Aeros clinch playoff berth despite 4-0 loss in Cincinnati

April 9, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Houston Aeros News Release


Cincinnati, OH – Ilya Bryzgalov turned aside 30 shots for his sixth shutout of the season and Mike Mottau and Tony Martensson scored 54 seconds apart late in the first period, as the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks beat Houston 4-0 at Cincinnati Gardens to draw even with the Aeros for fourth place (72 points) in the West Division. Joel Perrault and Alexei Smirnov scored 1:50 apart early in the third for the Ducks, who can claim the No. 4 seed and home-ice in a Qualifying Round series against Houston with a victory tomorrow at home versus Cleveland. Kyle Kettles made 17 saves and allowed all four goals before being replaced by Frederic Cloutier for Houston, which along with Cincinnati qualified for the post-season thanks to San Antonio's 3-2 loss in Grand Rapids tonight.

The Aeros, who will appear in their eighth straight post-season, must end play Saturday with at least one more point than Cincinnati gains in order to get home ice in the Qualifying Round. The Aeros, who lose a possible tiebreaker (wins) with the Ducks, play host to Grand Rapids at 7 p.m. on Fan Appreciation Night. The first 5,000 fans will receive T-shirts commemorating both Aeros' championship teams.

Also, Houston will put Qualifying Round tickets (Games A and B) on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Toyota Center Box Office, online and by calling 1.866.GO.AEROS. Should the games not be played, tickets can either be refunded at the point of purchase, or traded in for a West Division Semifinal Game should the Aeros play the Qualifying Round on the road and advance.

The Aeros dominated play in the opening period, getting 10 of the first 11 shots, but it was Cincinnati that took the lead with two quick goals late in the period.

Bryzgalov was outstanding throughout the first. He gloved a 2-on-1, give-and-go attempt off the stick of Jason Beckett five minutes in, then stoned Dan Cavanaugh later in the period after the centerman broke in alone on a great pass from Michael Schutte.

Houston's Jan Vodrazka then helped keep the puck out of the net when he fell to block Stanislav Chistov's shot on a 2-on-1.

But the Ducks did get on the scoreboard with only 1:37 left in the first. Chistov started the play with a great blind pass to Mottau, streaking in from the point. The 2000 Hobey Baker winner beat Kettles between the pads for his seventh of the season on Cincinnati's fifth shot of the game. Houston had 13 attempts at the time.

Cincinnati beat Houston to a loose puck in the corner for its second goal in 54-second span to take a 2-0 lead. Chris Kunitz, who outskated Erik Reitz to beat out an icing call, centered a pass for Martensson, and the Swede tapped it by Kettles.

The Aeros have led after one period only once in the last 13 games.

Bryzgalov stopped all eight shots sent his way in the second period, and he held the Aeros off the board on two power plays. Kettles, meanwhile, was great in the waning seconds of the middle frame and Cincinnati on the power play, helping Houston keep the deficit at 2-0.

Cincinnati went ahead 3-0 just 1:12 into the third, when Perrault jumped off the bench on a line change, took a pass from Nick Smith and deposited it by Kettles for his 14th of the season.

The Ducks tacked on another goal 1:50 later when Smirnov's shot from along the boards eluded Kettles for his ninth of the season. The goal came at the 3:02 mark and ended Kettles' night. The rookie was replaced by Frederic Cloutier.

Reitz sent Keith Aucoin hard into the boards with less than seven minutes, but Vodrazka was sent to the box instead. Reitz then was accosted by Casey Hankinson on the ensuing faceoff, and the pair duked it out. Referee Fred Hoberg appeared to injure himself while getting Hankinson out of the fray, and the game finished with two linesmen officiating.

Houston went 0-for-5 on the power play, while Cincinnati finished 0-for-3. The Aeros haven't scored on their last 28 power play chances over their last five games and went 3-for-47 this season against the Ducks' third-ranked penalty kill unit.

The Aeros have gone six straight regulation periods without a point by a player other than Dan Cavanaugh, Billy Tibbetts and Kyle Wanvig. The trio combined for all three goals in a 3-3 tie against the Ducks last Friday in Houston.



American Hockey League Stories from April 9, 2004


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