Aeros Game Day

Published on March 17, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Houston Aeros News Release


Tonight's game is Internet only. It can be heard at www.aeros.com beginning at 6 p.m. (ct). Follow along on the website for period-by-period recaps.

Houston Aeros at Worcester IceCats, 3/17

Five things you absolutely need to know before reading any further –

Aeros centerman Mark Cullen has helped raise $350 for "Sunshine Kids", which helps children struck with cancer and their families. An anonymous donor is giving $100 per Cullen goal and $50 per assist to the organization. Cullen, who was diagnosed with malignant melanoma last fall, has a goal and five assists since the campaign started March 5.

Houston plays game two of a four-game road trip tonight. The trek continues Saturday and Sunday in Norfolk. After this trip the Aeros, who are 2-11-5-1 in their last 19 road games, have only eight games left – six at home.

The Aeros haven't yielded a first-period goal in the last seven games dating back to the Milwaukee game on February 26. Houston has also scored first in seven straight games.

Houston and Worcester have each scored 44 first-period goals. Only three AHL teams have scored fewer times in the opening 20 minutes.

Houston hasn't scored a first-period goal in seven of its last eight road games, and the Aeros have yielded at least one third-period goal in 10 of 11 road games.

Aeros at IceCats (Aeros lead all-time series 3-1-1-0, Aeros are 1-1-0-0 at Worcester)

Tonight is the sixth all-time meeting between the teams – the third in Worcester.

Houston is winless in the last two meetings (0-1-1-0) after winning the first three.

The Aeros lost 4-2 to Worcester in their last trip to Massachusetts, on February 9, 2002.

This marks the second of two meetings this season. In the first meeting at Toyota Center, the teams skated to a 0-0 tie behind 20 saves from Houston's Kyle Kettles and 26 from Worcester's Reinhard Divis. Divis also stopped Travis Roche's penalty shot with 7.6 seconds left in overtime.

Houston is 3-0-0-0 when scoring three or more goals against Worcester, but 0-1-1-0 when scoring two or fewer.

2003-04 meetings (Second of two meetings, series tied 0-0-1-0 overall, first meeting in Worcester)

January 9 – Worcester 0 at Houston 0 (OT)

Tonight – Houston at Worcester

Last game – Paul Healey's first goal in a Rampage uniform came 40 seconds into overtime and lifted San Antonio to 2-1 victory over the Houston Aeros at SBC Center. Travis Scott made 29 saves and Gregory Campbell scored in the third period for the Rampage to force overtime. Johan Holmqvist made 29 saves and Michael Schutte scored on a five-minute power play for Houston, which is still unbeaten in regulation in its last four games (3-0-0-1) and is 5-1-1-1 in its last eight. Houston's Mark Cullen assisted on Schutte's goal, raising another $50 for Sunshine Kids. A total of $350 has been racked up for the children's cancer charity in the last two weeks.

Scouting the Aeros – Houston, 5-1-1-1 in its last eight, hopes to continue its march towards a Calder Cup playoff spot tonight against the IceCats. The Aeros are still playing without leading scorer Stephane Veilleux (12+26=38), who was recalled to Minnesota February 27. Rickard Wallin (14+17=31) and defenseman Zbynek Michalek (5+14=19) have since joined Veilleux with the Wild. Defenseman Travis Roche (6+28=34) is the leading active scorer, two points ahead of Dan Cavanaugh (12+20=32) and Kyle Wanvig (21+11=32), who has a team-best 21 goals. Last season's Calder Cup Most Valuable Player, goalie Johan Holmqvist, has played 54 of the team's first 69 games, going 21-25-6 with a 2.49 goals against average and three shutouts. Holmqvist is 4-1-0 with a 1.00 goals against average in his last five starts. Kyle Kettles is 3-7-5 with a 2.65 goals against average but has deserved a better fate. In 14 starts, the Aeros have scored 24 goals in front of the rookie netminder.

Scouting the IceCats – Worcester salvaged the finale of a four-game road trip Sunday with a 5-1 win in Providence, leaving the team with a 1-2-0-1 record on the trip. The IceCats return home, where they have won their last two games despite being just one game over the .500 mark this season. Mike Glumac scored twice for Worcester Sunday, while Jon Coleman posted three points (1+2=3). Glumac is the team's leading scorer with 41 points (22+19=41) and has points in six straight games and 10 of 11. Fellow Miami (Ohio) product Ernie Hartlieb has 34 points (14+20=34), while Jeff Panzer has chipped in 33 (12+21=33). The IceCats blueline is anchored by Coleman (2+19=21) and Jame Pollock (6+15=21). Worcester's goaltending situation has been a carousel all season, as the IceCats have used a league-high eight netminders. With Reinhard Divis now in St. Louis and Brent Johnson traded, the majority of the workload is expected to fall on the shoulders of Curtis Sanford, who is 13-13-1 with a 2.34 goals against average and a .912 save percentage. His backup down the stretch will be rookie Jake Moreland (0-1-0, 1.05 goals against average).

Aeros/IceCats connections –

Worcester centerman Greg Black played with Houston's Jason Beckett in WHL Seattle in the 1998-99 and 1999-2000 seasons. Beckett also played with Worcester's Jame Pollack with the Thunderbirds from 1997-99.

IceCats defenseman Aris Brimanis was Jan Vodrazka's teammate in 1999-2000 with IHL Kansas City. Vodrazka was also Ryan Ready's teammate in 2000-01 with Kansas City.

Houston's Travis Roche played with Worcester's Jeff Panzer at North Dakota in 1999-2000 and 2000-01, and the pair helped the Fighting Sioux win the NCAA title in 2001.

Worcester's Scott Pellerin played for the Minnesota Wild in 2000-01.

Aeros goalie Kyle Kettles played two-plus seasons with Brett Scheffelmaier in WHL Medicine Hat from 1999-2001.

Worcester's Peter Sejna, the 2002 Hobey Baker winner, played with Houston's Mark Cullen in 2000-01 and 2001-02 with Colorado College. Aeros assistant coach Matt Shaw is also a former Colorado College player and assistant coach.

IceCats winger Igor Valeev played for Houston head coach Todd McLellan in 1999-00 with WHL Swift Current.

Houston goalie Johan Holmqvist played nearly two full seasons in Hartford with Terry Virtue.

Worcester's Jon Coleman (1993-97) went to Boston University, as did Houston's Dan Cavanaugh (1998-2001).

Houston's Michael Schutte (1999-2002) attended the University of Maine, as Scott Pellerin did from 1988-1992.

Cavanaugh returns "home" on St. Pattie's Day – Springfield native Dan Cavanaugh will play just his third pro game in his home state tonight. Cavanaugh posted one assist in two games versus Worcester, located 52 miles from Springfield, in the 2001-02 season. The Aeros have yet to visit Springfield. It's been quite the season for the Boston University product, who will be immortalized with his own bobblehead doll March 27. Cavanaugh's 31 points are a new career-high, and his 12 goals are one shy of his career-best, set in 2002-03. Cavanaugh has four points (2+2=4) in the first four games back from a six-game injury absence, including goals in two straight games March 8-12. The Irishman has one more thing going for him tonight – it's St. Patrick's Day.

Great to see someone different – Houston just wrapped up a streak where it played 20 consecutive games against the West Division, going 8-9-2-1. The Aeros, who are 18-23-8-2 overall against the West, are looking for their first win in four attempts against the Atlantic (0-1-1-1). Houston will visit Norfolk this weekend, and the Aeros are 2-0-0-0 against the East, with both games coming against the Admirals. After this road trip, the final eight games of the season will all be against the West.

Aeros streaking at the right time –

Houston is 5-1-1-1 over its last eight following a 2-1 overtime loss in San Antonio on Saturday. The loss ended Houston's first three-game winning streak since December 20-26.

Houston has 10 wins in its last 37 games (10-16-9-2) and is two games above the .500 mark the last 47 games (19-17-9-2).

The Aeros' 13-game winless streak (0-5-7-1) December 27-January 23 was five more than their previous franchise record eight-game streak (0-6-1-1), November 20-December 3 of this season.

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

The Aeros won six straight December 5-17, outscoring their opponents 18-6 in the process.

In the season's first 20 games, Houston allowed a league-worst 3.40 goals per game. In the last 49 games, the Aeros have yielded just 2.45 goals per game. The defensive streak has helped Houston move out of the basement to 2.71 goals against per game, tied for 16th in the AHL.

Key road trip continues –

The Aeros snapped a franchise-record nine-game winless streak (0-7-2-0) February 27 with a 5-1 win in San Antonio. Houston is now unbeaten in regulation in three straight on the road (1-0-1-1) since February 26.

Tonight the Aeros, 1-0-1-1 in their last three away from Toyota Center, will try pick up at least one point in a fourth straight road game for the second time this season. The first occasion was a 2-0-2-0 streak from December 20-January 2.

The Aeros have one set of back-to-back road wins this season (Cincinnati and Utah December 20-23).

Houston is 8-19-6-2 on the road, including a 2-11-6-0 mark in the last 19 games since December 23.

The Aeros' 19 road losses are one off Springfield and Cincinnati's AHL high.

Houston is two road defeats off its franchise record of 21, set in 1995-96, with six games left.

"O" exploding –

The Aeros are averaging 3.00 goals per game in the last 11 games to improve to 2.39 goals per game, 20th in the AHL.

Houston has been held to two goals or fewer in 25 of the last 40 games (62.5 percent), including a scoreless streak of 178 minutes, 52 seconds that included back-to-back shutouts January 8-9.

Houston has scored two goals or less in 41 of 69 games (59.4 percent) this season.

Aeros, Ducks, Rampage, Grizzlies in a playoff dog-fight – Houston has 63 points, six more than Cincinnati and San Antonio, which are tied for fifth, and 10 more than Utah in the West Division. Cincinnati, which has four games in hand on the Aeros, is in Chicago tonight, is at home versus Cleveland Friday and Saturday and Utah Sunday. San Antonio, which has five games in hand on Houston, has a light week including home games Friday against Chicago and Sunday versus red-hot Milwaukee. Utah, which has just one game in hand on the Aeros, plays host to Milwaukee tonight and Friday and then is in Chicago on Saturday and Cincinnati on Sunday to finish off an exhausting week. The top five teams in the West make the playoffs, with the fourth- and fifth-place team playing a three-game qualifying series at the higher seed. Home ice will be important, since the four teams chasing the final two playoff spots are a combined 42 games under .500.

Houston – 63 points (11 games left, 6H, 5R)

GR (1H/0R), MIL (1H/0R), UTA (1H/0R), SA (1H/1R), CIN (2H/1R), WOR (0H/1R), NOR (0H/2R)

Cincinnati – 57 points (15 games left, 7H, 8R)

CHI (1H/1R), MIL (0H/1R), CLE (4H/1R), UTA (1H/0R), GR (0H/1R), SA (0H/2R), HOU (1H/2R)

San Antonio – 57 points (16 games left, 8H, 8R)

MIL (2H/1R), HOU (1H/1R), CHI (1H/3R), GR (1H/1R), UTA (1H/2R), CIN (2H/0R)

Utah – 53 points (12 games left, 7H, 5R)

MIL (3H/0R), HOU (0H/1R), SA (2H/1R), CIN (0H/1R), CHI (0H/1R), GR (2H/0R), CLE (0H/1R)

Head-to-head matchups

Houston/Cincinnati (3 total, 2 at HOU, 1 at CIN) – 4/1, 4/2 at HOU; 4/9 at CIN

Houston/San Antonio (2 total, 1 at HOU, 1 at SAN) – 3/27 at HOU; 3/26 at SAN

Houston/Utah (1 total, 1 at HOU) – 3/23 at HOU

San Antonio/Cincinnati (2 total, 2 at SAN) – 3/28, 3/30 at SAN

San Antonio/Utah (3 total, 1 at SAN, 2 at UTA) – 4/10 at SAN; 4/2, 4/3 at UTA

Utah/Cincinnati (1 total, 1 at CIN) – 3/21 at CIN

Wanvig reaches 20-goal mark – Aeros right wing Kyle Wanvig has gotten to the 20-goal plateau for the first time in his pro career. Wanvig, who scored his 20th February 28 against San Antonio, picked up No. 21 March 6 against Utah. Wanvig has 33 total points between Houston and Minnesota, and 32 alone with the Aeros (21+11=32). Wanvig's previous career-high for goals was 14 combined (13 with Houston) last season, when he had 30 points, 29 with the Aeros.

Holmqvist 4-1-0 in last five – Aeros netminder Johan Holmqvist had his four-game winning streak snapped in Saturday's 2-1 overtime loss in San Antonio. However, he's still 4-1-0 with a 1.00 goals against average and a .965 save percentage (137-142) in the last five games. Holmqvist has five wins (5-7-1) in his last 13 games, but the Aeros have scored just 12 goals in those eight non-wins (1.50 gpg).

Holmqvist, the 2003 Butterfield Trophy winner as Calder Cup Playoffs MVP, sports a 26-28-6 mark with Houston.

Holmqvist's current 2.49 goals against average is a career best.

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 21 wins this season, Holmqvist is allowing 1.00 goals per game and sports a .962 save percentage. In his 32 non-wins, Holmqvist sports a 3.46 goals against average and a .876 save percentage.

Holmqvist leads the AHL in minutes played (3,182) is third in saves (1,328) and is tied for third in wins (21).

Holmqvist has played in 54 games – three more than his previous career-high in 2001-02. Arguably the most durable AHL goalie in recent memory, Holmqvist is the only goalie to play 43 or more AHL games in each of the past four seasons.

He had a streak of 309 minutes, 31 seconds without allowing an even strength goal snapped Saturday in San Antonio.

Holmqvist can't be beat late in the season – It's no surprise that Aeros goalie Johan Holmqvist has won three of his first four March starts with a 1.00 goals against average. Holmqvist, who of course backstopped the Aeros to the 2003 Calder Cup, is 19-10-2 all-time in March. Those 19 victories are tied with his December total for his most in any month, and he's played seven fewer games in March. Holmqvist was 5-3-0 in March 2003, including a 3-2-0 mark with Houston.

Kettles wins a big one –

Rookie goalie Kyle Kettles snapped an eight appearance winless streak (0-3-5) by making 26 saves in a 5-2 win in San Antonio February 27. Kettles made a season-best 34 saves last night but fell 3-1 to Grand Rapids.

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.

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 scored just 12 goals in his first 10 games this season, but they have 12 goals in his last four starts.

Mitchell a power-play specialist –

Defenseman Kevin Mitchell has 18 points (3+15=18) with the Aeros, and 12 of those points have come on the power play. Last season with ECHL Louisiana, Mitchell had 23 of his 34 points with the man advantage.

Mitchell has 21 career goals counting his ECHL totals, and an eye-popping 16 have come on the power play. Five of Mitchell's six AHL goals have come with the man advantage.

Mitchell had points in five straight games (1+5=6) for the first time in his AHL career January 23-31.

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

The blueliner has five points (1+4=5) over the last seven games and 15 points (3+12=15) in the last 23 games.

Roche has 26 points in last 35 games - Defenseman Travis Roche has 26 points (4+22=26) in the last 35 games but has gone three straight games without a point since a helper against Utah March 6.

Roche tied his career-high of three points in two out of three games on February 3 and 6, notching a goal and two assists February 3 in a 3-1 win over Utah, then posting three helpers in a 4-3 loss in Milwaukee three nights later. His three assists also tied a career high.

Roche picked up his 100th pro and Aeros points January 24, and notched his 75th pro and Aeros assists February 6.

Roche has 117 points (33g, 84a) in 190 pro games, while he has 116 points (33g, 83a) in 180 Aeros games.

Roche, who leads all Aeros defensemen and active players with 34 points (6+28=34), has the team lead with eight multiple point games. His 34 points also put him 10th in the AHL among defensemen.

Holmqvist familiar with Worcester – Aeros netminder Johan Holmqvist has played 12 games in his career versus Worcester, going 5-5-1 with a no decision. Holmqvist sports a 4.05 goals against average, a .883 save percentage and one shutout (30 saves in 1-0 win November 27) against the IceCats. Holmqvist's 4.05 gaa against Worcester is his second highest against any team with at least three games played. Holmqvist has his worst goals against average versus his current team, Houston (4.57, with an 0-3-0 record). Backup Kyle Kettles faced the IceCats back on January 9 and shut them out on 20 saves, but the teams skated to a 0-0 tie.

Neither IceCats goalie has experience versus Aeros – Neither Curtis Sanford nor Jake Moreland has ever appeared in a game against the Houston Aeros.

"Boogeyman" climbing the charts – Aeros enforcer Derek Boogaard has 207 penalty minutes, becoming the first Aero since the team joined the AHL in 2001-02 to rack up 200 or more PIM's. Boogaard is currently third among all AHL rookies in penalty minutes and fighting majors. Boogaard is 12th on the Aeros' all-time single season penalty minute list. Dave Morissette is next on the list with 214 in the 1996-97 campaign. Boogaard nearly notched his first AHL goal March 6 versus Utah, with a penalty shot again Jason Bacashihua. Boogaard's penalty shot was the Aeros' third of the season. They have gone 1-for-3, with Matt Foy getting the lone goal February 27 in San Antonio. Houston hasn't even yielded a penalty shot attempt this season. Boogaard has two assists in the last five games.

The youth shall lead them – Houston's "kids" are leading the way in 2003-04. Through 69 games, nearly half of the Aeros' scoring has come from players in their first or second year in the North American pro game. Of Houston's 447 scoring points, 221 (49.4 percent) have come from players in either their first or second season in North America, while 225 (50.4 percent) have come from players born in 1980 or after. Five of the team's six top scorers were born during the Reagan administration, with the lone exception being Travis Roche.

Career highs all around – You'd be hard pressed to find an Aero who hasn't set at least one AHL career-high in 2003-04. Among them: Johan Holmqvist (54 games played, 3182 minutes, 2.49 goals against average); Erik Reitz (17 assists, 21 points); Zbynek Michalek (5 goals, 14 assists, 19 points); Marc Cavosie (9 goals, 17 assists, 26 points); Dan Cavanaugh (20 assists, 32 points); Kevin Mitchell (3 goals tie career high, 15 assists, 18 points); Jeff Hoggan (14 goals, 12 assists, 26 points); Stephane Veilleux (13 goals tie career high, 25 assists, 38 points); Kyle Wanvig (21 goals, 32 points).

Heid a rookie coming into his own – Coaches will tell you that this late in the season, rookies are rookies no more. That's the case with Aeros defenseman Chris Heid, who has a goal and three assists in the last six games. Overall in the last eight games, Heid sports a plus-seven rating. Heid assisted on Jeff Hoggan's game-winning goal March 12 versus San Antonio.

Hoggan has two of three game-winners – Aeros winger Jeff Hoggan is tied for second on the team with three game-winning goals, including the important tally in two of the last three victories. Also, two of Hoggan's three game-winners this season have come versus San Antonio, including a goal late in the second period in a 2-1 victory March 12. The Aeros are 14-4-4-2 when Hoggan has a point and 7-3-2-2 when he scores a goal.

Penalty kill update –

The Aeros' overall 86.1 percent penalty kill rate (271-314) is 12th 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. Since then, opponents are 43-for-283 (15.2 percent) on the power play.

Opponents are 8-for-48 (16.7 percent) on the power play over the last 11 games and have scored 14 man-advantage goals in the last 18 games.

The Aeros have yielded no power play goals in 36 of their 69 games, and have points in all but nine of those games (14-9-9-4).

Houston has eight shorthanded goals, including a franchise record tying four by Stephane Veilleux.

Worcester is ranked 18th in the AHL with the man advantage at 13.8 percent, but the IceCats are sixth at home on the power play at 17.8 percent.

The IceCats are 4-for-18 (22.2 percent) on the power play over their last three games since an 0-for-9 showing against Hartford March 10.

Worcester went 0-for-2 on the power play in the teams' first meeting this season, January 9 at Toyota Center.

Power play update –

Houston enters tonight's game 49 of 380 on the power play (12.9 percent), 20th among 28 AHL teams.

The Aeros have gone 36-for-237 (15.2 percent) since Matt Foy snapped a streak of 37 straight unsuccessful power plays December 5, raising their percentage from a season-low 8.3 to 12.9.

The Aeros are 2-for-24 (8.3 percent) on the power play in their last six road games, but that includes goals in each of the last two games.

Houston is 6-for-32 (18.8 percent) on the power play over its last seven games since going 0-for-20 in the previous four.

Houston's 380 power plays are the most in the AHL, 18 more than second-place Manitoba (through Monday). The Aeros also led the league in 2002-03 with 514 chances.

The Aeros have only six wins in 34 games (6-20-7-1) when not scoring a power-play goal.

Worcester is ranked seventh in the AHL on the penalty kill at 87.6 percent, but just 15th at home (86.5 percent).

The IceCats have killed off all 17 shorthanded chances in their last four games, and haven't yielded a power-play goal in 19 chances overall, dating back to March 7 against Springfield.

Houston went 0-for-4 on the power play versus Worcester in the teams' first meeting, January 9 at Toyota Center.

Aeros still winless in OT – The Aeros, winless at 0-4-11 in overtime, have played just three extra sessions since needing overtime in eight of 10 games from December 27-January 17. Houston is the lone AHL team without an overtime win after Utah won twice in late February in the extra session, and just one team (Cleveland) has only one overtime win. The last teams to go through a season without an overtime win were Hamilton and Hartford last season. The Aeros went 8-3-7 in overtime in 2002-03, second in the league in extra session wins (Chicago, 11). The Aeros' 11 ties are still seven short of the AHL/overtime era record, set in 1997-98 by St. John's. Grand Rapids (6-0-8) and San Antonio (7-0-7) are without a loss in overtime this season.

Houston has three wins when allowing more than one goal - The Aeros are an unbeaten in regulation 21-0-3-1 when allowing one or zero goals this season, and they have three wins (3-30-8-3) when yielding two or more.

Not comeback artists – Houston is one of four AHL teams without a win when trailing after two periods (0-24-6-1). The Aeros are also the only AHL team that is winless when trailing after one period (0-21-2-2). Since 1994-95, just one team – Manchester in 2001-02 – has gone through a season without a win when trailing after one period. The Monarchs did, however, get wins when trailing after two. Last season, the Aeros were second in the AHL with six wins when trailing after two periods. Grand Rapids led the circuit with seven.

Aeros have scored first in seven straight – Houston has scored the game's first goal in seven straight games to set a season-high. The Aeros' previous best was six games from December 27-January 4. The Aeros had allowed the first goal in five straight games prior to starting their current run February 27 against San Antonio. Houston is 19-7-5-2 overall when scoring first.

But when not scoring first... - The Aeros are 5-23-5-2 when allowing the game's first goal, including a winless 0-15-4-0 mark on the road. By rallying for a 3-3 tie February 26 in Milwaukee, Houston picked up its fourth road point when allowing the first goal.

Worcester has pair of Hobey Baker winners – Worcester's lineup features former Hobey Baker winners Scott Pellerin (1992) and Peter Sejna (2003), meaning the Aeros have faced a total of five Hobey Baker winners this season, including three of the last four. In addition to Pellerin and Sejna, Tony Hrkac (Milwaukee, 1987), Mike Mottau (Cincinnati, 2000) and Ryan Miller (Rochester, 2001) each won collegiate hockey's top honor. Houston also saw Cincinnati's Chris Kunitz, who lost out to Sejna last season. The Aeros have a former Hobey Baker finalist on their team – Marc Cavosie, who saw current Calgary Flame Jordan Leopold get the honor in 2002.

Houston at 69-game mark – The Aeros passed the official midway point of the season with a 14-15-8-3 mark and now sport a 24-30-11-4 record. Below is a breakdown of Houston's season so far in 10-game segments.

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

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

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

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

Games 41-50 3-6-1-0, 7 pts. GF: 25 GA: 34 PP: 7-57 (12.3%) PK: 39-49 (79.6%)

Games 51-60 2-7-1-0, 5 pts. GF: 22 GA: 32 PP: 8-41 (19.5%) PK: 40-48 (83.0%)

Games 61-69 5-2-1-1, 12 pts. GF: 27 GA: 17 PP: 6-42 (14.3%) PK: 31-37 (83.8%)

Quick hits

The Aeros haven't yielded a first-period goal in the last seven games dating back to the Milwaukee game on February 26.

Houston hasn't scored a first-period goal in the first period of seven of its last eight road games, and the Aeros have yielded at least one third-period goal in 10 of 11 road games.

The Aeros (24-30-11-4) are within six games of the .500 mark for the first time since losing 4-3 to Milwaukee February 13 to fall to 18-24-10-3. Houston will try to get within five games of that mark for the first time since February 11, when the Aeros were 18-23-10-3.

Worcester has four regulation losses when scoring first (24-4-4-1), tied for the lowest in the league.

Houston enters tonight's game third in the AHL in shots (33.64), while Worcester is fifth in shots allowed (26.78). The IceCats limited the Aeros to 26 shots January 9.

Worcester is just 4-9-0-1 in one-goal games at home, but the IceCats sport a 9-2-0-2 record in such situations on the road.

The IceCats' Mike Glumac has three power-play goals in the last five games.

Aeros vs. IceCats, career

2 Heid 1gp, 0g, 0a, 0 pts

3 Beckett 5gp, 0g, 2a, 2 pts

5 Reitz 1gp, 0g, 0a, 0 pts

7 Roche 4gp, 1g, 2a, 3 pts

8 Brandner 0gp, 0g, 0a, 0 pts

10 Krestanovich 3gp, 0g, 0a, 0 pts

14 Cavosie 0gp, 0g, 0a, 0 pts

16 Cavanaugh 3gp, 0g, 1a, 1 pts

17 Cullen 0gp, 0g, 0a, 0 pts

19 Hannula 1gp, 0g, 0a, 0 pts

20 Mitchell 1gp, 0g, 0a, 0 pts

22 Hoggan 1gp, 0g, 0a, 0 pts

25 Schutte 8gp, 0g, 3a, 3 pts

26 Wanvig 3gp, 0g, 0a, 0 pts

27 Storey 6gp, 0g, 2a, 2 pts

28 Vodrazka 12gp, 0g, 2a, 2 pts

31 Boogaard 1gp, 0g, 0a, 0 pts

34 Foy 1gp, 0g, 0a, 0 pts

29 Holmqvist 12gp, 5-5-1, 4.05 gaa, .883 sv. pct.

35 Kettles 1gp, 0-0-1, 0.00 gaa, 1.000 sv. pct.

IceCats vs. Aeros, career

3 Virtue 5gp, 0g, 1a, 1 pt

4 Coleman 3gp, 0g, 2a, 2 pts

5 Byrne 1gp, 0g, 0a, 0 pts

6 Brimanis 13gp, 0g, 0a, 0 pts

7 Pohl 1gp, 0g, 0a, 0 pts

9 Pollock 5gp, 1g, 1a, 2 pts

10 Black 0gp, 0g, 0a, 0 pts

11 Ready 23gp, 6g, 8a, 14 pts

12 Stuart 0gp, 0g, 0a, 0 pts

14 Evans 1gp, 0g, 0a, 0 pts

15 Glumac 1gp, 0g, 0a, 0 pts

17 Brown 5gp, 3g, 0a, 3 pts

18 McClement 1gp, 0g, 0a, 0 pts

19 McLaren 6gp, 0g, 0a, 0 pts

20 MacKenzie 1gp, 0g, 0a, 0 pts

21 Brooks 0gp, 0g, 0a, 0 pts

23 Hartlieb 1gp, 0g, 0a, 0 pts

24 Sejna 1gp, 0g, 0a, 0 pts

25 Laflamme 3gp, 0g, 0a, 0 pts

27 Scheffelmaier 0gp, 0g, 0a, 0 pts

28 Pellerin 1gp, 0g, 0a, 0 pts

29 Valeev 3gp, 0g, 0a, 0 pts

38 Panzer 4gp, 0g, 2a, 2 pts

1 Sanford 0gp, 0-0-0, 0.00 gaa, 0.000 sv. pct.

32 Moreland 0gp, 0-0-0, 0.00 gaa, 0.000 sv. pct.

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American Hockey League Stories from March 17, 2004


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