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Aeros, Admirals Face Off At Toyota Center Today

February 7, 2006 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Houston Aeros News Release


Six things you need to know

Houston (71 points) and Milwaukee (67) have been 1-2 in the West Division race for nearly two full months, since 12/9. The Aeros' lead was a season-high nine points (58-49) on 1/12. The Admirals briefly cut the lead to two points (60-58) on 1/19, and a regulation victory today by Milwaukee would draw the Ads within two points again. Aeros C Erik Westrum (24-48=72) and RW Kirby Law (29-39=68) rank first and second in the AHL in scoring. They are trying to become the first duo from the same team to finish 1-2 in the league's scoring race Paul Gardner (112 points) and Jody Gage (99) turned the trick for Rochester exactly 20 seasons ago - in 1985-86. No two teammates have reached the 100-point plateau since a trio of Carolina Monarchs did it in 1995-96. Westrum has already posted the second-highest point and assist total for an Aero since the the team joined the AHL in 2001-02. Jean-Guy Trudel notched 85 points, including 54 helpers, in 2002-03. Rookie C Patrick O'Sullivan is first in rookie scoring with 53 points (27-26=53), and LW Roman Voloshenko (24-14=38) is second among first-year players in goals and 10th in overall rookie scoring. The line of Law, Westrum and Voloshenko has been held without at least a point in only seven games this season. Veteran D Curtis Murphy, meanwhile, is tied for first among AHL defensemen scoring lead with 41 points (7-34=41). He's third among all players with a plus-18 rating. The Aeros have scored 79 goals in 16 home games since the 11/27 loss for a 4.94 gpg average. Houston averages 4.21 gpg at home (118 goals in 28 games), on pace for a new franchise-record of 169 goals. Houston has scored five goals or more in 15 of its 28 home games, and four or more in 19. The Aeros have outscored their opponents by a whopping 118-70 margin at home. The plus-47 goal margin is the best in the AHL, and only Wilkes-Barre Scranton (89-49) is within 10 goals of the Aeros. After today's game, the Aeros play 19 of their final 30 contests on the road, beginning with a five-game road trip that starts Friday in Manchester. Aeros linemates C Erik Westrum and RW Kirby Law each have at least one point in each of the Aeros' 16 home games since getting shut out 11/27 by Milwaukee. Westrum has 32 points and Law 31 in that span, which has seen the Aeros go 13-2-0-1. Westrum has 49 points (15-34=49) in just 28 home games, while Law has 45 points (21-24=45) at Toyota Center. When Iowa D Dan Jancevski was recalled to Dallas on Saturday to make his NHL debut, it ended his AHL consecutive games played streak at 257 games. It was the longest active run in the AHL, and that mark is now held by Aeros D Dustin Wood. Wood, acquired from Phoenix last summer along with C Erik Westrum for D Zbynek Michalek, hasn't missed a game since 11/23/03 with Springfield. RW Kirby Law's AHL games played streak is at 150, while Erik Westrum has played in 129 straight. Law hasn't missed a game with the Aeros - his 129 games played streak is the longest in team history. This series marks the 12th time this season that the Aeros have played a team in two consecutive games. In the first 11, Houston went 9-1-1-0 in the first meeting, and 8-3-0-0 in the second game. The Aeros play the same team in back-to-back games six more times this season, including three in a row against Iowa 2/17, 2/18 and 2/23.

Admirals at Aeros (Aeros are 31-34-7-2 all-time, Aeros are 17-16-4-2 at Houston) The teams meet for the 75th time tonight - Houston's 40th home game. Milwaukee is the only active AHL team that the Aeros have an overall losing record against. The Aeros are 4-15-2-2 in the last 23 meetings since a 5-1 win 10/17/03. Since beating Milwaukee 7-0 at Toyota Center 1/11/05, the Aeros are 2-6-1-1 against the Admirals, getting outscored 33-16. Houston has been shut out in three of the last six meetings. Seven of the last 14 meetings have ended with one team being shut out. Each of the Aeros' last three victories over the Admirals have come via the shutout. The last time Houston allowed Milwaukee a goal and still won was a 5-2 decision at Bradley Center 11/13/04. The last time the Aeros won a home game against the Admirals when allowing a goal was a 4-2 decision 3/15/03, at Compaq Center.

Scouting the Aeros The Aeros (34-12-1-2) have the AHL's third-best winning percentage (.724), trailing only Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (.798 pct) and Grand Rapids (.725)...The Aeros' West Division lead is four points over Milwaukee, which has a game in hand...Houston has won 16 of 21 overall, and its 21-4-1-2 home mark (.804 points percentage) is second-best in the AHL to Grand Rapids (19-3-1-2, .820)...C Erik Westrum has 72 points (24-48=72), four up on RW Kirby Law (29-39=68) for the top spot in the AHL...C Patrick O'Sullivan is first in rookie scoring with with 53 points (27-26=53)...LW Roman Voloshenko (24-14=38) is second in goals and 10th in points among rookies...D Curtis Murphy is tied for first among AHL defensemen with 41 points (7-34=41)...G Josh Harding is 21-7-0 with a 2.63 gaa to rank tied for second in the league in wins, tied for third in save pct. (.923) and 10th in gaa...G Seamus Kotyk is 10-5-2 with a 2.86 gaa, ranking 19th in gaa, while G Miroslav Kopriva is 3-1-0 with a 2.79 gaa.

Scouting the Admirals Milwaukee (31-12-4-1), AHL affiliate of the Nashville Predators, is 9-1-2-0 in its last 12 overall, and has won four straight road games...Former AHL Rookie of the Year RW Darren Haydar leads Milwaukee with 54 points (20-34=54)...LW Scottie Upshall, named the AHL's Player of the Week yesterday, is the fourth leading scorer despite playing in only 14 games...Upshall, who posted the first visiting hat trick at Toyota Center, has racked up 29 points (16-13=29) in only 14 games...D Kevin Klein paces the blueliners with 27 points (6-21=27)...Rookie All-Star G Pekka Rinne is 21-12-1 with a 2.74 gaa, while G Brian Finley is 9-3-0 with a 2.87 gaa.

2005-06 meetings (5th of 8 meetings, Aeros are 1-2-0-1 overall, Aeros are 1-1-0-1 at Houston) October 28 Houston 1 at Milwaukee 6 November 25 Milwaukee 0 at Houston 3 November 27 Milwaukee 3 at Houston 0 Saturday Milwaukee 6 at Houston 5 (SO) Today Milwaukee at Houston February 25 Houston at Milwaukee February 26 Houston at Milwaukee March 17 Houston at Milwaukee

Quick Hits Houston is second in the AHL in scoring at 3.76 gpg, trailing only Grand Rapids' 4.00 gpg. Since getting shut out 3-0 by Milwaukee 11/27, the Aeros have scored 108 goals in 25 games for a 4.32 gpg average. Houston is trying to score 300 goals for just the second time in team history. The Aeros scored a franchise-record 307 goals in 1998-99, but that came in an 82-game season. This season Houston is on pace for 301 goals. The Aeros are 14-4-1-2 in one-goal games, and an impressive 20-6-1-2 in games decided by two goals or less. The Admirals are 13-3-4-1 in one-goal games, and 23-6-4-1 in games decided by two goals or less. In their last six victories, the Aeros have outscored their opponents 14-3 in the first period. In the last 14 games overall, Houston has a 26-10 goal margin in the opening 20 minutes, and overall on the season the Aeros are an AHL-best plus-27 (61-34). Aeros D Curtis Murphy, an All-Star for the seventh time in as many North American seasons, is on the verge of becoming the Aeros' all-time goal leader among defensemen. Murphy is tied with Jeff Tory for the top spot among blueliners with 42 tallies. Murphy's 142 points trail only Greg Hawgood's total of 145 for the most in team history among defensemen. Murphy is tied for first among all AHL defensemen in points this season (7-34=41). Houston has trailed at some point in 13 of its 34 victories, with four of the wins coming when trailing by two goals. The Aeros had 16 come-from-behind victories in 2004-05. They are an impressive 11-7-0-0 when allowing the game's first goal. The Aeros are 32-3-0-1 when scoring three goals or more, but they are 2-9-1-1 when scoring two or fewer. Three is also the magic number defensively, as Houston is 30-4-1-1 when allowing three of fewer goals and 4-8-0-1 when yielding four or more. Iowa, Peoria and Milwaukee are the lone teams with two regulations wins against the Aeros this season, and the Ads are the only team to notch three wins versus Houston. Houston has enjoyed great success on the ice at home this season, but also in the stands as of late. In the last 14 games, dating back to December 16, Toyota Center has hosted 92,074 fans for an average of 6,578. That has boosted the Aeros' attendance average to 5,616 - up to 10th-best in the AHL. Houston has bettered the 7,000 mark in attendance in each of the last four games, including a combined 22,282 in the last two home games. The last four-game stretch with 7,000 or more fans was during a four-game run to close out the 1998-99 campaign. A large crowd is also expected today for the Houston Chronicle in Education Field Trip. Houston has won both of its "Field Trip" games in the past two seasons. Admirals G Brian Finley is 17-6-1 with a 2.13 gaa in his career versus Houston, including a 16-4-0 mark in the last three seasons. Finley's 17 wins over the Aeros are six more than any other goalie and eight more than any active goalie. Finley is the only goalie ever to shut out the Aeros three times in one season (2004-05), and his five overall shutouts against Houston are the most of any netminder. Houston put up 52 shots against Milwaukee on Saturday, its most since launching 55 against the Admirals at Toyota Center 1/11/05. Brian Finley was the starting goaltender in each game, albeit with much different results. Saturday, he made 47 saves for the 6-5 shootout win. In the January 11 game, Finley made 25 saves and was relieved by current Aero Seamus Kotyk.

Power play update Houston is second in the league on the power play at 20.9 percent. The Aeros are 39-for-159 (24.5 percent) with the man advantage in the last 25 games. Houston is 28-for-98 (28.6 percent) at home with the man advantage in the last 16 games. Only once in that span (1/13 vs. Iowa) have the Aeros not scored a PPG. The Aeros are 20-3-0-1 when scoring at least two PPG. Houston has scored two or more PPG in 14 of its last 24 games. Over their last 23 games, the Aeros have scored on their first or second power play of the game 16 times. Three times in that span, Houston has scored on both its first and second opportunities. Houston has been outscored on the power play just three times in its last 27 games. Milwaukee is tied for 10th on the penalty kill at 83.8 percent. The Admirals have allowed 13 goals on 54 shorthanded chances in the last seven games for just a 75.9 percent kill rate. Houston is 4-for-36 (11.1 percent) on the power play against Milwaukee this season. The Admirals and Peoria Rivermen are the lone AHL teams to hold the Aeros without a PPG in more than one game this season.

Penalty kill update Houston is third in the AHL on the penalty kill at 85.9 percent. In the last 12 games, Houston is 67-of-72 (93.1 percent) on the PK. Houston is 16-3-0-2 when not allowing a power play goal and 27-5-1-1 when allowing one power play goal or fewer. Milwaukee ranks fifth in the AHL on the power play at 19.9 percent. The Admirals are 8-for-41 (19.5 percent) with the man advantage in the last seven games. Milwaukee is 2-for-24 (8.3 percent) on the power play against the Aeros this season, and 0-for-15 at Toyota Center.

Aeros/Admirals connections Aeros D Curtis Murphy was a member of Milwaukee's Calder Cup championship team in 2003-04. Houston C Bryan Lundbohm spent most of four seasons with the Admirals, from 2001-05. He was injured when Milwaukee won the Calder Cup in 2003-04. Aeros G Seamus Kotyk went 10-6-1 with a 2.95 gaa in 23 games with Milwaukee in 2004-05. Houston D Erik Reitz played two seasons (1999-2001) with Milwaukee G Brian Finley at OHL Barrie. Aeros C Patrick O'Sullivan played junior hockey with Milwaukee's T.J. Reynolds in 2001-02 in Mississauga. Reynolds was Houston C Petr Taticek's teammate in San Antonio in 2004-05. Milwaukee D Rick Berry played in Utah in 2004-05 with Aeros C Erik Westrum and D Dustin Wood. Admirals RW Jeremy Stevenson posted 13 points (6-7=13) and 77 PIM's in 18 games with Houston in 2002-03.

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