shootout attempts he faced. Gurianov's second goal of the night, which came with 4:18 left in regulation, tied the game 3-3 and forced extra playing time.

Saturday, January 11: Texas 4, Iowa 2

L'Esperance tallied two goals and one assist and Michael Mersch and Colton Hargrove also scored as Texas defeated Iowa, 4-2, to push its home point streak to 11 games (10-0-1). Philippe Desrosiers stopped 23 of 25 shots. Iowa led 2-1 after one period, but L'Esperance tied the game at 4:46 of the second and Mersch gave the Stars a 3-2 lead midway through the period. L'Esperance sealed the win with an empty-net goal late in the third.

Prospect spotlight

Texas lineup

Here is the Texas lineup from the last game.
Travis Morin - Joel L'Esperance - Michael Mersch
Denis Gurianov - Justin Dowling - Nick Caamano
Adam Mascherin - Colton Hargrove - Brad McClure
Sam Laberge - James Phelan - Colin Markison
Dillon Heatherington - Joel Hanley
Gavin Bayreuther - Ben Gleason
Shane Hanna - Niklas Hansson
Philippe Desrosiers
Landon Bow

Upcoming schedule

Idaho Steelheads (ECHL)

The Idaho Steelhead swept a three-game series against Toledo last week to improve to 23-11-5 on the season.
The Steelheads, who are in first place in the ECHL's Mountain Division and rank fourth in the league overall, are 8-1-0 in their last nine games and 18-4-0 over the last 22.
In Saturday's 5-3 win over Toledo, Stars goaltending prospect Colton Point stopped 34 shots and Dallas defense prospect Ondrej Vala scored the game-winning goal. Point is 3-1-1 with a 3.16 goals against average and .897 save percentage.
Vala has five points (two goals, three assists) in 20 games.
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.