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Aeros Game Day

January 17, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Houston Aeros News Release


Ken Double will bring you all tonight's action on KBME 790 AM beginning at 7 p.m. or on www.aeros.com. Also, check out www.aeros.com for Johan Holmqvist Bobblehead Doll, to be given out to the first 3,000 fans next Saturday.

Houston Aeros at San Antonio Rampage, 1/17

Aeros at Rampage (Aeros lead all-time series 10-4-2-1, 3-2-2-1 at San Antonio)

Tonight is the 18th all-time meeting between the teams – ninth in San Antonio.

The Aeros were unbeaten in four regular season meetings this season (2-0-1-1) prior to last night’s 6-3 loss.

Last night marked the first time in the season series that the road team won.

Aeros were 8-3-1-0 against San Antonio in 2002-03, the Rampage’s first year, including a 5-1-0-0 home mark.

This is the sixth of 12 meetings this season. The teams open up their next home-and-home series February 27 in San Antonio.

2003-04 meetings (Sixth of 12 meetings, Aeros 2-1-1-1 overall, 0-0-1-1 at San Antonio)
November 23 – Houston 4 at San Antonio 5 (OT)
December 13 – San Antonio 0 at Houston 4
December 26– San Antonio 1 at Houston 2
December 27 – Houston 1 at San Antonio 1 (OT)
Last Night – San Antonio 6 at Houston 3
Tonight – Houston at San Antonio
February 27 – Houston at San Antonio
February 28 – San Antonio at Houston
March 12 – San Antonio at Houston
March 13 – Houston at San Antonio
March 26 – Houston at San Antonio
March 27 – San Antonio at Houston

Last game – Eric Beaudoin scored twice and added a helper and Brent Cullaton supplied three assists, as San Antonio beat the Houston Aeros 6-3 in front of 13,342 (including Roger Clemens) at Toyota Center, the largest Aeros crowd in nearly five full seasons since 15,242 watched Game 7 of the 1999 Turner Cup Finals. The crowd was also the largest to see an AHL game this season by more than 500 fans. Gregory Campbell, Greg Koehler, Sean O’Connor and Mike Green also scored and Travis Scott made 36 saves for San Antonio, which has won back-to-back games for the first time in more than a month. The Rampage (39 points) moved into a tie for fourth place with the Aeros in the West Division. Christoph Brandner scored his first two goals as an Aero and Erik Reitz added a goal and an assist for Houston, which is winless in a franchise-record nine games (0-2-6-1). The Aeros played without head coach Todd McLellan, who missed the game with the flu. Assistant Matt Shaw ran the team in McLellan’s stead, while defenseman Travis Roche also missed the game with the flu. The Aeros also played without leading scorers Kyle Wanvig (Minnesota) and Rickard Wallin (injury), and defenseman Zbynek Michalek (Minnesota).

Scouting the Aeros – The Aeros open up a four-game road trip tonight, one shy of their season-high. Houston has just three regulation losses in 19 games (9-3-6-1) but is winless in a franchise-record nine games (0-2-6-1). With Kyle Wanvig in Minnesota, Rickard Wallin (10g, 13a) will break that tie with Wanvig with his next point. Stephane Veilleux (6g, 16a) is third on the team in points, one better than Dan Cavanaugh (7g, 14a). Houston’s blueline is really chipping in lately. Jason Marshall, who took over the Aeros’ captaincy in December, has 15 points, including a team-best five goals from the blueline. Erik Reitz had a goal and an assist last night and has 15 points (3g, 12a), and Travis Roche (2g, 12a) has six assists in the last seven games but missed last night’s game with the flu. Last year’s Calder Cup Most Valuable Player, goalie Johan Holmqvist, has started 33 of the team’s first 41 games, going 12-15-5 with a 2.67 goals against average Holmqvist is winless (0-3-2) in his last six starts with a no decision, one shy of his longest streak of the season and three shy of his career mark. His backup is second-year netminder Kyle Kettles, who is 2-4-3 with a 2.34 goals against average. Kettles has stopped 122 of 127 shots (96.1 percent) while going 2-0-3 in his last five starts, but he allowed three goals on 11 shots in relief last night. Kettles has just nine goals of support in eight starts this season.

Scouting the Rampage – San Antonio has won back-to-back games for the first time since winning two straight December 6 and December 11. Newcomer Brent Cullaton, recalled from CHL Laredo Thursday, has certainly helped the cause with a goal Thursday against Utah and then three helpers last night versus the Aeros. Meanwhile, All-Star Eric Beaudoin had two goals and an assist.The Rampage, 5-9-2 since winning two straight games Dec. 6 and Dec. 11, is tied with the Aeros for fourth place in the West Division with 39, just three behind third-place Milwaukee. Leading the way for the Rampage is All Star Beaudoin, who has 41 points (19g, 22a), including five of his team’s 17 game-winning goals. Mike Green is second on the team with 30 points (10g, 20a). San Antonio got a shot in the arm recently when Lee Goren returned from an injury, but he got hurt again this week. Goren has 20 points (9g, 11a) in just 23 games. The Rampage’s blueline is manned by Michel Periard with 17 points (5g, 12a), and Kyle Rossiter (4g, 5a). Goalie Travis Scott leads the league in wins with 16, and he sports a 16-11-4 mark with a 2.25 goals against average and a .930 save percentage. Simon Lajeunesse was Scott’s backup until he suffered a severe groin injury Tuesday against Grand Rapids. Scott’s new backup is Marco Emond, out of CHL Laredo.

Quite the crowd – The Aeros’ crowd last night was their biggest in nearly five full seasons, since Game 7 of the 1999 IHL Turner Cup Finals against Chicago, on June 5 (15,242). It was also the biggest crowd in the AHL this season, bettering Chicago’s 12,818, versus Grand Rapids on November 1. Houston jumped from averaging 4,359 fans per game to 4,767 fans per game, moving from 17th in the league to 13th.

Welcome back ‘Cully’ – Houston may not have picked up a win last night, but the Aeros were happy to see Mark Cullen back in the lineup. The second-year center had missed the last 22 games with a separated shoulder, after missing the first three games of the season due to having a cancerous mole removed in September, and the ensuing treatments. Cullen was even with one shot and two penalty minutes. He also was the starting center, meaning he was greeted at the ceremonial puck drop by future Hall of Fame major leaguer Roger Clemens. Cullen has also fought back from a broken vertebrae at college, in addition to a broken ankle in last season’s Western Conference Quarterfinals.

Scoreless streak over – The Aeros have scored just 25 goals in 13 games (1.92 goals per game) since beating Norfolk 5-3 December 17. Houston has scored three or more goals three times during the last 13 games. Christoph Brandner’s goal with 1:01 left in the opening period last night snapped the Aeros’ home and overall scoreless streak at 178 minutes, 52 seconds. Houston hasn’t scored a goal since Darby Hendrickson’s power play tally with 4:05 left in the second period against Rochester January 4. The Aeros were shut out in back-to-back home games for the first time since March 2 (Providence) and March 6 (Grand Rapids), 2002. The Aeros were in their longest home scoreless streak in team history, besting the previous mark of 151 minutes, 51 seconds, set from March 1-7, 2002. Houston’s longest ever scoreless streak if 185 minutes, 29 seconds, from March 19-24, 1995, when the Aeros were shut out in three straight games - the only time in franchise history that has happened. Offensively in the AHL, the Aeros have slipped to 24th at 2.29 goals per game.

Home points streak stopped 11 – Houston’s loss to San Antonio last night ended the team’s 11-game home points streak (6-0-4-1). Houston’s nine-game home unbeaten streak, snapped January 8 in a 1-0 overtime loss to Hartford, was the second longest in the AHL this season, trailing only Bridgeport’s 10-game run from October 25-December 17. Houston started off its first season in Toyota Center just 2-6-1-1 but prior to last night hadn’t lost in regulation since a 3-1 decision to Milwaukee December 1, improving to 8-7-5-2. Prior to last night, each of Houston’s last five home games have gone to overtime (0-1-4), a franchise record. The Aeros’ current six-game home winless streak is their season high and two short of the franchise record, set from December 5-31, 1995.

My kingdom for a regulation game – The Aeros have gone into overtime in seven of their last nine games. The Aeros, winless at 0-3-8 in overtime, are one of just three AHL teams without an extra session win. Houston’s 11 OT non-wins are the most of those three teams. The Aeros went 8-3-7 in overtime last season, second in the league in extra session wins (Chicago, 11). Houston’s 11 overtime games this season are still not even halfway to the franchise record of 26 shootout games in the 1998-99 season. The AHL record for overtime games is also 26, set in 2001-02 by both Albany and Rochester. The Aeros’ eight ties are still 10 short of the AHL/overtime era record, set in 1997-98 by St. John’s. New Haven played to 20 ties in 1972-73, but that was before the AHL played overtime periods.

Like father, like son – Houston’s penchant for overtime and tie games is remarkably similar to parent club Minnesota. The Wild, 3-3-8 in the last 14, and the Aeros, 9-3-6-1 in the last 19, have combined for only six regulation losses but also only 12 wins in their last 33 games (12-6-14-1). Both teams are winless in overtime – Minnesota is 0-0-13, while Houston sports an 0-3-8 extra session mark.

Aeros and Rampage tied for fourth – The Aeros (39 points) and San Antonio are tied for fourth place and the winner of tonight’s game could move within a point of third place Milwaukee if the Admirals lose on the road in Cincinnati. Milwaukee lost 4-3 at home to St. John’s last night. Houston’s highest position this season was tied for third on December 28-29. The Admirals do have four games in hand on the Aeros. If Cincinnati does beat Milwaukee in regulation, the loser of tonight’s game (regulation only) would slide to sixth in the division.

Aeros have league’s second best record since December 5 – Houston entered its December 5 home game with Cincinnati with an eight game-winless streak and a league-low 14 points. Since that game, which the Aeros won 3-1, Houston has 25 points, one shy of Bridgeport for the most in the AHL. The run has helped the Aeros climb out of last place and into a tie for fourth. San Antonio has 16 points since December 5.

Aeros 9-3-6-1 in last 19 – Houston is 9-3-6-1 in its last 19 games, but is also winless in a franchise-record nine games (0-2-6-1), although the Aeros have picked up points in seven of those nine games. The Aeros began this 18-game streak by snapping a franchise-record eight-game winless streak with a 3-1 win over Cincinnati December 5.

Houston ran off seven straight games without a loss (3-0-4) December 20-January 2, including four straight ties December 27-January 2. The Aeros are currently winless in nine games (0-2-6-1), one more than their previous franchise record eight-game streak (0-6-1-1) November 20-December 3 of this season. Houston picked up points in just two of those games. The Aeros’ nine-game winless streak is the longest in the AHL this season.

Kyle Wanvig, currently in Minnesota, has recorded four of the team’s last nine game-winning goals. The Aeros’ six-game winning streak was tied for the second-longest in the AHL this season. In the season’s first 22 games, Houston allowed a league-worst 3.36 goals per game. In the last 19 games, the Aeros are yielding just 1.89 goals per game. That has helped Houston move out of the basement to 2.68 goals against per game, 18th in the AHL. Hoggan enjoys new linemates – Aeros right winger Jeff Hoggan played mostly a checking line role in his rookie campaign of 2002-03, but he has already set his career-high in points this season with 18, including career-bests in goals (10) and assists (eight). Hoggan has been particularly hot lately, especially since he has been paired with a pair of Swedes – Rickard Wallin and Mika Hannula. Hoggan has 11 points (6g, 5a) in the last 17 games. Getting Hoggan on the scoresheet is very important to the Aeros, who have just one loss in regulation when he has a point. Houston is 9-1-3-2 when Hoggan has a point, including a 5-1-2-2 mark when he has a goal and an unbeaten 6-0-2-0 record when he notches an assist. Hoggan has a trio of two-point games this season. Wallin has nine points (3g, 6a) and Hannula seven (3g, 4a) since the pairing. Wallin (flu, injury) and Hannula (wrist, flu) have each missed four games during the run.

Kettles unbeaten in five starts – It took goalie Kyle Kettles just more than two months to pick up his first AHL win December 20, but he wasted little time with win No. 2. He made 26 saves at Utah December 23, his second straight gutsy 2-1 road victory. Kettles has earned ties in each of his last three starts, including a season-high 33 saves in a 2-2 game versus Cincinnati January 2, and a 20-save shutout – his first in the AHL – January 9 versus Worcester. Kettles had lowered his goals against average from 3.65 to 2.09 before it jumped up to 2.34 after last night. Kettles has turned aside 122 of 127 shots (96.1 percent) in going unbeaten (2-0-3) his last five starts. His team, though, has supported Kettles with just nine goals in the netminder’s eight starts this season. Last night, Kettles was tagged with his first loss since a 3-1 decision to Milwaukee on December 1. Kettles allowed three goals on 11 shots in relief action. Kettles had allowed just four goals in his last four starts, but yielded three in 20 minutes last night.

Penalty kill update –

Houston killed off its first 31 shorthanded chances this season. Since then, opponents are 22-for-152 (14.5 percent) on the power play.

The Aeros’ overall 88.0 percent penalty kill rate ranks fifth in the AHL.

The Aeros have allowed four power plays or fewer in 15 of their last 17 games.

Houston had allowed its opponents just one power play goal on 20 chances (5.0 percent) over six games until allowing two goals on three attempts last night versus San Antonio.

San Antonio’s power play is tied for eighth in the AHL at 16.0 percent. The Rampage sport a 6-for-27 mark (22.2 percent) in the last six games on the power play.

Houston allowed two power play goals last night and is winless (0-5-1-0) when yielding two or more PPG.

Power play update –

Houston enters tonight’s game 28 of 243 on the power play (11.5 percent), 25th among 28 AHL teams.

The Aeros have gone 16-for-99 (16.2 percent) since Matt Foy snapped a streak of 37 straight unsuccessful power plays December 5, raising their percentage from 8.3 to 11.6.

Houston had at least one power play goal in 13 of 16 games from December 5-January 4, before going 0-for-9 in two games January 8-9.

Houston’s 243 power plays are the most in the AHL, although Manitoba has nearly caught up (242). In order to put the Aeros’ power-play totals in perspective, realize that they have an astounding 93 more power plays San Antonio, which has the fewest in the league.

Tonight, the Aeros face a penalty kill unit tied for 10th in the league at 87.0 percent.

San Antonio has killed off 23-of-27 (85.2 percent) of its shorthanded chances over the past five games.

The Aeros’ three power plays last night tied a season low.

Hendrickson plays in 600th pro game, closing in on other milestones – Aeros centerman Darby Hendrickson played in his 600th professional game December 30. Hendrickson, who spent eight full seasons in the NHL, has 192 points (96g, 96a) in his pro career after two goals December 4. Hendrickson is four goals and four assists shy of 100 in his pro career in both those categories. Hendrickson played in his 100th AHL game December 27. He has 67 points (32g, 35a) in 108 career AHL contests.

Holmqvist 3-3-1 against Rampage – Aeros netminder Johan Holmqvist is 3-3-1 with a 2.86 goals against average in eight career games versus San Antonio. Holmqvist, who allowed two goals on 25 shots last night versus the Rampage but took the no decision, lost in overtime 5-4 to San Antonio on November 23, before tossing a 34-save shutout in a 4-0 home win December 13. Backup Kyle Kettles has started against the Rampage once, making 19 saves in a 1-1 tie at SBC Center December 27. Kettles stopped eight of 11 shots in 20 minutes of relief last night.

Scott 2-2-1 versus Aeros – San Antonio’s Travis Scott is 2-2-1 with a 2.75 goals against average against the Aeros, with all five games coming this season. The Rampage scored six goals for Scott last night; in his prior three games against Houston, his team has scored a total of two goals, and he went just 0-2-1 in that span. Scott turned aside 33 stops in a 1-1 home tie with the Aeros December 27. Marco Emond has never faced Houston.

Houston has one win when allowing more than one goal - The Aeros are an unbeaten in regulation 13-0-2-1 when allowing one goal or fewer this season, and December 17 was their only win (1-16-6-2) when yielding two or more, a 5-3 home win over Norfolk.

Aeros have first goal in 13 of 17 games – Houston has scored first in 13 of its last 17 games, but the Aeros haven’t won any of the last six games when scoring first (0-2-4). Houston is 6-2-5-0 in the last 13 when scoring first and 11-3-5-1 overall when scoring first. Last night marked the Aeros’ first home loss when scoring first (5-1-3-0).

Hoggan, Veilleux ironmen – Houston sports just two players who have played in each of the team’s first 41 games – Stephane Veilleux and Jeff Hoggan. Veilleux’s consecutive game streak is at 47 games dating back to last season, while Hoggan has played in 44 straight games.

McLellan gets No. 100 – December 26 (also the Aeros last victory), Houston head coach Todd McLellan joined current Dallas Stars coach Dave Tippett as the only coaches in team history with 100 victories. McClellan is now 100-65-25-11 in his 2 ½-season reign with the club. McLellan will have to keep at it to top Tippett’s 165-win total. Tippett coached the Aeros for 3 ½ seasons and - like McLellan - led his team to a championship, the 1999 Turner Cup. McLellan’s overall pro coaching record is 143-97-32-11 in 3 ½ seasons. He coached IHL Cleveland in 2000-01 before coming to Houston. McLellan picked up his 100th victory in his 192nd game with the team, just five more games than it took Tippett to reach the plateau. McLellan coached his 100th game with the Aeros last Friday.

Houston just past halfway point – The Aeros are just past the official midway point of the season with a 14-15-8-3 mark. Below is a breakdown of Houston’s season so far in 10-game segments.
Games 1-10 3-6-1-0, 7 points GF: 23 GA: 33 PP: 6-62 (9.7%) PK: 37-40 (92.5%)
Games 11-20 2-5-1-2, 7 points GF: 26 GA: 35 PP: 6-60 (10.0%) PK: 51-60 (85.0%)
Games 21-30 7-3-0-0, 14 points GF: 24 GA: 17 PP: 8-69 (11.6%) PK: 43-47 (91.5%)
Games 31-40 2-1-6-1, 11 points GF: 18 GA: 19 PP: 7-49 (14.3%) PK: 29-33 (87.9%)
Game 41 0-1-0-0, 0 points GF: 3 GA: 6 PP: 1-2 (50.0%) PK: 1-3 (33.3%)

Aeros/Rampage connections

Houston defenseman Erik Reitz played alongside the Rampage’s Matt Dzieduszycki for two seasons with OHL Barrie (1999-2001). In the 1999-2000 season, San Antonio’s Denis Shvidki was also on the team.

San Antonio’s Paul Elliott was a teammate of Houston netminder Kyle Kettles in Medicine Hat in 1999-2000. Kettles also played with the Rampage’s Sean O’Connor in Moose Jaw in 2001-02.

Houston defenseman Travis Roche played alongside San Antonio’s Lee Goren for one season at North Dakota.

Rampage backup goalie Simon Lajeunesse was Stephane Veilleux’s teammate in 2000-01 with Val d’Or, and Chris Bala’s teammate in each 2001-02 (Grand Rapids) and 2002-03 (Binghamton).

Quick hits

The Aeros, 0-3-8 in overtime, are one of three AHL teams without an extra session win. Houston’s 11 OT non-wins are the most of those three teams. The Aeros went 8-3-7 in overtime last season, second in the league in extra session wins (Chicago, 11).

Houston’s 11-game overtime winless streak is its longest since a span of 12 games (0-4-8) from December 29, 2001, to March 29, 2002.

San Antonio is one of three unbeaten in overtime teams (4-0-5). Grand Rapids (4-0-6) and Providence (2-0-9) are the other unbeaten in overtime teams.

Houston has just one win this season when allowing a goal in the third period. The Aeros are 13-2-5-2 when keeping their opponents off the board in the third, including an unbeaten in regulation 12-0-5-2 the last 19 times.

Houston’s last game-winning goal from a player other than the called-up Kyle Wanvig was Chris Bala, in a 2-1 victory in Cincinnati December 20. Prior to that, Jeff Hoggan’s GWG December 13 against San Antonio was the last goal of its kind scored by an Aero other than Wanvig.

San Antonio’s Eric Beaudoin has six of his team’s last 18 goals in the last seven games and 10 of his team’s last 28 over the past 12 games.

The Rampage average just 2.39 goals per game on the road, compared to 2.67 at SBC Center.

San Antonio enters tonight’s game having played nearly twice as many home games (24) as road games (13). The Rampage still has 27 road games left. San Antonio is 5-6-2 away from SBC Center.

Five of the last eight meetings have been decided by one goal or fewer.

Travis Roche’s overtime penalty shot January 9 was the first of its kind in the AHL since Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s Ross Lupaschuk was stopped by Syracuse’s J. F. Labbe February 22, 2002.

Houston’s Marc Cavosie had his second two-point game of the season last night, both against San Antonio. Cavosie’s multi-point night was the first overall for an Aero since Kyle Wanvig December 30 vs. Chicago. Cavosie has 10 points (3g, 7a) in 14 career games against the Rampage.

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