Aeros tied for fourth to start week

February 2, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Houston Aeros News Release


Week in review: CIN 3, HOU 1; HOU 5, MTB 2; MTB 7, HOU 2

The Aeros went 1-2-0 last week, with the win being a 5-2 decision in Manitoba on Friday. Houston enters this four-game week with a 16-21-9-3 mark for 44 points, tied with Cincinnati for fourth place in the West Division.

The Aeros finished off the week with a 7-2 loss in Manitoba on Saturday, failing in their attempt to win back-to-back games for the first time since Christmas week.

Pat Kavanagh scored two goals in a four-score Manitoba first period and Fedor Fedorov also tallied twice for the Moose. Jeff Hoggan and Darby Hendrickson each scored a power-play goal for the Aeros, who fell to 2-7-7-1 in their last 17.

On Friday, Hendrickson, Christoph Brandner and Mika Hannula scored an Aeros-record 1:51 apart in the second period, as Houston rolled to a 5-2 victory over the Manitoba Moose at Winnipeg Arena.

Marc Cavosie and Stephane Veilleux also scored and Johan Holmqvist turned aside 32 shots for Houston, which snapped a franchise-record seven-game road winless streak (0-4-3-0).

Nolan Baumgartner and Jason King each scored for Manitoba.

The week began with a 3-1 home loss to Cincinnati, as Joel Perrault and Pierre Parenteau scored 1:38 apart late in the second period and Ilya Bryzgalov made 25 saves for the Ducks.

Veilleux scored and Holmqvist finished with 16 saves for the Aeros, who were trying to win two straight at home.

Coming attractions:

TUE, HOU vs. UTA, 7:00 p.m. 2-for-1 Tuesday on Center Ice Tickets INTERNET ONLY

Houston begins a stretch of 20 straight games against the West Division. The Aeros are 2-3-0 this season against Utah, which makes just its second trip to Toyota Center in 2003-04. In the Grizzlies' other visit to Houston, Mike Smith made 49 saves in a 2-1 win. Smith was just returned to Utah by the Dallas Stars. The Grizzlies enter the week in last place in the West with 37 points, seven behind the Aeros. Utah is led by Jarrod Skalde (18+21=39), who has more than double the points of his nearest teammate.

THU, HOU vs. UTA, 7:00 p.m. Aeros Happy Hour INTERNET ONLY

The Aeros and Grizzlies finish off their two-game set.

FRI, HOU at MIL, 7:00 p.m.

This game opens a stretch of nine straight games against the top three teams in the West (Milwaukee, Chicago and Grand Rapids). Houston is 1-3-0-1 versus the Admirals this season, and the Aeros must pick up the pace to catch third-place Milwaukee (53 points). The teams last met December 1, with the Admirals winning 3-1 at Toyota Center.

SAT, HOU at CHI, 7:00 p.m.

Houston, 1-3-3-0 against the Wolves this season, is winless in its last five trips to Alltel Arena (0-3-0-2). Nine of the last 15 overall meetings have gone to overtime.

Terrific trio – The trio of Darby Hendrickson, Christoph Brandner and Mika Hannula scored an Aeros-record 1:51 apart in the second period of Friday's 5-2 win at Manitoba. Hendrickson scored at 7:20 to tie the game at 2-2, and then Brandner's one-time of a rebound from the right circle beat Tyler Moss on a 5-on-3. Finishing off the run was Hannula, who scored on the one-man advantage, putting a rebound of an Erik Reitz shot past the netminder. Mike Yeo, Mark Lamb and Mark Freer held the previous record, scoring three times in a span of 1:59 on November 29, 1997, at Cleveland.

Mitchell has points in five straight – Aeros defenseman Kevin Mitchell entered his most recent call-up to the Aeros on January 17 without ever having record a point in back-to-back games in 72 AHL contests. Since going scoreless in his first three games back, Mitchell has a five-game point streak, with his only goal of the season and five assists in that span. Mitchell's five-game assist streak is two better than any teammate has this season, and his point streak is one off of Dan Cavanaugh's team season-best. Mitchell has nine points (1+8=9) in 20 games this season.

Power play starting to click –

The Aeros scored two power play goals in back-to-back games Friday and Saturday for the first time this season.

Houston went 2-for-8 Friday to snap a streak of 1-for-35 on the power play. The Aeros followed that up with a 2-for-9 performance Saturday, including the game's final seven power plays.

The Aeros now have two or more power-play goals in seven games this season. They are 4-1-2-0 in such instances, with the only loss coming Saturday, when they also yielded two power-play goals.

Houston's 4-for-16 performance over the weekend on the power play has raised the Aeros to 24th in the AHL at 11.7 percent. Houston had been 26th or lower for much of the season.

Penalty kill out of top 10 – The Aeros yielded three power play goals on 15 chances over the weekend, falling to 87.1 percent overall, 11th in the AHL.

Cavosie notches career-high in goals, points - Second-year center Marc Cavosie's goal Friday in Manitoba was his sixth of the season and 20th point, establishing new career marks in both categories. Cavosie had 19 points (5+14=19) in his rookie 2002-03 season out of RPI. Cavosie has a goal and five assists in the last nine games and he has three multi-point games overall, one better than last season.

Reitz sets new personal-best, too - Second-year defenseman Erik Reitz posted two assists Friday and Saturday in Manitoba. Reitz' 20 points are one better than last season's rookie total of 19 (6+13=19). Reitz has 17 helpers this season, already four better than last season's rookie mark. Reitz has seven points (1+6=7) in his last nine games, including a trio of multi-point contests. Reitz and Travis Roche (4+16=20) are tied for the team lead in scoring among defensemen.

‘Boogie' third among rookies in PIM's- Aeros rookie winger Derek Boogaard, boosted by 26 penalty minutes Saturday, is ranked third among AHL rookies with 118 penalty minutes in 38 games. Boogaard had 240 PIM's in 33 games last season with ECHL Louisiana.

Aeros wrap up two-win January - Houston finished January with a 2-7-4-1 mark, tied for the fewest wins in a month with at least six games in team history. The Aeros also had two wins this October (2-3-1-0).

Cavosie, Hannula snap droughts - Marc Cavosie had gone 18 games since his last goal prior to scoring on Friday night, and Mika Hannula's tally was his first in 10 games since January 4.

Four is enough - Houston's four goals in Friday's second period, and four goals allowed in the first period Saturday, both tied season highs.

Player of the week C Darby Hendrickson - Had three points (2+1=3) in three games last week, with all three points coming in the final two games...Scored first of Aeros' record three goals in 1:51 in the second period of Friday's 5-2 win over Manitoba...His goal tied the game at 7:20 of the middle period...Had a part in both Houston goals in Saturday's 7-2 loss to Manitoba...Assisted on Jeff Hoggan's power-play goal, then scored a power-play tally of his own, in second period Saturday...Hendrickson has eight points (4+4=8) in 19 games with the Aeros this season.



American Hockey League Stories from February 2, 2004


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