Aeros edge Chops in shootout on Saturday, 2-1
February 21, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Iowa Chops News Release
A game of chances boiled down to yet another shootout for the Iowa Chops, who were bested in the 5-man competition two shooters to one as the Houston Aeros topped Iowa 2-1 on Saturday night. Despite the valuable road point, the Chops winless streak climbed to a season-high seven games and their record against the Aeros fell to 1-4-1 this season.
The Chops came out Saturday with a fresh take on the penalty kill, as they had practiced positioning on the kill in the morning skate. It showed. The Chops were able to turn away the Aeros on all of their powerplay attempts. The first period saw the Chops tested five-on-three for nearly two minutes, after Adrian Veideman was called for a slashing penalty right after Brett Festerling was penalized for hooking. The practice was effective, as the Chops played the penalty kills to a science, keeping the puck away from the Aeros in their zone and helped by some monumental saves from goaltender David LeNeveu. The Chops were able to set up some great offensive plays to create a number of scoring opportunities, but Houston's goalie Nolan Schaefer was effective in keeping the Chops at bay as well. Both teams entered their locker rooms scoreless after the first.
The second period was the same story as the first for the Chops: Stay out of the box, but if you have to be on the kill, up the defensive play. The Chops continued with this strategy, and held off the Aeros on their third powerplay attempt. The first goal came for the Aeros, however, when the Chops went four-on-four with them, and Kurtis Foster found an outlet to fire a slap shot past LeNeveu. The Chops quickly answered back with a goal of their own, when Drew Miller poked it in on a rebound from a slap shot by Adrian Veideman. The Chops worked tirelessly to keep the puck in the Aeros' zone, but Nolan Schaefer kept control of the puck through several scoring chances by Iowa.
Both teams jockeyed for puck possession in the third period, knocking the puck back and forth between both zones. It wasn't enough for either team, and they went to overtime, giving the Chops a guaranteed point. Overtime was a blaze of hits and shots at both netminders, both showing great stamina and power in net. LeNeveu continued his dominance in the extended periods, and they headed to the shootout. Houston's shootout lineup was chock-full of talent from top to bottom, with players like Benoit Pouliot, Corey Locke and Krys Kolanos having experienced a variety of games at the NHL level already this season, so tensions were high for the Chops. LeNeveu was up for the challenge, though, and made huge saves on Kolanos and Pouliot. Locke was able to slide one in on LeNeveu's five-hole to put the Aeros up 1 in the shootout. Adrian Veideman stepped up in the fifth round and fired one past Schaefer, but it wasn't to be, as the final shooter Jesse Schultz nailed a shot over LeNeveu for the shootout winner.
With their only three road games in February now complete, the Iowa Chops return home back to the Wells Fargo Arena next week for three important home games to round out the month. The action begins on Tuesday, February 24th as the Iowa Chops host the San Antonio Rampage for the final time in Des Moines this season. Then on Friday, February 27th the annual Pink in the Rink night returns to the Wells Fargo Arena as the Iowa Chops host the Chicago Wolves at 7:05pm. The ice will be pink, there will be a special jersey auction following the game for the game-worn Iowa Chops specialty white and pink player jerseys, there will be special Pink in the Rink t-shirts on sale, some Iowa Chops rookies will dye their hair pink, there will be a cancer survivor ceremony, and best of all... the proceeds from the night benefit the John Stoddard Cancer Care Center in a night to recognize breast cancer awareness. On Saturday, February 28th the Iowa Chops will host Mercy 'Go Red' Night as the 1st place Milwaukee Admirals roll into town. The night begins with a pre-game tailgate party at Veterans Memorial Auditorium at 5pm brought to you by 95KGGO and featuring live music by One Night Stand Band. All fans are encouraged to wear red and the Iowa Chops are selling special Chops Stand Up and Cheer t-shirts for the event, with part of the proceeds benefitting Mercy Medical Center. For tickets to all these great events next week, call 515-564-8700 or visit www.iowachops.com
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American Hockey League Stories from February 21, 2009
- Aeros edge Chops in shootout on Saturday, 2-1 - Iowa Chops
- Wolves Defeat Rivermen Behind 33 Saves From Pavelec - Peoria Rivermen
- Falcons Beat Sound Tigers In A Shootout - Springfield Falcons
- Moose drop second straight road game - Manitoba Moose
- Admirals Storm from Behind to Beat Senators and Claim "Series" Victory - Norfolk Admirals
- Moulson's Trick Gives Lowell A Devil Of A Time - Manchester Monarchs
- Wolf Pack wins over Portland Pirate - Connecticut Whale
- Sharks can't solve Bruins in front of sellout crowd at DCU Center - Worcester Sharks
- Bulldogs freeze Penguins 4-1 - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Wolf Pack Wins 2-1 in Overtime Over Pirates - Portland Pirates
- Aucoin's Last-Second Goal Gives Hershey 5-4 Win Over Phantoms - Adirondack Phantoms
- Wotton scores late in the third period to steal a point away from Springfield in a shootout loss - Bridgeport Islanders
- Devils Defeated By Monarchs, 7-2 - Albany Devils
- P-Bruins Defeat Sharks 4-2 - Providence Bruins
- Amerks Skate Past Marlies With 3-1 Win In Toronto - Rochester Americans
- Goaltender James Reimer Reassigned to Reading - Toronto Marlies
- San Jose Sharks Assign Three To Worcester - Worcester Sharks
- John Vigilante Joins Flames - Abbotsford Heat
- Crunch Add Defenseman Dan Spang - Syracuse Crunch
- Calgary Flames Recall Forward Kyle Greentree - Abbotsford Heat
- Lightning Send Downie and Wishart to Norfolk - Norfolk Admirals
- Moose sign Eizenman to PTO - Manitoba Moose
- Support Crittenton Crisis Nursery and Peoria Rescue Mission on Sunday - Peoria Rivermen
- Columbus Recalls Defenseman Aaron Rome - Syracuse Crunch
- Falcons Host The Sound Tigers Tonight - Springfield Falcons
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