Aeros Gameday
Published on March 10, 2007 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Houston Aeros News Release
Eight things you need to know
- D Curtis Murphy has reached two major milestones in the last two weeks. Last week, Murphy played in his 300th game as an Aero - just the fifth player to do so. Wednesday in Chicago, Murphy's assist was his 200th point with the Aeros (55-145=200), becoming just the fourth player - and first blueliner - in team history to reach 200. Murphy, who has not missed a game in his four seasons with the Aeros, ranks tied for 11th among AHL defensemen with 32 points (6-26=32). Murphy, though, is still looking for his first PPG of the season. Murphy is the Aeros' all-time AHL leader with 22 PPG, but hasn't scored one in the last 71 regular- and post-season games, dating back to 4/15/06 at Chicago. Teammate D Erik Reitz will soon join Murphy on the 300-games played list. He is currently at 297.
- The Aeros are 0-7-0-1 in their last eight games overall since a 4-1 win over Chicago 2/17, their longest winless streak since going 0-5-2-1 from 3/17-3/31/06. Houston has scored just nine goals in that eight-game span, including five in a row in a five-game regulation losing streak. The Aeros are 0-9-2-1 in their last 12 games in the month of March, dating back to last season. Houston has lost five straight games in regulation for just the third time in team history. The franchise record is six, set from 9/30-10/15/95 to begin the season, and the Aeros lost five in a row in their inaugural season 12/28/94-1/6/95. During their eight-game winless slide, the Aeros have led in just one game - 2/22 against Iowa - for a total of 3:57 out of 485 minutes played.
- The Aeros are 0-3-0-1 in their last four home games since a 4-1 win over first-place Chicago 2/17. Since a 3-0-1-0 stretch at Toyota Center, Houston has just one win in six games (1-4-0-1). The Aeros' four-game home winless slide is their longest since a six-game stretch (0-1-4-1) 12/28/03-1/16/04. The team record is eight (0-7-1), from 12/5-12/31/95.
- Slow starts are one of the main causes of the Aeros' recent woes. The Aeros have allowed the game's first goal in seven of their last eight games, and haven't led after one period in any of those seven games. Not surprisingly, Houston is winless (0-7-0-1) in that stretch. The Aeros have not scored a first-period goal in six consecutive games, while allowing five.
- The Aeros have not held a scoring advantage in the third period in 12 of their last 15 games. In their last four games, the Aeros have been outscored 7-1 in the final 20 minutes, and in their last 11 games, it has been a 17-4 deficit. Houston has been outscored 66-51 in the third period this season.
- Houston is 8-12-3-6 in one-goal games, but just 2-9-3-2 in its last 16 such games. The Aeros have only two non shootout one-goal wins, the last coming 3-2 at Iowa 11/9. Houston's 12 regulation losses and 21 total non-wins in one-goal games are the most in the AHL. Peoria is 14-6-2-4 in one-goal games.
- Aeros RW Matt Foy was recalled by the NHL's Minnesota Wild yesterday. Foy has team-best and career-highs in goals (24) and points (44). Foy's goal last Saturday was his 62nd all-time with the Aeros, tying him with Brian Wiseman for fifth place on the franchise's all-time list. Only Kirby Law has more goals (68) among the Aeros' AHL players. Eighteen of Foy's 24 goals this season have come at Toyota Center. Foy also has a flare for the dramatic - 11 of his 24 goals have come in the third period. Foy has 382 career PIM to move into 10th place on the team's all-time list, becoming the second player player to be ranked in the top 10 of the Aeros' all-time lists in both points and PIM. Foy is seventh with 133 points. Mike Yeo is also in the top 10 on both lists, ranking tied for 10th in points and fourth in PIM's.
- The Rivermen have at least one PPG in nine straight games, going 14-for-54 (25.9 percent) in that span. The run has moved Peoria to fifth in the AHL on the power play at 18.9 percent. Houston, meanwhile, is eighth on the penalty kill at 84.8 percent. However, opponents have scored at least one PPG in eight straight games and are 17-for-84 (20.2 percent) on the man advantage in the last 12 games.
Rivermen at Aeros (Aeros are 7-8-0-1 all-time, Aeros are 5-1-0-1 at Houston)
- The Aeros won six of 10 meetings in the 2005-06 regular season before sweeping Peoria in four games in the West Division Semifinals.
- Houston has just one regulation loss in seven all-time home regular season meetings with the Rivermen (5-1-0-1). Counting the playoffs, the Aeros are 7-1-0-1 at home versus Peoria.
- The Aeros and Rivermen meet six times total in March and April, including three times over an eight-day stretch that ends tonight. Houston plays six of its final 22 games versus Peoria.
- Houston is winless in the last five meetings (0-4-0-1) this season after winning the first 7-1.
- The Aeros are 3-7-0-1 in the last 11 regular season games after winning four of the first five.
Scouting the Aeros
The Aeros (21-32-3-6) have 51 points, nine points behind sixth-place San Antonio with five games in hand...Houston begins March by playing nine of 10 games on the road, with tonight's tilt the lone home game in that span...The Aeros head out for a five-game road trip through the North Division beginning next Friday in Toronto...Team scoring leader RW Matt Foy has 44 points (24-20=44) but was recalled yesterday by the Minnesota Wild...Next are veteran D Curtis Murphy (6-26=32), rookie RW Danny Irmen (15-14=29), LW Mattias Weinhandl (13-16=29) and rookie LW Benoit Pouliot (17-12=29)...G Josh Harding is 17-16-4 with a 2.48 gaa and a .920 save pct., but is on recall to NHL Minnesota...The Aeros are 3-17-2-2 this season in games in which Harding does not appear...D Dieter Kochan is 2-11-1 with a 3.27 gaa and a .901 save pct...G Miroslav Kopriva is 2-3-1 with a 3.30 gaa and a .909 save pct.
Scouting the Rivermen
Peoria (31-22-2-4), AHL affiliate of the St. Louis Blues, is tied for fourth place with Iowa but with four games in hand...The Rivermen have just three regulation losses in their last 14 games (8-3-1-2), but are coming off back-to-back losses to begin a season-long seven-game road trip...Veteran C Trent Whitfield paces the Rivermen with 61 points (26-35=61), including two goals last night in San Antonio...D Tomas Mojzis (1-19=20) leads the blueline corps which has contributed just nine goals all season...G Marek Schwarz is 16-9-0 with a 2.86 gaa and a .900 save pct...G Chris Beckford-Tseu is 10-5-2 with a 2.29 gaa and a .912 save pct.
2006-07 meetings (7th of 10 meetings, Aeros are 1-4-0-1 overall, Aeros are 1-0-0-1 at Houston)
October 28 Peoria 1 at Houston 7
December 3 Houston 1 at Peoria 4
January 4 Peoria 4 at Houston 3 (SO)
February 10 Houston 3 at Peoria 4
March 3 Houston 1 at Peoria 6
March 4 Houston 1 at Peoria 4
Tonight Peoria at Houston
March 30 Peoria at Houston
April 3 Peoria at Houston
April 6 Houston at Peoria
Quick Hits
- Ten of the Aeros' 21 victories have been in come-from-behind fashion, including five of their last eight. On 2/1 against Milwaukee, the Aeros trailed 2-1 with seven minutes remaining, but won 3-2 in a shootout. The Aeros have trailed in 21 of their last 23 games.
- The Aeros are winless (0-20-1-4) when allowing four goals or more.
- Houston is 0-3 in OT and 6-6 in shootouts. The Aeros' 12 shootouts are a league-high. Peoria is 3-2 in OT and 1-4 in shootouts. The Rivermen's lone shootout win came 4-3 at Houston 1/4.
- The Aeros are 19-9-1-4 when scoring three or more times. Houston is just 2-23-2-2 when scoring two or fewer goals.
- C Bryan Lundbohm has a hand in six (2-4=6) of the Aeros' 13 SHG. Lundbohm, RW Joel Ward, RW Danny Irmen, D Erik Reitz and D Curtis Murphy each have two SHG this season. This is the first time since 2000-01 that the Aeros have five players with at least two SHG. The Aeros' 13 SHG are two shy of the team record, set in 1994-95.
- Houston has allowed 198 goals in 62 games for a 3.19 team gaa. The Aeros are on pace to allow 255 goals - the most since yielding a franchise-record 328 in 1995-96, the only season in team history they didn't make the playoffs.
- The Aeros have scored 160 goals in 62 games for an average of 2.58 gpg. That's on pace for 206 goals scored, which would trail only the 2003-04 campaign (197) for the fewest in team history.
Wednesday's game
Andy Delmore, Mark Popovic and Cory Larose scored a goal apiece in a 2:59 span late in the first period and Michael Garnett made 35 saves, as the Chicago Wolves defeated the Houston Aeros 4-1 at Allstate Arena. Jordan LaVallee added a goal and an assist for Chicago. Ben Thomson scored a power play goal and Miroslav Kopriva made 12 saves in one period for Houston.
Power play update
- Houston is tied for 25th in the AHL with the man advantage at 13.9 percent.
- The Aeros are 2-for-39 (5.1 percent) on the power play in their last eight games.
- Peoria is tied for sixth in the AHL on the penalty kill at 84.9 percent.
- The Rivermen have killed off 21-of-24 shorthanded chances (87.5 percent) in their last five games.
- The Aeros are 7-for-34 (20.6 percent) on the power play against Peoria.
Penalty kill update
- Houston is eighth in the AHL on the PK at 84.8 percent.
- Opponents are 17-for-84 (20.2 percent) on the man advantage in the last 12 games, and have scored at least one PPG in eight straight games.
- Peoria is fifth in the AHL on the power play at 18.9 percent.
- The Rivermen have at least one PPG in nine straight games, going 14-for-54 (25.9 percent) in that span.
- Peoria is 5-for-35 (14.3 percent) on the power play against Houston.
Aeros/Rivermen connections
- Houston LW Joey Tetarenko and Peoria RW Rocky Thompson spent much of the 2000-01 season together at AHL Louisville, and also the 2002-03 campaign with AHL San Antonio.
- Aeros D Ryan Stokes spent the 2004-05 season with ECHL Pensacola, along with Peoria LW Cam Keith.
- Peoria head coach Dave Baseggio played for the Aeros in 1996-97 accumulating 46 points (13-33=46) in 76 games.
- A Rivermen/Longhorn connection - Peoria LW Hans Benson is the cousin of former University of Texas running back Cedric Benson, who now plays for the Chicago Bears.
American Hockey League Stories from March 10, 2007
- Jersey auction raises $34,660 for MDA - Norfolk Admirals
- Olvecky's big night helps Aeros win 4-3 - Houston Aeros
- Admirals Set New Record for Wins in a Season - Norfolk Admirals
- Rivermen Come Back but Fall in Houston 4-3 in Shootout - Peoria Rivermen
- Fans Invited To Sham-Rock With Knights - Abbotsford Heat
- Knights Find Net, Beat Griffins 6-2 - Abbotsford Heat
- Knights Ground Griffins - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Sound Tigers Come Back, Nip Phantoms - Bridgeport Islanders
- Sound Tigers Take 5-4 Win - Adirondack Phantoms
- Monarchs Get Bitten By Sharks - Manchester Monarchs
- Bulldogs beat Marlies - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Bears sweep season series with Portland, win 3-2 - Hershey Bears
- Devils lose to Wolf Pack - Albany Devils
- P-Bruins Fall to Falcons 3-2 - Providence Bruins
- Crunch Players to Sign Autographs at Verizon Wireless on March 15 - Syracuse Crunch
- Gauthier Gets The Call From the Big Club - Manchester Monarchs
- Crunch Announce Details of St. Patrick Hunger Project - Syracuse Crunch
- Constant loaned to Charlotte - Connecticut Whale
- Crunch Recall Farynuk - Syracuse Crunch
- Foy reassigned to Aeros - Houston Aeros
- Falcons Host Bruins Tonight - Springfield Falcons
- Aeros Gameday - Houston Aeros
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