Aeros Game Day

Published on February 6, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Houston Aeros News Release


Tonight's game can be heard beginning at 7 p.m. on KBME 790 AM and on the Internet at www.aeros.com.

Houston Aeros at Milwaukee Admirals, 2/6

Aeros at Admirals (Aeros lead all-time series 26-23-5-1 overall, 12-13-1-0 at Milwaukee)

The teams meet for the 56th time tonight – 27th in Milwaukee.

The Aeros are winless in the last four meetings overall (0-3-0-1) and last beat the Admirals on Opening Night (October 17), when they earned a 5-1 win at Bradley Center.

Since the teams joined the American Hockey League prior to the 2001-02 season, Houston has a 15-10-1-1 mark versus Milwaukee, including an impressive 10-3-0-0 mark at Bradley Center.

Houston has not won in its last seven games against Milwaukee when failing to score three or more goals (0-5-1-1).

The road team has won four of the first five matchups this season, with the Admirals' 3-1 win November 20 the only time the home team escaped with a victory.

Milwaukee and Grand Rapids are the only two active teams against whom the Aeros have losing records on the road.

Tonight is the first of the teams' four February meetings – three in Milwaukee.

2003-04 meetings (Sixth of 10 meetings Aeros are 1-3-0-1 overall, 1-1-0-0 at Milwaukee)

October 17: Houston 5 at Milwaukee 1

November 6: Milwaukee 8 at Houston 2

November 15: Milwaukee 4 at Houston 3 (OT)

November 20: Houston 1 at Milwaukee 3

December 1: Milwaukee 3 at Houston 1

Tonight: Houston at Milwaukee

February 13: Houston at Milwaukee

February 20: Milwaukee at Houston

February 26: Houston at Milwaukee

March 28: Milwaukee at Houston

Last game – Mark Cullen and Stephane Veilleux each finished with a power play goal and an assist, leading the Houston Aeros to a 2-1 victory over the Utah Grizzlies last night at Toyota Center. Johan Holmqvist made 17 of his 30 saves in the final 20 minutes for his third straight win for Houston, which has posted back-to-back wins for the first time since Christmas week. The Aeros, who scored two power-play goals for the third time in four games, moved to 48 points, four better than fifth-place Cincinnati and five less than third-place Milwaukee.

Scouting the Aeros – Tonight the Aeros look to record three straight wins for the first time since December 20-26. Houston is playing its third of 20 consecutive games against the West Division, including all 15 in February, and has won three of four and four of six. The Aeros' leading scorer is Stephane Veilleux (11+18=29), who is four points ahead of Dan Cavanaugh (9+16=25). Veilleux has five goals in the last seven games. Kyle Wanvig (16+8=24) leads the team in goals and is third overall in scoring. His 16 goals are five more than any teammate (Veilleux and Jeff Hoggan each have 11). Travis Roche (5+18=23) paces the blueline with 23 points, including 15 points in his last 16 games and a career-high tying three points Tuesday. Erik Reitz (3+17=20), who has four assists in the last four games, is also lighting it up from the defensive position. Aeros captain Jason Marshall (5+11=16) and his 16 points were returned from Minnesota prior to yesterday's game. Houston's leading newcomer is Mika Hannula (7+10=17) with 17 points, although Hannula's three seasons in the Swedish Elite League mean he doesn't qualify as a rookie. Last year's Calder Cup Most Valuable Player, goalie Johan Holmqvist, has started 40 of the team's first 51 games, going 16-18-5 with a 2.65 goals against average. Holmqvist is 4-5-3 in his last 12 decisions, but he has won three straight starts. His regular backup is second-year netminder Kyle Kettles, who is 2-5-4 with a 2.44 goals against average. Kettles, who is winless in five straight starts (0-1-4) and six appearances (0-2-4), has just 12 goals of support in 10 starts this season. With Kettles out due to a minor injury, Frederic Cloutier (0-1-0, 5.13 with Houston) was summoned from ECHL Louisiana.

Scouting the Admirals – Milwaukee enters tonight's game with only one regulation loss in its last eight games (4-1-2-1). The Admirals, with 53 points and in third place in the West Division, return home tonight after a four-game, 2-1-0-1 road trip in which they averaged four goals per game. Milwaukee was in Toronto on Sunday, and the team ran away to a 5-1 victory. Greg Classen and Timofei Shishkanov each had two goals and an assist and Brian Finley turned aside 23 Roadrunner offerings. The Admirals are led in scoring by crafty veteran Tony Hrkac, who enters tonight's game with 899 career points. Hkrac has 34 points (11+23=34) in only 35 games and is followed closely by Shishkanov (19+12=31), an All-Star, and Mathieu Darche (19+12=31). The Admirals' blueline is paced by former Aero Curtis Murphy (7+18=25) and Brad Tiley (7+18=25). Finley, a former first-round pick, is 10-11-4 with a 2.52 goals against average, while veteran Wade Flaherty has gone 10-6-2 with a nifty 2.15 goals against average. Each netminder has recorded a pair of shutouts. Finley is an unbeaten 3-0-1 with a 1.47 goals against average in his last four starts.

Aeros/Admirals connections

Milwaukee defenseman Curtis Murphy spent the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons with Houston, helping the Aeros win the 2003 Calder Cup title. Murphy notched 101 points (35g, 66a) in 160 games over two seasons with Houston while never missing a game.

The Admirals' Jay Henderson was part of the 2003 Aeros' Calder Cup winning team after he was acquired from the Rangers organization for Cory Larose. Henderson posted 11 points (7+4=11) in 22 regular season games and four points (2+2=4) in 23 post-season contests.

Milwaukee's Greg Classen (1998-2000) and Houston's Matt Foy (2001-02) each attended Merrimack College.

The Aeros' Travis Roche (1999-2001) and Curtis Murphy (1994-98) and Milwaukee's Tony Hrkac (1984-85, 1986-87) and Bryan Lundbohm (1998-2001) each went to the University of North Dakota. Hrkac was also a teammate of Houston captain Jason Marshall from 1999-2001 in Anaheim.

Houston's Stephane Veilleux and the Admirals' Simon Gamache were two of the leading scorers for QMJHL Val d'Or from 1999-2001.

Milwaukee's Ray Schultz played for Houston head coach Todd McLellan in 2000-01 in Cleveland (IHL). Schultz was also a teammate of the Aeros' Jan Vodrazka in IHL Kansas City in 1999-2000.

Houston defenseman Jason Beckett was an Admiral for most of two seasons, 2001-02 and 2002-03. Beckett had 18 points (4g+14=18) and 186 penalty minutes in 92 games with Milwaukee. Beckett also played with Milwaukee's Brad Tiley in AHL Philadelphia in 2000-01 and part of 2001-02.

The Aeros' Jeff Hoggan played three collegiate seasons at Nebraska-Omaha with Milwaukee's Greg Zanon.

Houston center Darby Hendrickson (1991-93) and Milwaukee assistant coach Todd Richards (1985-89) each attended the University of Minnesota.

Aeros get on the road again –

Tonight, the Aeros open up a season-long five game road trip, with all five games coming against the top three teams in the West Division. Houston is 3-5-1 combined against those three teams on the road this season.

Houston's win January 30 in Manitoba snapped a franchise-record seven-game road winless streak (0-4-3-0), which was one more than its previous season-high and franchise record-tying, 0-4-1-1 run from November 20-December 3.

Houston is now 7-13-4-1 on the road.

A telling tale – Milwaukee leads the AHL in scoring at 3.18 goals per game and shots at 33.84 per game. Houston is second in shots (33.33) but is 21st in scoring (2.31).

Aeros in fourth – Fourth-place Houston has 48 points, four better than Cincinnati and five points behind third-place Milwaukee in the West Division. Houston holds a six-point edge on sixth-place San Antonio, which has an important seven games in hand on the Aeros. Cincinnati plays host to Utah tonight before hosting Grand Rapids on Saturday. San Antonio, meanwhile, travels to Norfolk tonight and Saturday. Houston's highest position this season was third on December 30.

Aeros looking for three straight – Houston will try to put together its first three-game winning streak since December 20-26 tonight. Houston has four wins in its last 19 games (4-7-7-1) but also only eight regulation losses in the last 29 games (13-8-7-1). The Aeros snapped a franchise-record 13-game winless streak (0-5-7-1) January 24.

The Aeros' 13-game winless streak (0-5-7-1) was five more than their previous franchise record eight-game streak (0-6-1-1), November 20-December 3 of this season. It was also the longest stretch in the AHL this season.

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

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 next 31 games, the Aeros have yielded just 2.10 goals per game. The defensive streak has helped Houston move out of the basement to 2.73 goals against per game, 18th in the AHL.

‘O' starting to heat up –

Houston has scored 20 goals in its last seven games (2.86 average).

The Aeros have scored just 49 goals in 23 games (2.13 goals per game) since beating Norfolk 5-3 December 17.

Houston has been held to two goals or fewer in 16 of the last 23 games, including a scoreless streak of 178 minutes, 52 seconds that included back-to-back shutouts January 8-9.

In the last 13 contests, the Aeros are averaging 2.08 goals per game.

Offensively in the AHL, the Aeros are 21st in the AHL at 2.31 goals per game.

Houston has scored one goal or fewer in 14 of its 51 games this season (27.5 percent) and two goals or less in 32 of 51 games (62.7 percent).

Shooting gallery – Houston enters tonight's game second in the AHL with 33.36 shots per game. The Aeros have outshot 11 of their last 13 opponents.

Nine straight regulation games an irregularity – The Aeros haven't gone to overtime in any of their past nine games, which is a story because from December 27-January 17, eight of 10 games went into the extra session. The Aeros, winless at 0-3-9 in overtime, are one of just two AHL teams without an extra session win. Utah is the other, with an 0-3-4 mark. 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. Hershey leads the AHL this season with 17 extra session games (6-3-8), while Providence's 10 ties are tops in the circuit.

Holmqvist has won three straight – Aeros netminder Johan Holmqvist has gone 3-0-0 with a 1.33 goals against average in his last three starts, after going 1-5-3 in his previous nine decisions. Holmqvist was the 2003 Butterfield Trophy winner as the playoff Most Valuable Player.

Holmqvist has won three straight starts for the first time since his six-game winning streak December 5-17.

From December 28-January 21, Holmqvist went 0-4-3 with a no decision and a 3.01 goals against average. His seven-decision winless streak was 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 16 wins this season, Holmqvist is allowing 1.06 goals per game and sports a .960 save percentage. In his 25 non-wins, Holmqvist sports a 3.70 goals against average and a .870 save percentage. Holmqvist and the Aeros have just two wins this season when yielding more than one goal.

Kettles' unbeaten streak snapped –

Rookie goalie Kyle Kettles was 2-0-4 with a 0.95 goals against average and a .960 save percentage in six starts from December 23-January 17, dropping his goals against average from 3.65 to 2.19.

Kettles is now winless in five straight starts (0-1-4) and six appearances (0-2-4) since his last win, a 26-save effort in a 2-1 win over Utah December 23.

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.

The Aeros have scored just 12 goals in Kettles' 10 starts this season.

Holmqvist at .500 mark versus Admirals – Houston netminder Johan Holmqvist is 3-3-0 with a 3.28 goals against average in six career decisions against Milwaukee. Holmqvist won both decisions versus the Admirals in 2002-03, but he is 1-3-0 with a 3.69 goals against average this season against Milwaukee. Kyle Kettles is 0-1-0 with a no decision and a 3.34 goals against average versus the Admirals this season. He made 29 saves in a 3-1 home loss to the Admirals on December 1. Frederic Cloutier lost his lone start against Milwaukee last season, 3-2, making 18 of his 27 saves in the first period on March 5 at Bradley Center.

Admirals netminders against Aeros – The Admirals' Brian Finley is 3-4-1 with a no decision and a 2.52 goals against average in nine career games versus Houston. He is 3-1-0 with a 2.74 goals against average in four games against the Aeros this season. Veteran Wade Flaherty is 5-5-0 with a no decision and a 3.10 goals against average in 11 career games versus Houston. He made 18 saves in a 3-1 win over the Aeros November 20 in his lone appearance versus Houston this season.

Penalty kill update –

Houston killed off its first 31 shorthanded chances this season. Since then, opponents are 30-for-202 (14.9 percent) on the power play.

The Aeros' overall 87.1 percent penalty kill rate (203-233) is 11th in the AHL, after spending much of season in the top 10.

The Aeros have yielded 10 power-play goals in 53 chances (81.1 kill rate) in the last 11 games.

Houston is winless (0-7-1-0) when yielding two or more PPG.

The Aeros have yielded no power play goals in 30 of their 51 games, and have points in all but eight of those games (11-8-8-3).

Milwaukee is 2-for-32 (6.3 percent) on the power play against Houston this season. Tony Hrkac and Timofei Shishkanov have each scored one man-advantage goal versus the Aeros in 2003-04. Chris Bala has a shorthanded goal for Houston versus the Admirals.

Milwaukee ranks 20th in the league on the power play (13.1 percent), including 12.9 percent on the road (19th).

The Admirals are 4-for-16 (25.0 percent) on the power play over their last four games.

Power play update –

Houston enters tonight's game 36 of 300 on the power play (12.0 percent), 24th among 28 AHL teams.

The Aeros have gone 24-for-157 (15.3 percent) since Matt Foy snapped a streak of 37 straight unsuccessful power plays December 5, raising their percentage from 8.3 to 12.0.

Houston is 6-for-26 (23.1 percent) on the power play over its last four games, after a stretch of 1-for-32 the previous six games.

Houston's 300 power plays are the most in the AHL, 28 more than second-place Manitoba. In order to put the Aeros' power-play totals in perspective, realize that they have an astounding 127 more power plays than in-state rival San Antonio, which has the fewest in the league.

The Aeros have just five wins in 24 games (5-12-6-1) when not scoring a power-play goal.

The Aeros are just 1-for-31 (3.2 percent) on the power play versus the Admirals this season. Rickard Wallin scored that lone man advantage goal November 15. Milwaukee's Wyatt Smith has a shorthanded goal versus Houston.

The Admirals, in the top 10 for much of the season on the penalty kill, rank 20th in the AHL now at 84.7 percent.

Milwaukee has allowed its opponents four power play goals on the last 15 chances (26.7 percent).

Houston has two wins when allowing more than one goal - The Aeros are an unbeaten in regulation 16-0-3-1 when allowing one goal or fewer this season, and December 17 and January 30 were their only wins (2-21-6-2) when yielding two or more.

Aeros have first goal in 17 of 27 games – Houston has scored first in 17 of its last 27 games, but in only five of the last 13 games. Houston is 9-3-5-0 in the last 17 when scoring first and 14-4-5-1 overall when scoring first. January 16 marked the Aeros' only home loss when scoring first (6-1-3-0).

But when not scoring first... - The Aeros are 4-17-3-2 when allowing the game's first goal, including a winless 0-10-2-0 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.

Hoggan, Veilleux ironmen – Houston sports just two players who have played in each of the team's first 51 games – Stephane Veilleux and Jeff Hoggan. Veilleux's consecutive game streak is at 57 games dating back to last season, while Hoggan has played in 54 straight games.

Hendrickson closes in on 200 points, 100 goals and assists – Aeros centerman Darby Hendrickson has 196 points (98g, 98a) in his 616-game pro career. Hendrickson is two goals and two assists shy of 100 in his pro career in both those categories. Hendrickson played in his 100th AHL game December 27. He has 71 points (34g, 37a) in 118 career AHL contests. Hendrickson, who spent eight full seasons in the NHL, played in his 600th pro game December 30.

All Mitchell does is score power play goals; five-game assist streak was team-best –

Defenseman Kevin Mitchell's first goal in an Aeros uniform came January 24 on the power play, but that shouldn't be a surprise. In his three-year pro career, including ECHL totals, Mitchell has 19 goals - and an eye-popping 15 have come on the power play. Each of Mitchell's four AHL goals have been on the power play. Mitchell's last non power play goal came 14 months ago - on December 7, 2002, with ECHL Louisiana against Arkansas.

Last season with the IceGators, Mitchell had 23 of his 34 points on the power play. With the Aeros, six of his 10 points have come on the power play.

Mitchell had points in five straight games (1+5=6) for the first time in his AHL career January 23-31, and that is one off the team season-high set by Dan Cavanaugh.

Mitchell's five-game assist streak was an Aeros season-high by two games.

The blueliner has seven points (1+6=7) in the last seven games.

Roche at nearly a point per game in last 16 - Houston defenseman Travis Roche has three goals and 12 assists in the last 16 games, and he reached a pair of milestones January 24. Roche's assist on Kevin Mitchell's 5-on-3 game-winning goal in the second period was his 100th point as a pro, while his helper on Kyle Wanvig's third-period goal was his 100th point as an Aero. Roche has 106 points (32g, 74a) in 172 pro games, while he has 105 points (32g, 73a) in 162 Aeros games. Roche has one assist in 10 career games with the Minnesota Wild.

Cavosie betters rookie season numbers - Marc Cavosie has already bettered last season's five-goal total. His 20 points (6+14=20) are also one better than last season's rookie total, and his 14 assists are tied with that mark. Cavosie has a goal and five assists in the last 10 games and he has three multi-point games, one better than his total from last season.

Reitz sets new personal-best, too - Second-year defenseman Erik Reitz posted two assists last Friday and Saturday in Manitoba. Reitz' 20 points (3+17=20) are one better than last season's rookie total of 19 (6+13=19). Reitz has 17 helpers this season, already four better than last season's rookie mark. Reitz has seven points (1+6=7) in his last 11 games, including a trio of multi-point contests. Reitz is second to Travis Roche (5+18=23) for the team lead in scoring among defensemen.

West to be won or lost in February – Tonight, the Aeros play game three of a stretch of 20 consecutive games against the Western Division, including all 15 February games. Starting tonight, nine straight games will be against the top three teams in the division, Grand Rapids, Chicago and Milwaukee. Houston, which has already wrapped up its home schedule against everybody but the West, is 12-14-6-2 against its division. The Aeros have three non division games left, from March 17-21 (one against Worcester, two versus Norfolk).

Gamache wears out the Aeros – Milwaukee's Simon Gamache, acquired from Chicago earlier this season, enjoyed much success against Houston with the Wolves. Gamache has 15 points, including nine goals, in just 15 career games versus the Aeros. Gamache had three power-play goals and an overtime game-winner against Houston in 2002-03, when he posted 13 points (9+4=13) in nine games.

Quick hits

Tonight, Houston's Chris Bala will play in his 175th pro game and Stephane Veilleux enters the game one point shy of 75 in his Aeros career. Travis Roche is one assist shy of 75 in his pro career.

Milwaukee's Jay Henderson, who played for the Aeros during the Calder Cup championship run last season, has seen both of his goals this season versus Houston go down as game winners.

Two of Kyle Wanvig's four career goals versus Chicago have been game winners.

Milwaukee has outscored Houston 6-2 in the first period of their five meetings this season. The Aeros have scored first just once against the Admirals this season, and that led to their only win in the series, October 17.

Tony Hrkac has eight points (2+6=8) in just four games versus the Aeros this season.

Former Aero Curtis Murphy is a team-best plus-six versus Houston in 2003-04.

The Admirals have outscored opponents by 17 goals (61-44) in the third period, the best margin of any AHL team.

The Admirals have six wins when trailing after one period but none when trailing after two.

The Aeros will play their next four games against Milwaukee and Chicago, which enter the weekend first and second overall in the AHL in scoring.

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American Hockey League Stories from February 6, 2004


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