Aeros Game Day

Published on January 24, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Houston Aeros News Release


A reminder that tonight's game is internet only, available at www.aeros.com. Ken Double brings you the game beginning at 7 p.m. It's Johan Holmqvist Bobblehead Night, presented by Memorial Hermann Hospital. The first 3,000 fans through the Toyota Center Doors will receive a bobblehead. Come watch former Aero Trent Cull lead his team against the Aeros, who expect to get Kyle Wanvig back for this game.

Houston Aeros vs. Syracuse Crunch, 1/24

Crunch at Aeros (Aeros trail all-time series 0-1-0-0, First meeting in Houston)

The teams' only prior meeting was November 28, 2003 in Syracuse, with the Crunch prevailing 5-4.

In that meeting, Houston built a 4-0 lead midway through the first period, only to see the Crunch score five unanswered goals. Darrell Scoville and Donald MacLean each scored two goals in the victory, while Karl Goehring stopped 23-of-24 shots in relief of Pascal Leclaire, who turned aside just two of five shots.

Tonight is the final regular season meeting this season between the teams.

2003-04 meetings (Second of two meetings, Crunch lead 1-0-0-0 overall, first meeting in Houston)

November 28: Houston 4 at Syracuse 5

Tonight: Syracuse at Houston

Last game – Brad Boyes posted two goals and an assist and Tavis Hansen and Miroslav Zalesak each added a tally and a helper, leading the Cleveland Barons over the Houston Aeros, 5-3, at Gund Arena. Robert Mulick also scored his first goal in 239 career AHL games and Seamus Kotyk made 40 saves for Cleveland, which has won a season-high four straight. Travis Roche, Stephane Veilleux and Michael Schutte each scored for Houston, which is winless in a franchise-record 13 straight games (0-5-7-1). Frederic Cloutier, just up from ECHL Louisiana, surrendered five goals on 30 shots to take the loss.

Scouting the Aeros – The Aeros return home after an 0-3-1 road trip, and they are trying to snap a franchise-record 13-game overall winless streak (0-5-7-1). Houston is expected to get a familiar face back tonight – Kyle Wanvig, the team's All-Star who was also its leading scorer when recalled to Minnesota earlier this month. Wanvig has 23 points (15g, 8a), still tied for second on the team, and he was reassigned to the Aeros late last night. Houston has played its last five games without head coach Todd McLellan, who missed the games with the flu but could be back for tonight's game. Assistant coach Matt Shaw has led the team in McLellan's stead. Stephane Veilleux (7g, 17a) scored a goal last night to move past Wanvig and Rickard Wallin (10g, 13a) on the team's scoring ledgers. Wallin has missed the last five games. Dan Cavanaugh (8g, 14a) is a point behind that duo with 22 points, and he scored his first goal in 18 games in Wednesday's 3-1 loss to Cleveland. Travis Roche, who scored last night in Cincinnati, leads the blueliners in points with 16 points (4g, 12a). Aeros captain Jason Marshall (5g, 10a) was recalled to Minnesota last weekend, and he's tied second among defenseman with 15 points. Marshall is tied with Erik Reitz (3g, 12a). Houston's leading rookie scorer is Mika Hannula (6g, 10a) with 16 points, and Matt Foy (7g, 8a) has 15 points. Last year's Calder Cup Most Valuable Player, goalie Johan Holmqvist, has started 35 of the team's first 45 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 didn't make the road trip due to 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 Thursday to take Kettles' place and yielded five goals on 30 shots last night to fall to 0-4-1 in his last five AHL decisions dating back to last season.

Scouting the Crunch – Syracuse, which stands fifth in the North Division with 44 points, starts a brief trip through Texas tonight, after going an impressive 6-2-0-1 in its last nine games. The Crunch, which plays at San Antonio tomorrow, beat up Wilkes-Barre Scranton 4-1 Sunday. Brad Moran and Derrick Welser each posted a goal and an assist for Syracuse, while Pascal Leclaire made 35 saves. The Crunch scored three of the four goals on the power play, a unit that is ranked second in the AHL. Syracuse is led in scoring by Donald MacLean (14g, 21a) and Brad Moran (12g, 23a), with 35 points apiece. The pair has combined for an eye-popping 13 of the team's 37 power-play goals. Syracuse has been hot lately even without Mark Hartigan, who was recalled to Columbus not long after a four-goal game. The Crunch blueline is manned by Darrel Scoville (6g, 12a) and Aaron Johnson (5g, 13a), each with 18 points. Former Aero Trent Cull has four points (1g, 3a) in 23 games and missed 16 games due to injury. Leclaire, a former first-round and No. 8 overall pick, is 11-8-1 with a 2.87 goals against average. Karl Goehring actually has a better goals against average (2.38) but has just a 7-8-4 mark to show for it. Syracuse has won three straight road games heading into tonight's tilt.

Aeros/Crunch connections

Syracuse's Trent Cull was an Aero for parts of four seasons, from 1997-2000 and then again in 2001-02. Cull notched 49 points (9g, 40a) in 253 games with Houston and was a member of the team's 1999 Turner Cup championship team.

Houston defenseman Travis Roche played with Syracuse goalie Karl Goehring at North Dakota in the 1999-2000 and 2000-01 seasons.

Crunch blueliner Ben Knopp spent the 2001-02 season in WHL Moose Jaw, front of Houston goalie Kyle Kettles.

Syracuse's Jeremy Reich played for Houston coach Todd McLellan for three seasons in WHL Swift Current from 1997-98 to 1999-2000.

Houston's Dan Cavanaugh spent three seasons playing with Syracuse's Mike Pandolfo at Boston University from 1998-2001.

Houston rookie Matt Foy and Syracuse's Darrel Scoville each played at Merrimack College, but not together.

My kingdom for a regulation game – The Aeros have gone into overtime in eight of their last 13 games, but none of the past three. 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.

Let ‘em rip – Houston enters tonight's game second in the AHL at 33.78 shots per game, including 43 last night in Cleveland. The Aeros have led the league in shots for much of the season and currently rank just behind Milwaukee (33.82). Tonight could be another good night for the Aeros' shooting gallery, as Syracuse yields 33.77 shots per game, 25th in the AHL. Syracuse has outshot just 11 teams this season – only three on the road.

Like father, like son – Houston's penchant for overtime and tie games is remarkably similar to parent club Minnesota. The Wild, 4-5-9 in the last 18, and the Aeros, 9-6-7-1 in the last 23, have combined for only 11 regulation losses but also only 13 wins in their last 41 games (13-11-16-1). 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 32 goals in 17 games (1.89 goals per game) since beating Norfolk 5-3 December 17.

Houston has been held to two goals or fewer in 13 of the last 17 games, including a scoreless streak of 178 minutes, 52 seconds that included back-to-back shutouts January 8-9.

In the last seven games, the Aeros have scored nine goals (1.29 per game average), including six goals in six games prior to last night.

Offensively in the AHL, the Aeros have slipped to 24th at 2.24 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 and then got another point last night in a tie with Hamilton. The Ducks, in fourth place with 42 points, play host to North Division-leading Hamilton again 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. The Aeros could slip to sixth tonight if San Antonio, which visits Milwaukee, has a better result than they do.

Aeros 9-6-7-1 in last 23 –Houston has just six regulation losses (9-6-7-1) in its last 23 games (.565 win pct.), but is also winless in a franchise-record 13 games (0-5-7-1). Houston has picked up a point in eight of those 13 games.

The Aeros' three-game losing streak is one shy of their season-high, set 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 13 games (0-5-7-1), five 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 13-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.

The last AHL team to go winless in 14 straight games was tonight's opponent, Syracuse, from December 13, 2002 to January 10, 2003.

Without a win tonight, the Aeros are guaranteed to go one calendar month since their last win, December 26 against San Antonio.

Kyle Wanvig 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 25 games, the Aeros are yielding just 2.00 goals per game. That has helped Houston move out of the basement to 2.76 goals against per game, 20th 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 20 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 eight (3g, 5a) since the pairing. Hoggan doesn't have a point in the last seven games, five 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 25-for-172 (14.5 percent) on the power play.

The Aeros' overall 87.7 percent penalty kill rate ranks fifth in the AHL.

Houston has allowed five power play goals on 23 chances in the last six games (21.7 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 45 games, and have points in all but eight of those games (9-8-8-3).

The Aeros will get a test tonight as Syracuse's power-play unit is ranked second in the AHL at 18.5 percent. On the road, Syracuse clicks on 17.9 percent of its power plays, also second in the league.

Syracuse is an eye-popping 36.8 percent (7-for-19) on the power play over its last four games.

Syracuse went 1-for-12 on the power play versus Houston on November 28 with Darrel Scoville scoring the goal.

Power play update –

Houston enters tonight's game 29 of 258 on the power play (11.2 percent), 26th among 28 AHL teams.

The Aeros have gone 17-for-115 (14.8 percent) since Matt Foy snapped a streak of 37 straight unsuccessful power plays December 5, raising their percentage from 8.3 to 11.2.

Houston is 2-for-28 (7.1 percent) on the power play over its last seven games and is 0-for-16 in the last four contests. The last Aeros' power play goal came from Christoph Brandner January 16 against San Antonio.

Houston's 258 power plays are the most in the AHL, although Manitoba has nearly caught up (250). In order to put the Aeros' power-play totals in perspective, realize that they have an astounding 99 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 21st in the AHL on the penalty kill at 83.8 percent. On the road, the Crunch kill off 86.0 percent, tied for 12th in the league.

Syracuse has killed off only 21-of-27 (77.7 percent) of its shorthanded chances over the past five games.

Houston went 1-for-9 against Syracuse on November 28, with the goal coming from Travis Roche.

Syracuse has yielded seven shorthanded goals this season, the second most in the AHL.

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 193 points (96g, 97a) in his 610-game pro career. Hendrickson is four goals and three assists shy of 100 in his pro career in both those categories. Hendrickson played in his 100th AHL game December 27. He has 68 points (32g, 36a) in 112 career AHL contests.

Holmqvist 0-1-1 against Crunch –Aeros netminder Johan Holmqvist is 0-1-1 with a 6.42 goals against average and a .735 save percentage in two career games versus Syracuse. Holmqvist allowed five goals on 23 shots as the Crunch rallied from four goals down for a 5-4 win November 28. When he was with Hartford, Holmqvist yielded four goals on 11 shots and lasted 25:30 against Syracuse on March 30, 2001, but the Wolf Pack rallied for a 4-4 tie. Frederic Cloutier hasn't faced the Crunch.

Goehring 1-0-0 versus Aeros – Each Syracuse netminder has made one appearance versus Houston, with much different results. Pascal Leclaire started the November 28 game and surrendered three goals on five shots (41.86 goals against average, .400 save percentage). Leclaire was rescued by Karl Goehring, who came in and yielded just one goal on 24 shots to get the win (1.08 goals against average, .968 save percentage).

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 (1-19-6-2) when yielding two or more, a 5-3 home victory over Norfolk.

Aeros have first goal in 14 of 21 games – Houston has scored first in 14 of its last 21 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 seven 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 3-15-3-2 when allowing the game's first goal, including a winless 0-9-2-0 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 0-16-5-1 overall in such situations and 0-9-3-0 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 45 games – Stephane Veilleux and Jeff Hoggan. Veilleux's consecutive game streak is at 51 games dating back to last season, while Hoggan has played in 48 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 100-68-26-11 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 143-100-33-11 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 14-19-9-3 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 41-45 0-4-1-0, 1 point GF: 10 GA: 20 PP: 2-19 (10.5%) PK: 18-23 (78.3%)

Roche nearing 100 points – Houston defenseman Travis Roche, who has two goals and six assists in the last 11 games, is approaching a pair of milestones – his 100th point as an Aero and also his 100th pro point. Roche has 99 points (31g, 68a) in 166 pro games, while he has 98 points (31g, 67a) in 156 Aeros games. Roche has one point in 10 career games with the Minnesota Wild.

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 seven straight on the road –

Houston is 0-4-3-0 in its last seven road games, one more than its previous 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 6-12-4-1 on the road this season.

Houston's seven-game road winless streak is one shy of the AHL high, held by Albany (current) and Springfield.

Quick hits

The Aeros have just one win this season when allowing a goal in the third period. The Aeros are 13-3-6-2 when keeping their opponents off the board in the third, including an unbeaten in regulation 12-1-6-2 the last 21 times. Last night marked Houston's first regulation loss in the last 21 games when allowing a goal in the third.

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

Syracuse's Tim Jackman has 20 points in 35 games, but he has no multi-point games.

Darrel Scoville has one multi-goal game this season – November 28 versus Houston.

Pascal Leclaire is 4-1-0 in his last five starts, with the only blemish coming in a wild 7-6 overtime loss to Toronto January 16.

Syracuse has lost Karl Goehring's last two starts, but the team has scored just three goals in front of him. Crunch center Donald MacLean has tallied a point in 12 of his last 13 games, netting eight goals and seven assists.

Syracuse is 2-3-5 in overtime games this season.

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American Hockey League Stories from January 24, 2004


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