Aeros power to 4-1 win over Griffins
February 18, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Houston Aeros News Release
HOUSTON - Three power play goals in 109 seconds by the Houston Aeros (19-26-10-3) downed the Grand Rapids Griffins (33-15-8-0) by a 4-1 margin on Wednesday afternoon at the Toyota Center. Despite the loss, Grand Rapids has a 13-3-4-0 mark in its last twenty outings.
Grand Rapids opened the scoring when Jiri Hudler lifted the puck over a sprawled Johan Holmqvist at 6:57 of the opening period. Ryan Barnes and Matt Ellis forced a turnover in the Houston zone. Ellis gathered the puck and slid a pass to Hudler who deposited the disc in the back of the net. Barnes and Ellis each assisted on Hudler's eleventh marker of the season.
Coming into the game, the Griffins' opposition had scored only three goals in 45 power play opportunities, including none in the last 18 situations. Houston tallied three goals in six power play opportunities, all within the same five-minute major penalty.
Kevin Mitchell tallied first for the Aeros from Travis Roche and Rickard Wallin at 16:54 of the first period.
Former Griffin Chris Bala gave the Aeros a 2-1 lead when he snuck behind the Griffins defense and drove a shot past Joey MacDonald 29 seconds later. Zbynek Michalek and Wallin assisted.
Michalek opened a two-goal margin at 18:43 of the first period from Roche and Wallin.
Kyle Wanvig notched the final goal of the game with 17 seconds remaining in the second period from Stephane Veilleux and Mark Cullen.
The Griffins had several scoring chances during the balance of the contest, but were unable to penetrate Holmqvist, who finished the game with 25 saves.
MacDonald stopped 31 shots while losing his first game in his last nine starts. The defeat is just the second setback on the road for MacDonald this season.
Grand Rapids, owner of a six-game home winning streak and a franchise-record 12-game home unbeaten streak, will open a five-game home stand on Friday night when the Hamilton Bulldogs, the Griffins closest pursuers in the Western Conference, pay their final regular season visit to Van Andel Arena at 7:30.
View this game's official box score on-line at griffinshockey.com.
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