Aeros rally from two goals down for 3-3 tie

Published on February 26, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Houston Aeros News Release


Milwaukee, WI – Rickard Wallin tied the game with 4:37 left in regulation with the help of newcomer Brent Burns, helping the Houston Aeros to a 3-3 deadlock with the red-hot Milwaukee Admirals at Bradley Center. Mika Hannula and Marc Cavosie also scored and Kyle Kettles made 16 saves for Houston, which moved to 52 points, tied with Cincinnati for fourth in the West Division. The Aeros can extend their four-point edge over sixth-place San Antonio when the teams open up a home-and-home series in the Alamo City Friday. Houston added Burns, an 18-year-old first-round draft pick, prior to the game. Burns, who last played January 31, was assigned from Minnesota for conditioning and picked up two penalty minutes prior to helping out on Wallin's goal. The Aeros played their first game without goalie Johan Holmqvist, who played in 49 of his team's first 61 games. Holmqvist is with Minnesota with Dwayne Roloson away from the team for personal reasons.

Kettles got the start in net for Houston, dueling veteran Wade Flaherty – more than 13 years his senior – to a draw.

Former Aeros Jay Henderson and Curtis Murphy each scored and Flaherty finished with 28 saves for the Admirals, who failed to win for just the third time in 13 games (10-2-1-0). Mathieu Darche also scored for Milwaukee, which improved to 72 points – eight behind Grand Rapids, which beat Utah 2-0 tonight.

Milwaukee led 2-1 after two periods and entered the game plus-20 goals in the third period, the second-best margin in the AHL. However, the Aeros struck back – twice.

Hannula knotted the score at 2-2 just 2:26 into the third with his second in the last three games and ninth of the season. Hannula took a feed from Mark Cullen and ripped one on Finley that appeared headed over the crossbar. The puck instead hit Finley's blocker and dropped into the net to get the Aeros even.

Houston went back on the power play four minutes later but Finley stopped all comers and Henderson scored to put the Admirals back on top just 12 after the advantage expired. The puck bounced just outside the Milwaukee zone to Henderson, who skated up ice alone on Kettles. Henderson banged one off Kettles and into the net for his fourth goal in 10 games and 12th of the season. The goal was his third this season against the Aeros.

Wallin's first goal since missing 17 games with an injury tied the game at 3-3 with 4:37 left in regulation. Christoph Brandner and Burns each had hacks at the puck, but Wallin picked up the puck at a tough angle and lifted it past Flaherty for his 11th of the season. Wallin's goal was his first since December 30 against Chicago.

The Aeros had to kill off a penalty for the final two minutes of regulation with Kevin Mitchell in the box, but they were able to do so.

In the extra stanza, Milwaukee had the best chance, but Aeros killer Simon Gamache (11 goals in 19 career games against Houston) ripped one over the crossbar midway through the stanza. Half a minute later, Kettles made a great save on Mike Farrell, who earlier this season beat Houston in overtime.

Houston got 13 of the first 16 shots of the opening stanza, but Murphy victimized his former team shorthanded with 3:35 left in the first on Milwaukee's fourth shot. Murphy took a pass from Greg Classen, skated into the right circle and slid the puck under Kettles for his 10th of the season. The Admirals have an 11-3 advantage in the first period against Houston in their nine meetings.

The Aeros finished the first with a 13-5 advantage in shots.

Milwaukee went up two goals with 7:39 gone by in the second with Jason Beckett in the penalty box for roughing. Darche, camped out in the slot, deflected a puck that went to the far post and into the net..

Houston got within 2-1 with 6:34 remaining in the middle frame. Cavosie crashed the net in a wild scramble in the slot, and he poked the puck past Flaherty for his ninth of the season. Beckett, a former Admiral, picked up an assist on the play, his second point versus his old team.

The Aeros then went on the power play at the 15:03 mark of the second, but Milwaukee was able to kill off the chance with the help of a goal post. Hannula rang one off the pipes as the power play expired.

Houston finished 0-for-6 on the power play, while Milwaukee went 1-for-7. The Aeros haven't scored on their last 20 man advantage chances and are 2-for-50 against the Admirals this season.

Notes:

Houston had lost its last three road games and is now 0-7-2-0 in its last nine away from Toyota Center.

Houston has yielded just five shorthanded goals this season – three against Milwaukee.

The Aeros have scored first once in the last 10 games.

Kettles was Nashville's seventh-round pick (No. 205 overall) in 1999.

Murphy has three goals in 30 games against the Aeros, and two of the goals have come in the last three meetings. Murphy had been held without a point in six straight games overall, a season-high.

Houston is 3-for-32 (9.4 percent) on the power play over the last eight games, with all three of those goals coming in one game, February 18 against Grand Rapids.

The Aeros have allowed at least one goal in 11 straight regulation periods.

Burns got on the scoresheet for the first time at the 18:52 mark of the second with a cross checking minor.

Erik Reitz, Dan Cavanaugh and Jan Vodrazka were the Aeros' scratches.

Milwaukee is 7-1-1-0 against Houston this season, with a seven-game winning streak snapped tonight.

The Aeros are 0-3-11 in overtime, one of two winless teams in the extra session. Utah is 0-3-4.

Houston's Stephane Veilleux assisted on Cavosie's goal and has a five-game point streak (1+4=5), one off his season- and career-best.

The Aeros picked up their fourth point when allowing the first goal on the road (0-15-4-0).

Wallin played in his 200th pro game.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



American Hockey League Stories from February 26, 2004


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central