Aeros begin quest for repeat title tonight

Published on April 15, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Houston Aeros News Release


The Houston Aeros begin the 2004 Calder Cup Playoffs tonight at Toyota Center, when they open up their West Division Qualifying Round against the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks. Game 2 is Saturday at 7 p.m. at Toyota Center. Tonight's game can be heard on Star 790 KBME and www.aeros.com beginning at 7 p.m. Follow along on the website for complete period-by-period recaps and extensive post-game coverage.

Houston Aeros vs. Cincinnati Mighty Ducks, 4/15

West Division Qualifying Round, Game 1

Five things you absolutely need to know before reading any further –

The Aeros are making their eighth straight post-season appearance and ninth in 10 years. They have played 95 playoff games, going 53-42. Cincinnati is making its fourth appearance and is 2-8 and looking for its first series win.

Houston's roster has 271 Calder Cup Playoff games to its credit, while Cleveland's players have appeared in less than half that (115).

Tonight, the Aeros begin their quest to be the first team to claim back-to-back Calder Cups since Springfield in 1990-91. Houston must win 18 games to repeat.

Cincinnati is winless on four straight on the road heading into the series (0-1-3-0). The Ducks' last road win came on March 30 in San Antonio, 3-2.

The Aeros have won nine straight Game 1's, including both best-of-five and best-of-seven series. This is their first best-of-three series.

Ducks at Aeros (Aeros lead regular season series 7-4-4-1 all-time, Aeros are 4-1-3-0 at Houston)

The Aeros went 2-3-3-0 this season against Cincinnati and are 7-3-4-0 in the last 14 meetings overall.

Houston is winless in the last five meetings (0-2-3-0) after a 7-2-1-1 start.

The Aeros are winless in the last three home meetings (0-1-2-0) after going unbeaten in the first five (4-0-1-0).

Three of the last five meetings in 2003-04 went to overtime, and each ended in a tie. The teams have played six extra session games in 16 chances.

Cincinnati outscored Houston 8-4 in the first period and 10-5 in the second period, but was outscored 8-4 in the third.

2003-04 meetings (Aeros lost regular-season series 2-3-3-0, Aeros went 1-1-2-0 at Houston)

December 5: Cincinnati 1 at Houston 3

December 19: Houston 2 at Cincinnati 4

December 20: Houston 2 at Cincinnati 1

January 2: Houston 2 at Cincinnati 2 (OT)

January 27: Cincinnati 3 at Houston 1

April 1: Cincinnati 4 at Houston 4 (OT)

April 2: Cincinnati 3 at Houston 3 (OT)

April 9: Houston 0 at Cincinnati 4

Aeros look to go back-to-back - In 2004, Houston will look to do what only one team has done since 1980 - claim back-to-back Calder Cup championships. The Aeros, who beat Hamilton in a classic seven-game series to earn the 2003 title, are trying to join Springfield, which won back-to-back Calder Cups in the 1990 and 1991 post-seasons. Each of the last three titlists (Chicago, 2002; Saint John, 2001; and Hartford, 2000) have failed to win more than two playoff series the following seasons. Chicago was beaten by Grand Rapids in the 2003 Western Conference Semifinals, Saint John didn't even qualify for the 2002 post-season, and Hartford was a first-round loser to Providence in 2001. Springfield's 1990 and 1991 teams were also the last AHL squads to make two straight Calder Cup Finals. Prior to that, Maine (1983 and 1984) qualified for two consecutive Finals.

Q-Round survivors have done it before - In order to repeat their title, the Aeros will have to win four best-of-seven series, in addition to a best-of-three Qualifying Round against Cincinnati. The feat has been done before however. Chicago beat Cincinnati two games to one in a 2002 Qualifying Round and went on to defeat Bridgeport four games to one to claim the Calder Cup.

Best-of-three history - There have been eight best-of-three qualifying series since the IHL ceased to exit and the remaining teams joined the AHL in the 2001-02 season. The higher seeded team has won five of those eight series, but sported just a 2-2 mark in the 2003 Calder Cup Playoffs. Game 1 success is critical in the best-of-three set. Seven of the eight Game 1 victors in this format have gone on to win the series. The lone exception was Cincinnati, which beat Chicago 3-2 in Game 1 in 2002, but then dropped identical 3-2 decisions, including a double overtime affair in Game 2. The Wolves used that as a springboard to the 2002 Calder Cup title.

Game 1 string intact - The Aeros have won nine straight Game 1's, including both best-of-five and best-of-seven series. Houston is 7-4 all-time in best-of-seven series when winning the first game. The Aeros have only dropped Game 1 in a best-of-seven once.

Aeros have enjoyed huge third-period advantage - What's the reason the Aeros have been able to hold a pair of championship trophies in their first nine seasons? The third period. Houston is plus-two (82-80) in the first period and minus-two (84-82) in the second period over 95 post-season games. However, in the third period, the Aeros have enjoyed a whopping 100-65 advantage in goals scored. Houston outscored its opponents 21-16 in the third period in 2003 en route to the Calder Cup.

Aeros in overtime - Houston split an AHL-high six overtime decisions in the 2003 post-season. The Aeros are 9-10 overall in overtime in the playoffs. Extra session games have ranged from 14 seconds (Game 5 of the 1999 Turner Cup Finals) to last season's epic four-overtime affair against Hamilton in the Calder Cup Finals. The Bulldogs' Michael Ryder ended that game at 2-1 after 134 minutes, 56 seconds, the longest in AHL history. Houston is 4-6 in overtime at home and 5-4 on the road. The Aeros were the AHL's lone winless team in overtime in the 2003-04 regular season, as they went 0-4-14. Houston had a league-high 14 ties.

Aeros vs. Ducks – Dan Cavanaugh led Houston with six points (2-4=6) against the Ducks, while Jeff Hoggan had a team-best three goals...Billy Tibbetts had five helpers in only two games against Cincinnati...Hoggan, Matt Foy and Jason Marshall scored power-play goals in the series, as Houston went only 3-for-46 (6.5 percent)...The Aeros failed to score on their last 31 man-advantage opportunities versus the Ducks dating back to Hoggan's first-period goal December 20...Houston outchanced Cincinnati 46-29 in power play chances in the season series...Frederic Cloutier faced Cincinnati three times – one start – and went 0-0-2 with a 2.02 goals against average and a .922 save percentage...Kyle Kettles went 1-1-1 with a 3.06 goals against average and a .901 save percentage...Johan Holmqvist (injured) was 1-2-0 against the Ducks, with a 2.68 goals against average and a .879 save percentage.

Ducks vs. Aeros – Casey Hankinson led the Ducks with seven points (3-4=7) against Houston, and Hankinson and Pierre Parenteau each had three goals in the series...Hankinson, Chris Kunitz, Mike Mottau and Tony Martensson had four assists each to pace the Ducks... The Ducks went 4-for-29 (13.8 percent) on the power play against Houston, with Curtis Glencross (two goals) Casey Hankinson and Keith Aucoin leading the way...Ilya Bryzgalov played every minute in the season series, going 3-2-3 with a 2.06 goals against average and a .935 save percentage...Cincinnati outscored Houston 8-4 in the first period and 10-5 in the second period, but was outscored 8-4 in the third.

Aeros/Ducks connections –

Cincinnati's Mike Mottau was a teammate of Houston goalie Johan Holmqvist for most of three seasons, from 2000-2003, in Hartford. Mottau also spent time in Saint John last season alongside current Aero Jan Vodrazka.

Mighty Ducks defenseman Chris Armstrong spent one season in the Wild organization. He played 77 games with Cleveland in 2000-01 under head coach Todd McLellan, and also saw action in three games with Minnesota that season.

Houston's Kyle Wanvig and Cincinnati's Joel Stepp each played for WHL Red Deer in 1999-2000 and 2000-01, and they helped the Rebels to a Memorial Cup title.

Cincinnati's Tony Martensson played two seasons with Brynas IF Gavle of the Swedish Elite League. That same team produced Houston netminder Johan Holmqvist in 2000.

Houston's Maxime Fortunus played alongside Cincinnati's Joel Perrault with QMJHL Baie-Comeau from 2000-2003.

Aeros president Tom Garrity served as senior vice president (1999-2001) and later as president (2001-03) in Cincinnati.

The last time they played... – If their West Division Qualifying Round series is anything like an April 9 matchup, fans should be entertained by Houston and Cincinnati. The teams combined for 151 penalty minutes – 93 by Cincinnati. There were 104 penalty minutes assessed at the 13:51 mark, although time technically expired. The second round of penalties immediately on the ensuing faceoff, and referee Fred Hoberg left the game due to injury after breaking up the second fracas.

Home cookin' – The Aeros went 5-1-3-0 in their last nine regular-season home games, and also went 9-4-3-0 in the last 16 at Toyota Center since falling 3-1 to Cincinnati January 27. The Aeros are averaging 3.31 goals per game over the last 13 home games, in which they are 7-3-3-0. Houston started off its first season in Toyota Center just 2-6-1-1 but finished the regular season 18-12-8-2 at its new home. In the last 30 Toyota Center games, the Aeros have only five regulation losses and are 16-6-7-1.

Aeros went 4-2-3-0 in last nine –

Houston lost just two games over its last nine of the regular season (4-2-3-0). The Aeros went 9-5-4-1 over their last 19 games (.605 win pct).

Houston ran off a season-high seven straight games without a loss (3-0-4-0) December 20-January 2, including four straight ties December 27-January 2.

The Aeros won six straight December 5-17, outscoring their opponents 18-6 in the process.

In the season's first 20 games, Houston allowed a league-worst 3.40 goals per game. In the last 60 games, the Aeros yielded just 2.55 goals per game. The defensive streak helped Houston move out of the basement to 2.75 goals against per game, which finished tied for 18th in the AHL.

"O" exploding –

The Aeros averaged 3.05 goals per game in the last 21 games to improve to 2.46 goals per game, tied for 17th in the AHL.

Houston has scored three or more goals in seven of its last nine games.

Cloutier 0-0-2 against Ducks – Aeros netminder Frederic Cloutier has faced the Ducks three times – twice in relief – and is 0-0-2 with a nifty 2.02 goals against average and a .922 save percentage. Kyle Kettles is 1-1-1 with a 3.06 goals against average and a .901 save percentage in four appearances against the Ducks. Kettles has been replaced by Cloutier in each of his last two games versus Cincinnati.

Bryzgalov 3-6-3 versus Aeros – Mighty Ducks netminder Ilya Bryzgalov went 3-2-3 with a 2.06 goals against average and a .935 save percentage this season against Houston, after going 0-4-0 last season. For his career, Bryzgalov is 3-6-3 with a 2.62 goals against average and a .924 save percentage versus the Aeros. Bryzgalov threw a 30-save shutout at Houston in a 4-0 victory April 9. He played every minute this season against Houston, and backup Eddy Ferhi hasn't faced the Aeros.

Penalty kill update –

The Aeros' overall 84.9 percent penalty kill rate (305-360) finished the regular season tied for 17th in the AHL, after spending much of season in the upper half of the top 10.

Houston killed off its first 31 shorthanded chances this season. Since then, opponents are 55-for-329 (16.7 percent) on the power play.

Opponents went an eye-popping 20-for-94 (21.3 percent) on the power play over the last 22 regular season games and scored 26 man-advantage goals in the last 29 games.

Houston allowed 12 power play goals on 46 chances (26.1 percent goal rate) in the final 10 games of the regular season, including four games with two or more goals.

The Aeros yielded no power play goals in 40 of their 80 games, and had points in all but 10 of those games (16-10-10-4).

Cincinnati finished the season tied with Houston for 25th in the AHL on the power play at 12.1 percent.

The Ducks are an improved 5-for-15 (33.3 percent) on the power play over their last five games.

Cincinnati went 4-for-29 (13.8 percent) with the extra skater against Houston. Curtis Glencross had two of those goals, both coming in one game – April 2.

Power play update –

Houston finished the regular season 53 of 439 on the power play (12.1 percent), tied for 25th among 28 AHL teams.

The Aeros went 40-for-296 (13.5 percent) since Matt Foy snapped a streak of 37 straight unsuccessful power plays December 5, raising their percentage from a season-low 8.3 to 12.1.

The Aeros snapped an 0-for-31 power play stretch with Kevin Mitchell's goal in the regular season finale against Grand Rapids. Houston finished the season 5-for-65 (7.7 percent) over its last 12 games with the man advantage.

Houston's 439 power plays were the most in the AHL, 10 more than second-place Manitoba and Milwaukee. The Aeros also led the league in 2002-03 with 514 chances.

The Aeros had only seven wins in 41 regular-season games (7-24-9-1) when not scoring a power-play goal.

The Ducks finished the regular season ranked fifth in the league on the penalty kill at 88.6 percent. On the road, Cincinnati was second at 89.4 percent, allowing only 20 goals in 40 games.

Cincinnati has allowed three power play goals on 12 chances (75.0 percent kill rate) over its last four games.

Houston went 3-for-46 (6.5 percent) on the power play versus the Ducks, and the Aeros failed to score in their last 31 chances in the series.

Quick hits

Houston's minus-18 first period margin (66-48) in the regular season was the second worst in the AHL (Springfield, 76-51, minus-25).

The Aeros have led after one period once in the last 14 games, and they dropped that contest 5-2 in Worcester March 17.

The Aeros' 48 first-period goals were the third lowest total in the AHL. Portland (42) and Bridgeport (43) scored fewer.

The Aeros have allowed the game's first goal in each of their last seven contests.

Cincinnati scored first only 31 times, and won less than half of those games (15-10-6-0).

Cincinnati yielded an AHL-worst 15 shorthanded goals – one to Houston's Stephane Veilleux, and 10 of the shorties came on the road.

The teams finished just seven penalty minutes apart (Cincinnati 1643, Houston 1636). Also, each team finished 12.1 percent on the power play, tied for 25th in the AHL.

Cincinnati has no players remaining from its last playoff appearance – just two seasons ago in 2002.

The Ducks scored only 77 goals in 40 road games (1.93 average). Only three teams scored fewer goals away from home. Cincinnati scored 21 first-period goals on the road and only 25 in the third.

Aeros vs. Ducks, career

3 Beckett 18gp, 0g, 2a, 2 pts

5 Reitz 10gp, 3g, 3a, 6 pts

6 Michalek 7gp, 1g, 2a, 3 pts

7 Roche 10gp, 1g, 3a, 4 pts

8 Brandner 3gp, 0g, 0a, 0 pts

10 Krestanovich 7gp, 1g, 1a, 2 pts

12 Fortunus 3gp, 0g, 0a, 0 pts

14 Cavosie 10gp, 0g, 5a, 5 pts

15 Wallin 7gp, 0g, 3a, 3 pts

16 Cavanaugh 18gp, 4g, 5a, 9 pts

17 Cullen 6gp, 2g, 2a, 4 pts

18 Tibbetts 7gp, 1g, 7a, 8 pts

20 Mitchell 7gp, 1g, 2a, 3 pts

22 Hoggan 11gp, 5g, 1a, 6 pts

24 Veilleux 10gp, 2g, 2a, 4 pts

25 Schutte 7gp, 0g, 0a, 0 pts

26 Wanvig 9gp, 2g, 5a, 7 pts

28 Vodrazka 9gp, 0g, 1a, 1 pt

34 Foy 5gp, 2g, 1a, 3 pts

35 Kettles 4gp, 1-1-1, 3.06 gaa, .901 sv. pct.

39 Cloutier 3gp, 0-0-2, 2.02 gaa, .922 sv. pct.

Ducks vs. Aeros, career

3 Mottau 12gp, 2g, 4a, 6 pts

4 Alen 8gp, 0g, 0a, 0 pts

5 Aucoin 8gp, 2g, 3a, 5 pts

6 O'Brien 7gp, 0g, 1a, 1 pt

7 Popovic 11gp, 0g, 1a, 1 pt

8 Reierson 7gp, 0g, 2a, 2 pts

9 Martensson 10gp, 2g, 6a, 8 pts

10 Perrault 7gp, 3g, 1a, 4 pts

12 Pohanka 4gp, 0g, 3a, 3 pts

14 Kunitz 7gp, 2g, 4a, 6 pts

16 Stepp 8gp, 0g, 1a, 1 pt

17 Brookbank 16gp, 0g, 0a, 0 pts

19 Smith 7gp, 0g, 4a, 4 pts

20 Glencross 2gp, 2g, 0a, 2 pts

21 Smirnov 7gp, 2g, 0a, 2 pts

22 Holmqvist 1gp, 0g, 0a, 0 pts

23 Chistov 1gp, 1g, 0a, 1 pt

25 Parenteau 6gp, 3g, 3a, 6 pts

27 Bylsma 21gp, 3g, 4a, 7 pts

29 Hankinson 14gp, 4g, 6a, 10 pts

32 Armstrong 16gp, 5g, 4a, 9 pts

55 Davis 1gp, 0g, 0a, 0 pts

30 Ferhi 0gp, 0-0-0, 0.00 gaa, .000 sv. pct.

35 Bryzgalov 12gp, 3-6-3, 2.62 gaa, .924 sv. pct.

Prior meetings –

December 5 – Houston 3, Cincinnati 1 at Toyota Center. The Aeros snapped a then franchise-record eight-game winless streak by getting third period goals from Chris Bala and Matt Foy...Mika Hannula scored the first Houston goal, which tied the game midway through the first period...Dan Cavanaugh posted two assists for Houston...Casey Hankinson scored on the power play for Cincinnati...Johan Holmqvist turned aside 22 shots for Houston, while Ilya Bryzgalov countered with 34 stops for the Ducks...Houston went 1-for-9 on the power play, while Cincinnati was 1-for-5.

December 19 – Cincinnati 4, Houston 2 at Cincinnati Gardens. The Ducks swam out to a four-goal lead and held on for the victory in the Aeros' first trip of the season to Cincinnati...Keith Aucoin, Chris Kunitz and Pierre Parenteau each tallied a goal and an assist for the Ducks, and Cory Pecker also scored...Cincinnati led 4-0 when Jason Marshall and Matt Foy scored for the Aeros in the final 4:10...Ilya Bryzgalov made 22 saves for the Ducks, while Johan Holmqvist stopped 20 shots for Houston...The Aeros went 1-for-6 on the power play, while Cincinnati finished 0-for-4.

December 20 – Houston 2, Cincinnati 1 at Cincinnati Gardens. Houston's Jeff Hoggan and Chris Bala scored first-period goals as the Aeros avenged a 4-2 loss the night before...Joel Perrault scored Cincinnati's lone goal, also in the first period...Kyle Kettles stopped 24 shots for his first AHL win, while Ilya Bryzgalov made 37 saves...Houston went 1-for-7 with the man advantage, while Cincinnati was 0-for-4.

January 2 – Houston 2, Cincinnati 2 (OT) at Cincinnati Gardens. Stephane Veilleux's shorthanded goal 5:46 into the third period helped the Aeros to the tie...Houston also got a goal from Jeff Hoggan, who gave his team a 1-0 lead just 3:23 into the game...Brian Gornick and Chris Armstrong tallied for the Ducks...Kyle Kettles had 33 saves for Houston, while Ilya Bryzgalov turned aside 31 shots...Each team finished 0-for-3 on the power play.

January 27 – Cincinnati 3, Houston 1 at Toyota Center. Pierre Parenteau had a goal and an assist and Joel Perrault and Pierre Parenteau also scored for the Ducks, who led 3-0 at the 44-second mark of the third period...Stephane Veilleux's goal at 9:59 of the third got Houston within 3-1...Ilya Bryzgalov made 25 saves for Cincinnati, while Johan Holmqvist yielded three goals on 19 shots...Houston failed to score on six power play opportunities, while Cincinnati went 1-for-2.

April 1 – Houston 4, Cincinnati 4 (OT) at Toyota Center. Kevin Mitchell and Jeff Hoggan scored 35 seconds apart in the final 1:32 of regulation as the Aeros stunned Cincinnati by clawing back for a 4-4 tie...Erik Reitz and Mark Cullen also scored for Houston, which trailed 3-0, and 4-1 at 10:44 of the second period...Cullen added two assists...Casey Hankinson, Chris Armstrong and Pierre Parenteau each scored in the opening 7:50 of the second period for the Ducks, who later in the stanza got a goal from Chris Kunitz...Frederic Cloutier stopped 12-of-13 shots in relief of Kyle Kettles, who left after yielding three goals on 20 shots...For Cincinnati, Ilya Bryzgalov turned away 32 attempts...Houston went 0-for-7 on the power play, while Cincinnati finished 0-for-6.

April 2 – Houston 3, Cincinnati 3 (OT) at Toyota Center. The Aeros and Ducks skated to their second straight tie, and in this game all six goals happened in a span of 9:15 in the second period...The teams combined for five goals – three by Houston – in a span of 3:31 early in the middle frame...The trio of Dan Cavanaugh (2-1=3), Kyle Wanvig (1-2=3) and Billy Tibbetts (0-3=3) combined for Houston's three goals...Rookie Curtis Glencross scored his first two pro goals and Casey Hankinson also scored for Cincinnati...Frederic Cloutier stopped 31 shots for Houston, while Ilya Bryzgalov made 32 saves for the Ducks...Houston finished 0-for-4 on the power play, while Cincinnati scored on both of its opportunities.

April 9 – Cincinnati 4, Houston 0 at Cincinnati Gardens. Ilya Bryzgalov stopped 30 shots for his sixth shutout of the season as the Ducks clinched a playoff berth (as did Houston)...Mike Mottau and Tony Martensson spotted Bryzgalov a 2-0 lead with goals 54 seconds apart late in the first period...Joel Perrault and Alexei Smirnov put the proverbial nail in the coffin with goals 1:50 apart early in the third...Kyle Kettles stopped 17-of-21 shots before being replaced by Frederic Cloutier (four saves) for the second time in three meetings...Houston went 0-for-4 on the power play, while Cincinnati finished 0-for-3...The teams combined for 151 penalty minutes – 93 by Cincinnati...Of those 151 penalty minutes, 104 came at the 13:51 mark of the third period in two separate scrums.

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American Hockey League Stories from April 15, 2004


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