Aeros Game Day

Published on January 23, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Houston Aeros News Release


Aeros at Barons (Aeros lead all-time series 7-4-0-0, 3-2-0-0 at Cleveland)

Tonight is the 12th all-time meeting between the teams – sixth in Cleveland.

The teams split the first two meetings this season, both at Toyota Center, with the Aeros winning 5-1 behind a Kyle Wanvig hat trick October 28. Cleveland struck back last night with a 3-1 home win.

The Aeros won five straight versus the Barons from January 10, 2002-January 10, 2003.

The winning team in this series has scored at least four goals in eight of the 11 matchups.

Tonight caps off the four-game season series between the two teams.

Aeros head coach Todd McLellan began his pro coaching career in 2000-01 with Cleveland, then in the IHL, leading the Barons to a 43-32-7 record. McLellan, though, remains in Houston with a severe case of the flu.

2003-04 meetings (Fourth of four meetings, Aeros are 1-2-0-0 overall, 0-1-0-0 in Cleveland)

October 24: Cleveland 5 at Houston 2

October 28: Cleveland 1 at Houston 5

Wednesday: Houston 1 at Cleveland 3

Tonight: Houston at Cleveland

Last game – Brad Boyes and Tavis Hansen scored 53 seconds apart early in the second period, as the Cleveland Barons beat the Houston Aeros 3-1 at Gund Arena. Former Aero Greg Labenski added a third-period goal and Nolan Schaefer finished with 19 saves for the Barons, who matched a season-high with their third straight win. Dan Cavanaugh scored his first goal in 18 games and Johan Holmqvist posted 17 saves for the Aeros, who are winless in a franchise-record 12 games (0-4-7-1) and have lost back-to-back games for the first time since a four-game streak from November 28-December 3. Houston played its fourth straight game without head coach Todd McLellan, who is out of the hospital but still ill. Matt Shaw coached the team again in McLellan's absence. Mark Cullen, who returned from a 22-game absence due to injury last week, picked up his first point since November 23, assisting on Cavanaugh's first-period goal. Houston, which has scored six total goals in its last six games, is winless in the last seven games (0-3-4) when scoring first.

Scouting the Aeros – The Aeros look for their first win on their four-game road trip, which finishes tonight, and they are trying to snap a franchise-record 12-game overall winless streak (0-4-7-1). Houston returns home tomorrow night against Syracuse to open up a brief two-game homestand. Houston has played its last four games without head coach Todd McLellan, who missed the games with the flu. Assistant coach Matt Shaw has led the team in McLellan's stead. Stephane Veilleux (6g, 17a) had two points in three games last week to move into a tie for the team lead with the recalled Kyle Wanvig (15g, 8a) and Rickard Wallin (10g, 13a), who has missed the last four games. Dan Cavanaugh (8g, 14a) is a point behind that trio with 22 points, and he scored his first goal in 18 games in Wednesday's 3-1 loss to Cleveland. Aeros captain Jason Marshall (5g, 10a) was recalled to Minnesota last weekend, and he's tied for the team lead among defenseman with 15 points. Marshall is tied with Erik Reitz (3g, 12a) and Travis Roche (3g, 12a). Houston's leading rookie scorers are Matt Foy (7g, 8a) and Mika Hannula (6g, 9a), with 15 points apiece. Last year's Calder Cup Most Valuable Player, goalie Johan Holmqvist, has started 35 of the team's first 44 games, going 12-17-5 with a 2.75 goals against average. Holmqvist is winless (0-4-3) in his last eight starts with a no decision, one shy of the longest winless streak of his career. The Aeros haven't won in Holmqvist's last eight starts. His regular backup is second-year netminder Kyle Kettles, who is 2-4-4 with a 2.19 goals against average but remains in Houston with an injury. Kettles has stopped 145 of 151 shots (96.0 percent) while going 2-0-4 in his last six starts. Kettles has just 10 goals of support in nine starts this season, and he has ties in each of his last four starts. Frederic Cloutier was recalled from ECHL Louisiana yesterday to take Kettles' place.

Scouting the Barons – Cleveland looks for its season-best fourth straight win tonight. The Barons, who are an impressive 8-3-1-1 in the last 13 games (with 10 of those games coming on the road), beat Syracuse 3-2 Saturday and Hershey 3-1 Sunday to wrap up a six-game, 14-day road trip at 3-2-0-1. Cleveland beat Houston 3-1 Wednesday to draw within a game of the .500 mark at home (8-9-1-2). Right winger Miroslav Zalesak has the AHL scoring lead with 48 points (21g, 27a), and he leads the Barons with seven power-play goals. The man who feeds Zalesak most often is Brad Boyes (14g, 23a), who is second to Zalesak in points, goals and assists. The pair combined for Cleveland's first goal Wednesday, with Zalesak assisting Boyes. Rookie Garrett Stafford (8g, 18a) anchors the blueline with 26 points, while fellow defenseman Jim Fahey, just back from San Jose, has 12 points (1g, 11a) in only 21 games. Seamus Kotyk is 6-4-4 with a 2.27 goals against average in 16 games. When Kotyk was injured for much of the past month, Cleveland went with Dmitri Patzold, who split time with Kotyk earlier this season but sports an 8-12-0 mark and a 2.92 goals against average. However, Patzold is now hurt, and Nolan Schaefer has been filling in more than admirably. The rookie, who started the season in ECHL Fresno, stopped 22 shots for the win Wednesday and is 5-2-0 with a 2.41 goals against average. Cleveland has had to dress seven goaltenders this season – and four have played.

Aeros/Barons connections

Aeros head coach Todd McLellan began his pro coaching career in 2000-01 with Cleveland, then in the IHL, leading the Barons to a 43-32-7 record. McLellan is back home in Houston tonight with a severe case of the flu.

Cleveland's David Cloutier played with Houston's Stephane Veilleux with QMJHL Val d'Or in 1999-2000 and 2000-01.

Lumberjacks defenseman Greg Labenski played seven games for the Aeros in 2001-02, notching two points and 25 penalty minutes. Labenski also played one game with Houston's Jan Vodrazka in 1999-2000 with IHL Kansas City.

Houston's Kevin Mitchell had seven points (2g, 5a) in 24 games with Cleveland in 2002-03.

Cleveland head coach Roy Summer played for the CHL Houston Apollos in 1979-80, recording 55 points (24g, 31a) and 246 penalty minutes in 69 games.

Houston's Kevin Mitchell and Frederic Cloutier and Cleveland defenseman Greg Labenski and assistant coach David Cunniff were all players on the 2001-02 ECHL Louisiana team that had the best record in league history (56-12-4).

Cleveland defenseman Milan Michalek, 2003's No. 6 overall pick assigned to the team yesterday by San Jose, is the younger brother of the Aeros' Zbynek Michalek, currently in Minnesota.

My kingdom for a regulation game – The Aeros have gone into overtime in eight of their last 12 games. The Aeros, winless at 0-3-9 in overtime, are one of just three AHL teams without an extra session win. Houston's 12 OT non-wins are the most of those three teams. The Aeros went 8-3-7 in overtime last season, second in the league in extra session wins (Chicago, 11). Houston's 12 overtime games this season are still not even halfway to the franchise record of 26 shootout games in the 1998-99 season. The AHL record for overtime games is also 26, set in 2001-02 by both Albany and Rochester. The Aeros' nine ties are still nine short of the AHL/overtime era record, set in 1997-98 by St. John's. New Haven played to 20 ties in 1972-73, but that was before the AHL played overtime periods.

Could tonight be the night? – If Houston wants to get off the overtime schneid, tonight could be the time to do so. The Barons are tied for the league-high with five overtime losses and are 1-5-4 in overtime this season.

Let ‘em rip – Cleveland's defense, which came into Wednesday's game 28th and last in the AHL in shots against, held Houston's then league-best shooting gallery to just 23 shots in the game. That dropped the Aeros to second place in shots at 33.57, trailing Milwaukee's 33.74 shots per game. Cleveland, meanwhile, moved to 27th in the league allowing 34.38 shots per game after its fine defensive effort. Houston put up a total of 80 shots in two early-season games versus Cleveland. The Barons have outshot just 13 opponents this season, fewer than all but three AHL teams.

Like father, like son – Houston's penchant for overtime and tie games is remarkably similar to parent club Minnesota. The Wild, 4-4-9 in the last 17, and the Aeros, 9-5-7-1 in the last 22, have combined for only nine regulation losses but also only 13 wins in their last 39 games (13-9-16-1). Both teams are winless in overtime – Minnesota is 0-0-14, while Houston sports an 0-3-9 extra session mark. The teams are a combined 0-3-23 in overtime in 2003-04.

'O' looking to regroup –

The Aeros have scored just 29 goals in 16 games (1.81 goals per game) since beating Norfolk 5-3 December 17.

Houston has been held to two goals or fewer in 13 of the last 16 games, including a scoreless streak of 178 minutes, 52 seconds that included back-to-back shutouts January 8-9.

In the last six games, the Aeros have scored six goals (1.00 per game average), including three in a 6-3 loss to San Antonio January 16.

Offensively in the AHL, the Aeros have slipped to 24th at 2.23 goals per game.

Aeros and Rampage tied for fifth – The Aeros (40 points) are tied with San Antonio for fifth place in the West Division, after Cincinnati leapfrogged the pair with a 3-2 victory over the Rampage Wednesday. The Rampage play in Grand Rapids tonight. The Ducks, in fourth place with 41 points, play host to North Division-leading Hamilton tonight. Houston's highest position this season was tied for third on December 28-29. The Aeros had not been as low as fifth since they were tied for fifth December 22. The last time Houston was in sixth place was December 19, the night the Aeros' season-high six-game winning streak was snapped.

Houston entered its December 5 home game with Cincinnati with an eight game-winless streak and a league-low 14 points. Since that game, which the Aeros won 3-1, Houston has 26 points, and, despite being in the midst of a franchise-record 12-game winless streak, the Aeros are tied with Bridgeport and Rochester for third in the AHL in points since December 5. Hartford has 28 points since then, and Grand Rapids 27. The run has helped the Aeros climb out of last place and into a tie for fifth. Cleveland has 25 points since December 5.

Aeros 9-5-7-1 in last 22 – Houston has just five regulation losses (9-5-7-1) in its last 22 games (.591 win pct.), but is also winless in a franchise-record 12 games (0-4-7-1). Houston has picked up a point in eight of those 12 games.

The Aeros have back-to-back losses for the first time since a four-game span from November 28-December 3.

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

The Aeros are currently winless in 12 games (0-4-7-1), four more than their previous franchise record eight-game streak (0-6-1-1) November 20-December 3 of this season. Houston picked up points in just two of those games.

Houston's 12-game winless streak is the longest in the AHL this season and is the longest in the league since Cleveland was winless in 13 straight from last March 15 through the end of the season.

Kyle Wanvig, currently in Minnesota, has recorded four of the team's last nine game-winning goals.

The Aeros' six-game winning streak December 5-17 was tied for the second-longest in the AHL this season.

In the season's first 20 games, Houston allowed a league-worst 3.36 goals per game. In the last 24 games, the Aeros are yielding just 1.88 goals per game. That has helped Houston move out of the basement to 2.70 goals against per game, tied for 18th in the AHL.

Hoggan enjoys new linemates – Aeros right winger Jeff Hoggan played mostly a checking line role in his rookie campaign of 2002-03, but he has already set his career-high in points this season with 18, including career-bests in goals (10) and assists (eight). Hoggan has been particularly hot lately, especially since he has been paired with a pair of Swedes – Rickard Wallin and Mika Hannula. Hoggan has 11 points (6g, 5a) in the last 19 games. Getting Hoggan on the scoresheet is very important to the Aeros, who have just one loss in regulation when he has a point. Houston is 9-1-3-2 when Hoggan has a point, including a 5-1-2-2 mark when he has a goal and an unbeaten 6-0-2-0 record when he notches an assist. Hoggan has a trio of two-point games this season. Wallin has nine points (3g, 6a) and Hannula seven (3g, 4a) since the pairing. Hoggan doesn't have a point in the last six games, four with Wallin out of the lineup.

Welcome back ‘Cully' – Mark Cullen returned January 16 from a 22-game absence due to a shoulder injury. Cullen had two shots and two penalty shots in his first two games back in the lineup, then assisted on Dan Cavanaugh's first period goal Wednesday for his first point since November 23. The second-year center also missed first three games of the season due to having a cancerous mole removed in September, and the ensuing treatments. The resilient Cullen has also fought back from a broken vertebrae at college, in addition to a broken ankle in last season's Western Conference Quarterfinals.

Kettles unbeaten in last six starts – Rookie goalie Kyle Kettles is unbeaten in his last six starts (2-0-4) and has recorded a tie in each of his last four starts. Kettles was tagged with the loss in relief January 16 versus San Antonio, stopping eight of 11 shots in the third period of a 6-3 loss to the Rampage. Kettles, who has turned aside 145 of 151 shots (96.0 percent) in his last six starts, has lowered his goals against average from 3.65 to 2.19. The netminder picked up his first AHL shutout by making 20 saves in a January 9 game versus Worcester. Unfortunately for Kettles, his team didn't score either and he had to settle for a tie. Kettles is 2-4-4 this season but seemingly deserves a better fate. In his nine starts, the Aeros have scored just 10 goals and have been shut out twice. Kettles hasn't lost a game he started since falling 3-1 to Milwaukee on December 1.

Holmqvist winless in seven decisions – Aeros netminder Johan Holmqvist hasn't won since December 26 and is 0-4-3 with a no decision (a game which the Aeros lost) in his last eight starts. Holmqvist was the 2003 Butterfield Trophy winner as the playoff Most Valuable Player.

Holmqvist is 0-4-3 with a no decision and a 3.01 goals against average in his last eight starts. His seven-decision winless streak is one more than his season-high, an 0-5-1 run from November 20-December 3.

Holmqvist is one shy of his career-worst eight-game winless streak, an 0-5-3 span from December 6, 2002, to January 3, 2003.

Holmqvist went 6-0-0 with a 1.00 goals against average and a .963 save percentage during a six-game winning streak December 5-17. The six-game winning streak set a new career-high.

The Aeros' netminder had a shutout streak of 189 minutes, seven seconds snapped December 17, just missing Frederic Chabot's 1996 team record mark of 193 minutes, 37 seconds.

In his 12 wins this season, Holmqvist is allowing 1.00 goals per game and sports a .961 save percentage. In his 23 non-wins, Holmqvist sports a 3.69 goals against average and a .871 save percentage. Holmqvist and the Aeros have just one win this season when yielding more than one goal.

Penalty kill update –

Houston killed off its first 31 shorthanded chances this season. Since then, opponents are 24-for-168 (14.3 percent) on the power play.

The Aeros' overall 87.9 percent penalty kill rate is tied for fifth in the AHL.

Houston has allowed four power play goals on 19 chances in the last five games (21.1 percent).

Houston allowed two power play goals last Friday and Sunday and is winless (0-6-1-0) when yielding two or more PPG.

The Aeros have yielded no power play goals in 28 of their 44 games, and have points in all but eight of those games (9-8-8-3).

The Aeros will get a test tonight as Cleveland's power-play unit is ranked third in the AHL at 17.5 percent. At home, the percentage for the Barons improves to 18.6 percent, fourth in the league.

The Barons are 13-for-54 (24.1 percent) all-time on the power play against Houston, but they haven't scored in 12 opportunities this season.

Power play update –

Houston enters tonight's game 29 of 255 on the power play (11.4 percent), 25th among 28 AHL teams.

The Aeros have gone 17-for-112 (15.2 percent) since Matt Foy snapped a streak of 37 straight unsuccessful power plays December 5, raising their percentage from 8.3 to 11.4.

Houston is 2-for-25 (8.0 percent) on the power play over its last six games and is 0-for-13 in the last three contests.

Houston's 255 power plays are the most in the AHL, although Manitoba has nearly caught up (247). In order to put the Aeros' power-play totals in perspective, realize that they have an astounding 98 more power plays than in-state rival San Antonio, which has the fewest in the league.

Tonight, the Aeros face a penalty kill unit ranked just 25th in the AHL at 81.3 percent. Cleveland has yielded 42 power-play goals, tied for second in the league. The Barons are tied for the AHL's worst home penalty kill percentage at 81.1 percent (Toronto) and have yielded a league-high-tying 21 power-play goals at home.

Houston is 4-for-17 (23.5 percent) on the power play this season against Cleveland. Kyle Wanvig (2), Chris Heid (1) and Zbynek Michalek (1) have the man-advantage goals.

Hendrickson plays in 600th pro game, closing in on other milestones – Aeros centerman Darby Hendrickson played in his 600th professional game December 30. Hendrickson, who spent eight full seasons in the NHL, has 192 points (96g, 96a) in his 609-game pro career. Hendrickson is four goals and four assists shy of 100 in his pro career in both those categories. Hendrickson played in his 100th AHL game December 27. He has 67 points (32g, 35a) in 111 career AHL contests.

Holmqvist 1-2-0 against Cleveland – Aeros netminder Johan Holmqvist is 1-2-0 in his career with a 3.01 goals against average and a .875 save percentage versus the Barons, with all three games coming this season. Holmqvist made 23 saves in each of his first two starts against Cleveland and picked up the win in a 5-1 win over the Barons October 28. He stopped 17-of-20 shots in a 3-1 loss Wednesday. Frederic Cloutier went 1-1-0 with a 2.01 goals against average versus Cleveland as an Aero in 2002-03.

Kotyk 1-3-0 versus Aeros – Cleveland's Seamus Kotyk is 1-3-0 with a no decision, a 4.31 goals against average and a .887 save percentage in five games against Houston. Kotyk stopped 41 shots in a 5-2 Cleveland win at Toyota Center October 24. Nolan Schaefer made 22 saves for a 3-1 win over Houston Wednesday, his first game against the Aeros.

Houston has one win when allowing more than one goal - The Aeros are an unbeaten in regulation 13-0-3-1 when allowing one goal or fewer this season, and December 17 was their only win (1-18-6-2) when yielding two or more, a 5-3 home victory over Norfolk.

Aeros have first goal in 14 of 20 games –Houston has scored first in 14 of its last 20 games, but the Aeros haven't won any of the last seven games when scoring first (0-3-4). The Aeros have scored first just twice in the last six games. Houston is 6-3-5-0 in the last 14 when scoring first and 11-4-5-1 overall when scoring first. January 16 marked the Aeros' only home loss when scoring first (5-1-3-0).

But when not scoring first... - The Aeros are 3-13-3-2 when allowing the game's first goal, including a winless 0-8-2-0 mark on the road. By rallying for a 1-1 tie January 17 in San Antonio, Houston picked up just its second road point when allowing the first goal.

Aeros notch point when trailing after two – Houston rallied in the third period January 17 to force a 1-1 tie, marking the Aeros sixth point – third on the road – when trailing after two. The Aeros, who have yet to win when trailing after 40 minutes, are 0-15-5-1 overall in such situations and 0-8-3-0 away from Toyota Center. Houston is one of five AHL teams without a win when trailing after two periods. Last season, the Aeros were second in the AHL with six wins when trailing after two periods. Grand Rapids led the circuit with seven.

Hoggan, Veilleux ironmen – Houston sports just two players who have played in each of the team's first 44 games – Stephane Veilleux and Jeff Hoggan. Veilleux's consecutive game streak is at 50 games dating back to last season, while Hoggan has played in 47 straight games.

McLellan gets No. 100 – December 26 (also the Aeros last victory), Houston head coach Todd McLellan joined current Dallas Stars coach Dave Tippett as the only coaches in team history with 100 victories. McClellan is now 100-67-26-11 in his 2 ½-season reign with the club. McLellan will have to keep at it to top Tippett's 165-win total. Tippett coached the Aeros for 3 ½ seasons and - like McLellan - led his team to a championship, the 1999 Turner Cup. McLellan's overall pro coaching record is 143-99-33-11 in 3 ½ seasons. He coached IHL Cleveland in 2000-01 before coming to Houston. McLellan picked up his 100th victory in his 192nd game with the team, just five more games than it took Tippett to reach the plateau. McLellan coached his 200th game with the Aeros January 9.

Houston just past halfway point – The Aeros passed the official midway point of the season with a 14-15-8-3 mark and now sport a 14-18-9-3 mark. Below is a breakdown of Houston's season so far in 10-game segments.

Games 1-10 3-6-1-0, 7 points GF: 23 GA: 33 PP: 6-62 (9.7%) PK: 37-40 (92.5%)

Games 11-20 2-5-1-2, 7 points GF: 26 GA: 35 PP: 6-60 (10.0%) PK: 51-60 (85.0%)

Games 21-30 7-3-0-0, 14 points GF: 24 GA: 17 PP: 8-69 (11.6%) PK: 43-47 (91.5%)

Games 31-40 2-1-6-1, 11 points GF: 18 GA: 19 PP: 7-49 (14.3%) PK: 29-33 (87.9%)

Games 41-44 0-3-1-0, 1 point GF: 7 GA: 15 PP: 2-16 (12.5%) PK: 15-19 (78.9%)

Roche nearing milestones – Houston defenseman Travis Roche, who has a goal and six assists in the last 10 games, is approaching a pair of milestones – his 100th point as an Aero and also his 100th pro point. Roche has 98 points (30g, 68a) in 165 pro games, while he has 97 points (30g, 67a) in 155 Aeros games. Roche has one point in 10 career games with the Minnesota Wild. Roche's overtime penalty shot January 9 was the first of its kind in the AHL since Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's Ross Lupaschuk was stopped by Syracuse's Jean-Francois Labbe on February 22, 2002.

Houston winless in six home games – It's been feast or famine at home for the Aeros, who recently had a nine-game unbeaten Toyota Center streak (6-0-3-0) and an 11-game home points streak (6-0-4-1) snapped.

Currently, the Aeros are winless in six straight home games (0-1-4-1), with five of those games going to overtime.

The Aeros' current six-game home winless streak is their season high and two short of the franchise record, set from December 5-31, 1995.

The Aeros' last home win was a 2-1 decision over San Antonio on December 26.

Houston's six-game home winless streak is one shy of the AHL season high of seven, set by Albany from November 19-December 12.

Houston's nine-game home unbeaten streak, snapped January 8 in a 1-0 overtime loss to Hartford, was the second longest in the AHL this season, trailing only Bridgeport's 10-game run from October 25-December 17.

Houston started off its first season in Toyota Center just 2-6-1-1 but has improved to 8-7-5-2 at its new home.

Winless in six straight on the road –

Houston is 0-3-3-0 in its last six road games, tying its season-high and franchise record-tying, 0-4-1-1 run from November 20-December 3.

Houston also went winless in six straight on the road from February 19-March 19, 2003 (0-4-1-1).

The Aeros' last win away from Toyota Center was a 2-1 decision in Utah December 23. Houston is 6-11-4-1 on the road this season.

Houston's six-game road winless streak is two shy of the AHL high, held by Albany and Springfield.

Quick hits

The Aeros have just one win this season when allowing a goal in the third period. The Aeros are 13-2-6-2 when keeping their opponents off the board in the third, including an unbeaten in regulation 12-0-6-2 the last 20 times.

Houston's last game-winning goal from a player other than the called-up Kyle Wanvig was Chris Bala, in a 2-1 victory in Cincinnati December 20.

Houston rookie Chris Heid's lone pro goal came against Cleveland, on October 24.

Cleveland's Miroslav Zalesak has points in 18 of his last 20 games (13g, 13a).

Barons goalie Seamus Kotyk is 4-0-1 with a 1.69 goals against average and a .956 save percentage in his last six starts.

The Barons are the only team in the AHL with a losing record at home but a winning record on the road.

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American Hockey League Stories from January 23, 2004


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