Aeros, Ducks battle in Game 2 tonight

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


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 96 playoff games, going 53-43. Cincinnati is making its fourth appearance and is 3-8 and looking for its first series win tonight. Houston is 4-1 under head coach Todd McLellan when facing elimination. The Aeros are 6-7 following a loss in the post-season with McLellan behind the bench. The Ducks, who finished the regular season 12-23-5-0 away from Cincinnati Gardens, will try to win back-to-back road games for just the second time this season. Cincinnati also went back-to-back on the road October 29 (Chicago) and November 5 (Grand Rapids). The Aeros are one for their last 39 on the power play (2.6 percent), with the lone goal coming from Kevin Mitchell in the regular season finale against Grand Rapids. Houston is 1-for-31 (9.7 percent) at home with the extra skater in the last six games and hasn't scored on the man advantage in the last 38 attempts against Cincinnati. Houston will attempt to become the second team in the three-year history of the Qualifying Round to lose Game 1 and go on to win the series. The lone victor in 10 attempts was Chicago, which lost 3-2 to Cincinnati in Game 1 in 2002, but then won 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. Ducks at Aeros (Aeros lead regular season series 7-4-4-1 all-time, Aeros are 4-1-3-0 at Houston in regular season)

The Aeros went 2-3-3-0 in the 2003-04 regular season against Cincinnati. Houston is winless in the last six meetings (0-3-3-0), counting the playoffs. The Aeros are winless in the last four home meetings (0-2-2-0), counting the post-season, after going unbeaten in the first five (4-0-1-0). Three of the last six meetings in 2003-04 went to overtime, and each ended in a tie. The teams have played six extra session games in 17 chances. Cincinnati has outscored Houston 8-5 in the first period and 12-5 in the second period, but was outscored 8-5 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

Game 1 recap – Tony Martensson and Chris Kunitz notched power play goals three minutes apart midway through the second period, leading the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks past the Houston Aeros 3-1 in Game 1 of the West Division Qualifying Round at Toyota Center. Casey Hankinson also scored and Ilya Bryzgalov finished with 28 saves for Cincinnati, which won just its third playoff game ever and can finish off the two-game sweep tonight at Toyota Center. The Ducks have never won a playoff series in previous three appearances. Christoph Brandner scored in the first period and Frederic Cloutier turned aside 35 shots for Houston, which had won its last nine Game 1 appearances. The defending Calder Cup champion Aeros are 4-1 in two seasons under Todd McLellan when facing elimination. Game 3 is Sunday at 5 p.m. at Toyota Center if Houston can stave off elimination tonight.

Hoping lightning strikes twice – The Aeros will attempt to become the second team in the three-year history of the Qualifying Round to lose Game 1 and go on to win the series. The lone victor was Chicago, which lost 3-2 to Cincinnati in Game 1 in 2002, but then won 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. The Game 1 winner has now emerged victorious in nine of 10 Qualifying Series, counting Portland and Norfolk this year. The higher seeded team has won just five of the first 10 series, including a 2-4 mark the past two seasons. Portland and Norfolk bounced higher seeded Providence and Binghamton last night.

Game 1 streak broken; Aeros are 2-2 when losing first game – Houston had won nine straight Game 1's, seven under Todd McLellan, prior to Thursday's 3-1 loss to Cincinnati. It was the first Game 1 loss since the 2000 Western Conference Semifinals against Utah, when the Aeros won the next four games to claim the series. The good news for the Aeros is that they do have two series wins in four attempts when losing the first game.

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.

Power play update –

Houston finished the regular season 53 of 439 on the power play (12.1 percent), tied for 25th with Cincinnati among 28 AHL teams. The Aeros are one for their last 39 on the power play (2.6 percent), with the lone goal coming from Kevin Mitchell in the regular season finale against Grand Rapids. Houston is 1-for-31 (9.7 percent) at home with the extra skater in the last six games. The Aeros are 5-for-72 (6.9 percent) over their last 13 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 have only seven wins in 42 games (7-25-9-1) 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 19 chances (84.2 percent kill rate) over its last five games. Houston is 3-for-53 (5.7 percent) on the power play this season versus the Ducks, and the Aeros have failed to score in their last 38 chances in the series. Houston's last power play goal against Cincinnati came from Jeff Hoggan on December 20. 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. After that, opponents went 57-for-334 (17.1 percent) on the power play. Opponents are an eye-popping 22-for-99 (22.2 percent) on the power play over the last 23 games. Houston has allowed 14 power play goals on 51 chances (27.5 percent goal rate) in the last 11 games, including five games with two or more goals. The Aeros yielded no power play goals in 40 of their 80 regular-season 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 7-for-20 (35.0 percent) on the power play over their last six games. Cincinnati is 6-for-34 (17.6 percent) with the extra skater against Houston, including 4-for-10 (40 percent) in the last three games. Home cookin' – Tonight the Aeros will try to avoid posting back-to-back Toyota Center losses for the first time since finishing off an 0-4-0-1 run with two consecutive losses from November 4-December 1. Houston is 5-2-3-0 in its last 10 home games and has gone 9-5-3-0 in the last 17 at Toyota Center since falling 3-1 to Cincinnati January 27.

The Aeros are averaging 3.14 goals per game over the last 14 home games, in which they are 7-4-3-0. 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 31 Toyota Center games, counting the playoffs, the Aeros have only seven regulation losses and are 16-7-7-1. Ducks try to go back-to-back on the road – If Cincinnati doesn't want this series to go to a Game 3, it will have to do something it's done on just one other occasion this season – win back-to-back road games. The Ducks, who finished the regular season 12-23-5-0 away from Cincinnati Gardens, won back-to-back road games October 29 (Chicago) and November 5 (Grand Rapids). Cincinnati did have three-game road unbeaten streak (2-0-1-0) from November 12-15.

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-three (83-80) in the first period and minus-four (86-82) in the second period over 96 post-season games. However, in the third period, the Aeros have enjoyed a whopping 100-66 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) in the regular season against the Ducks, while Jeff Hoggan had a team-best three goals...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.

Ducks vs. Aeros – Casey Hankinson led the Ducks with seven regular-season 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), 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. Teams racking up PIM's – Over their last two meetings, the Aeros and Ducks have combined for 235 penalty minutes – 132 by Cincinnati. In an April 9 matchup in Cincinnati, the Ducks had 93 of the game's 151 penalty minutes. Of those 151 PIM's, 104 came at the 13:51 mark of the third period. In Game 1 of this series, the teams combined for 84 penalty minutes – 45 by Houston.

"O" exploding –

The Aeros are averaging 2.95 goals per game in the last 22 games, more than a half goal over their season average. Houston has scored three or more goals in seven of its last 10 games. Cloutier 0-1-2 against Ducks – Aeros netminder Frederic Cloutier has faced the Ducks four times – twice in relief – and is 0-1-2 with a nifty 2.38 goals against average and a .921 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. Josh Harding has never faced Cincinnati.

Bryzgalov 4-6-3 versus Aeros – Mighty Ducks netminder Ilya Bryzgalov went 0-4-0 in 2002-03 against Houston, but since then he's been on fire. This season, Bryzgalov is 4-2-3 with a 1.95 goals against average and a .938 save percentage versus the Aeros. For his career, Bryzgalov is 4-6-3 with a 2.50 goals against average and a .927 save percentage against Houston. 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.

Schutte's assist is his first in an Aeros uniform – Houston defenseman Michael Schutte had three goals in 36 games with Houston since coming over from Springfield in a December 9 trade, but Thursday night he registered his first assist with Houston when he sprung Christoph Brandner for a breakaway goal. Schutte's helper was his first in 42 games, since November 11 at Lowell.



American Hockey League Stories from April 17, 2004


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central