Chops stay alive with big 5-3 win in Houston on Thursday
April 3, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Iowa Chops News Release
In a game they had to have, the Iowa Chops got goal from five different goal-scorers and 22 saves from JP Levasseur, as they kept their playoff hopes alive with a 5-3 win in Houston on Thursday night. The win was just the second for the Iowa Chops over the Aeros this season and the first in Houston. The Chops will look for continued success as they now travel to San Antonio to take on the Rampage on Friday, April 3rd at 7:00pm.
The Chops played a textbook 1st period on the road. Strong and tight defense, solid goaltending, a good penalty kill and timely scoring. The Chops got on the board first thanks to a goal from TJ Trevelyan, who completed a 4 on 2 rush pass from Ajay Baines that beat Houston goalie Barry Brust through the legs. The Chops outshot the Aeros 7-6 in the opening period.
The 2nd period opened with another Chops goal, this time off the stick of defenseman Brennan Evans who sent a bouncing shot past Brust for his first goal of the season. Ryan Dingle and Adrian Veideman assisted. However, the Aeros would storm back with two straight goals. The first on a odd-man rush from d-man Tomas Mojzis and the second from veteran Tony Hrkac, who beat a Chops defender on the play and walked in alone on Levasseur, sliding the puck underneath the goaltender to tie the game at 2-2. Late in the period, the Chops took advantage of a 5 on 3 power play as Brian Salcido scored his first goal in 10 games, with a screaming wrist shot from the high slot that beat Brust over the blocker side for a 3-2 Chops lead at the end of two periods.
The third period saw the Aeros tie it up once again, off of a deflection by Marco Rosa. The Chops buckled down, and Levasseur played some of his best hockey, making one highlight reel save after another. A big save with his stick on a great chance from Robbie Earl swung the momentum toward the Chops and a key late goal by Ryan Dingle put the Chops up by one once again at 4-3, but after a see-saw affair tonight, would they be able to hold the lead? They would. The Aeros gave it their all, pulling Barry Brust with about two-and a half minutes remaining in the period, but it was Troy Bodie's goal from 75 feet out that put the Chops up by two with just :15 seconds left in the game, giving the Chops the big win. The win puts Iowa three points out of a playoff spot with four games remaining.
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American Hockey League Stories from April 3, 2009
- Admirals Sunk by Lake Erie - Milwaukee Admirals
- Houston falls 3-1 to Peoria Friday, could clinch playoffs Saturday - Houston Aeros
- Rivermen Seize Second Place With 3-1 Win Over Aeros - Peoria Rivermen
- Crunch Fall to Rockford in a Shootout - Syracuse Crunch
- Moose drop divisional battle to Marlies, 3-1 - Manitoba Moose
- Bentivoglio's tally 25 seconds into overtime gives Sound Tigers 4-3 victory over Hershey - Bridgeport Islanders
- Bulldogs ground Griffins with a 6-3 win - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Greentree provides offense as Flames top Wolves - Abbotsford Heat
- Griffins fall late in 6-3 loss at Hamilton - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Hartford smacks P-Bruins,6-0 - Connecticut Whale
- Rampage roast Chops - San Antonio Rampage
- Bernier, First In Flight - Manchester Monarchs
- Sharks Edge Albany 3-2 - Albany River Rats
- Phantoms Sneak Past Admirals in Overtime - Norfolk Admirals
- Crawford shines in shootout - Rockford IceHogs
- Devils Lose Battle Versus Pirates, 3-1 - Albany Devils
- Phantoms Take Control Of Playoff Race With 3-2 Overtime Win In Norfolk - Adirondack Phantoms
- Sharks Edge Albany 3-2 - Albany River Rats
- Sharks Riley past Rats 3-2 - Worcester Sharks
- P-Bruins Fall To Wolf Pack 6-0 - Providence Bruins
- Pirates Get 3-1 Victory Over Devils - Portland Pirates
- Sharks reassign forward Ryan Vesce to Worchester - Worcester Sharks
- Moose one of many to thank Flood Fighters with free tickets - Manitoba Moose
- Goaltender Anton Khudobin reassigned to Houston Aeros - Houston Aeros
- Teaming Up for a Great Cause - Cleveland Monsters
- Kings Ink Free Agent Mullen - Manchester Monarchs
- Amerks To Honor Thomas M. Nichols Scholarship Winners April 5th - Rochester Americans
- Dallas Assigns Dan Jancevski To Hamilton - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Amerks Host B-Sens Tonight - Rochester Americans
- Potter Sent to Pack - Connecticut Whale
- Rampage Host Boy Scout Night - San Antonio Rampage
- Boychuk Named AHL's Top Defenseman - Providence Bruins
- Providence's Johnny Boychuk wins AHL's Eddie Shore Award - AHL
- Admirals Team Up with Wisconsin State Fair - Milwaukee Admirals
- Rampage Sign Staal to ATO - San Antonio Rampage
- AHL Quick Hits - AHL
- Admirals Sign LW Brandon Buck to Tryout - Norfolk Admirals
- Aeros visit Peoria tonight at 7 p.m. in battle for second place - Houston Aeros
- Blackhawks Assign Aliu To Rockford - Rockford IceHogs
- Flames Recall Defencemen John Negrin And Matt Pelech From American Hockey League - Abbotsford Heat
- Stanley Cup Visit to Cap Off Griffins' Home Schedule - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Peter White Hall Of Fame Induction Higlights Big Night With Phantoms - Adirondack Phantoms
- Chops stay alive with big 5-3 win in Houston on Thursday - Iowa Chops
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