Aeros Lead Admirals, 3 Games to 2
Published on May 6, 2003 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Houston Aeros News Release
The Houston Aeros rebounded from two consecutive losses to the Norfolk Admirals to win Games Four and Five. The Aeros now lead the best-of-seven series three games to two. Game Six is Wednesday at Compaq Center. If the Aeros win, they advance to face the Grand Rapids Griffins in the Western Conference Finals. If Norfolk wins, Game Seven will be Thursday, May 8 at 7:00 PM in Houston.
THE WEEK THAT WAS VS NORFOLK ADMIRALS:
APRIL 30: Norfolk downed Houston 3-2 in Game Three. Peter White scored for the Admirals at the 17:20 mark of the first. Less than a minute later, Kent Huskins tallied a power play goal to give Norfolk a 2-0 lead. The second period was scoreless as the teams combined for only 14 shots. In the third period, Houston finally solved G Michael Leighton. He held the Aeros scoreless for over 104 minutes before Stephane Veilleux tallied a shorthanded goal at 4:49 of the third period. Houston had life, but 1:35 later Norfolk's captain Ajay Baines put the Admirals back up by two. Hnat Domenichelli scored a power play goal at 16:20, however Houston couldn't tally the tying goal to force overtime. Leighton had a relatively easy night, facing only 17 shots and stopping 15. Aeros G Johan Holmqvist was much busier, turning aside 28 of 31 shots in the loss. Houston was 1 for 7 on the power play while Norfolk was 1 for 5.
MAY 2: Houston rebounded from two consecutive losses to defeat the Norfolk Admirals 3-2 in Game Four. It has almost become cliché how important scoring the first goal is for Houston and the Aeros proved it again on Friday. The team is now 5-0 when scoring first in the post-season after going 32-3-2-1 in those situations in the regular season. This time it was rookie center Mark Cullen who put Houston up 1-0. He won a face-off back to defenseman Travis Roche who skated around Norfolk defenders to get the puck on net. Cullen stuffed in the rebound for his first playoff goal at 3:18 of the first. Norfolk tied the game on a power play goal by Casey Hankinson at 7:43 of the second. Houston responded with a power play goal of their own at 19:09 of the middle frame. Rickard Wallin scored the goal. The Admirals never say quit and proved it with their second power play goal of the night, again by Hankinson, midway through the third period. Houston dug down and Domenichelli scored to give the Aeros a one-goal lead with 7:29 left to play. G Johan Holmqvist stood strong to preserve the win and stopped 22 of 24 shots total. Admirals goalie Craig Andersson played well, allowing only three goals on 40 shots. Houston went 1 for 6 on the power play and Norfolk was 2 for 5.
MAY 4: The Aeros scored two power play goals to defeat Norfolk 4-1 in Game Five. Jean-Guy Trudel scored first for Houston on the power play at 4:53 of the first period. Marc Cavosie tallied his first playoff goal just over four minutes later. Midway through the second period, Brett McLean put Norfolk on the board with a power play goal. Houston responded with their second man-advantage goal, this one by Rickard Wallin, late in the second. The only goal of the third was by Tony Tuzzolino. Mark Cullen finished the night with two assists for the Aeros. Houston went 2 for 7 on the power play, and Norfolk was 1 for 4. Johan Holmqvist had one of his best outings in goal for Houston, stopping 34 of 35 shots. Michael Leighton turned aside 27 of 31 for Norfolk.
STEPPING UP: Second-year pro Stephane Veilleux has become the go-to guy in the playoffs for Houston. Veilleux currently leads the team in points with 11 and assists with nine. He leads the league in playoff assists and is tied for first in points. He also ranks first (tied) in plus/minus at +7. In the three game series against Milwaukee, Veilleux tallied four assists, including one on each game-winning goal by Kyle Wanvig. In five games against Norfolk, the Beauceville, Quebec-native has tallied 2-5-7. He has points in seven of eight playoff games, the only exception being the 4-0 shutout by Norfolk in Game Two.
THE BALANCING ACT CONTINUES: The Aeros racked up 104 points this season and have posted six wins in the playoffs thanks to contributions from everyone on the roster. The Aeros have dressed 20 skaters in their seven games and 14 have collected at least two points. LW Stephane Veilleux leads Houston in points (11), assists (9) and plus/minus (+7). RW Kyle Wanvig and LW Hnat Domenichelli are tied for the team lead with four goals. Wanvig ranks first with three game-winning goals. C Rickard Wallin is second in assists and points (2-7-9).
THE RIGHT COMBINATION: C Rickard Wallin and LW Stephane Veilleux have had the magic touch in the playoffs. In the first series against Milwaukee, they combined for seven assists. Their line-mate during the first Admirals series was RW Kyle Wanvig. He had four goals in the first round, all set up by either Wallin or Veilleux or both. Wanvig was recalled by Minnesota and missed Games One and Two of the current Admirals series. After the Aeros were shutout in Game Two, LW Hnat Domenichelli joined Veilleux and Wallin and the trio has accounted for five of Houston's nine goals in the past three games.
ONE UP, ONE DOWN: Houston's special teams have been one step forward, one step back recently. The power play is 10 for 53 (18.9%) in the playoffs and the team has recorded a goal in seven of eight games. Overall in the playoffs, Houston ranks 11th. On the penalty kill, the Aeros have struggled. The team has given up at least one goal in all eight playoff games, stopping 35 of 44 opportunities (79.5%). Houston has allowed at least one power play goal in 12 straight games (stopping 62 of 79 chances/78.5% during that stretch). The last time the Aeros' penalty killers shutout the opposing team was in a 6-0 win at Utah on March 29.
BITS AND PIECES: The Aeros have scored 3.0 goals per game in the playoffs, slightly below their season average of 3.33. Defensively, they've gotten stronger, especially in the past three games, allowing only six goals. The Aeros have allowed 2.5 goals against per playoff game in comparison to 2.78 in the regular season. The Aeros are close to target in shots. After taking the second-highest shots per game in the regular season (34.4), Houston has taken an average of 32.1 shots through eight playoff games. The Aeros' opponents are taking an average of 29 shots per game in the playoffs, compared to 26.9 in the regular season, the lowest amount in the AHL.
NEWS AND NOTES:
* LW Stephane Veilleux has 6-9-15 in the past 13 games. He leads the AHL in assists (9) and is tied for first in points (11);
* C Rickard Wallin has points in 10 of his past 11 games (2-10-12). His nine playoff points are tied for 5th in the league and his seven assists are tied for second;
* LW Hnat Domenichelli has 4-3-7 in eight playoff games which is tied for 16th in the AHL;
* G Johan Holmqvist's six wins are tied for second in the league. His 2.46 GAA ranks 14th;
* D David Cullen's three goals are tied for first among defensemen and his four points are tied for seventh;
* C Mark Cullen has 1-4-5 which is tied 5th among AHL rookies;
* RW Kyle Wanvig collected 4-1-5 in the quarterfinals against Milwaukee. His three game-winning goals are tied for 2nd;
* The Aeros Power Play is 4 for 28 against Norfolk (14.3%). Overall it's 10 of 53, 18.9%, ranking 11th in the league;
* The Aeros PK has allowed Norfolk 6 goals on 25 chances (76%). For the playoffs, it's 35 of 44/79.5%, ranking 13th.
WILD WATCH: The Minnesota Wild advanced to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs with an overtime win in Game Seven over the Colorado Avalanche. The Wild trail the Vancouver Canucks 3 games to 1 in their best-of-seven series. Minnesota lost 4-3 in overtime in Game One on Friday before winning Game Two by a 3-2 score. Minnesota lost Game Three 3-2 in regulation. The Wild lost Game Four 4-2 in OT on Saturday. Minnesota won Game Five 7-2 last night and now play Game Six at home on Wednesday.
UPCOMING PLAYOFF GAMES
WEDNESDAY 5/7 VS NORFOLK
Game Six; 7:00 PM at Compaq Center
THURSDAY 5/8 VS NORFOLK*
*If necessary
Game Seven; 7:00 PM at Compaq Center
All times Central
WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS RECAP:
Game One, Saturday, April 26
At Houston 5, Norfolk 4 2OT
Game Two, Sunday, April 27
Norfolk 4, at Houston 0
Game Three, Wednesday, April 30
At Norfolk 3, Houston 2
Game Four, Friday, May 2
Houston 3, at Norfolk 2
Game Five, Sunday, May 4
Houston 4, at Norfolk 1
Houston leads series 3 games to 2
WESTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS RECAP:
Game One, Wednesday April 16
At Houston 3, Milwaukee 1
Game Two, Friday April 18
At Houston 4, Milwaukee 2
Game Three, Saturday April 19
Houston 3, at Milwaukee 2
Houston wins series 3 games to 0
ON THE AIR: Houston Aeros playoff games can be heard on AM 700 KSEV "The Voice" with "The Voice of the Aeros" Ken Double calling the action. The games are also available via the internet at www.aeros.com.
American Hockey League Stories from May 6, 2003
- IceCats Jersey Auction & End of Season Sale Saturday - Worcester IceCats
- Moose Stave off Elimination, Narrow Series Deficit - Manitoba Moose
- Aeros Lead Admirals, 3 Games to 2 - Houston Aeros
- Sonar Makes the Rounds - Connecticut Whale
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