Aeros Weekly Report

Published on April 11, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Houston Aeros News Release


Coming attractions:

FRI, vs. CHI, 7:35 p.m.
Mike Smith Bobbleheads (3K)
The Aeros get a four-day break - their longest since the All-Star break - to rest and get healthy. Houston is 4-3-2-0 this season against Chicago, with a 3-1-0-0 home mark. The Wolves haven't been to Toyota Center since January 29, when they saw a 2-0 lead disappear, as Brent Burns tallied the game-winner with less than a minute left in regulation. Houston has dropped two straight in the series, including a 3-1 decision at Allstate Arena on March 9. In their three regulation losses, the Aeros have scored a total of two goals. The teams have gone to overtime in four of nine meetings this season, with seven one-goal games. The Wolves, who are in San Antonio on Thursday, enter the week four points up on second-place Milwaukee, which has a game in hand.

SUN, vs. UTA, 5:05 p.m.
Fan Appreciation Night, Commemorative Pucks (4K), Pre-Game Block Party, Family Day
Get four tickets, four pucks, $20 in Toyota Bucks and free parking, all for just $59! Visit www.aeros.com/themenights to order. Username is Family, password is Aeros.
The Aeros finish their regular season home slate against Utah, and they sport a 6-1-0-2 mark versus the Grizzlies this season. Utah won the first game 5-3 at Toyota Center on November 26, but Houston has points in each of the last eight meetings since. The Aeros have feasted on the Grizzlies' penalty kill unit, going 14-for-46 (30.4 percent) with the man advantage and 8-for-26 (30.8 percent) at home. The Grizzlies are only 4-for-39 (10.3 percent) on the power play against Houston. Utah has already played spoiler in the last few days, beating Grand Rapids 4-3 on Saturday.

West Division standings/schedule (3-5 only)

3t. Houston 78 GP, 89 PTS
3t. Cincinnati 77 GP, 89 PTS
5. Grand Rapids 76 GP, 84 PTS

HOU
4/15 vs. CHI
4/17 vs. UTA
2GR (2H)

CIN
4/15 @ GR
4/16 vs. MIL
4/17 vs. GR
3GR (2H, 1R)

GR
4/12 @ MIL
4/15 vs. CIN
4/16 vs. SAN
4/17 @ CIN
4GR (2H, 2R)

Houston is in control of its own destiny, and can assure itself of a 10th playoff berth in 11 seasons with wins in its final two games. However, there are several other circumstances that will help the Aeros earn a trip to the post-season.

Playoff tickets on sale now – Tickets for Games A and B of the 2005 West Division Semifinals are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased at the Toyota Center Box Office, area Randalls locations, by calling 1.866.GO.AEROS or via www.aeros.com. Game day, date, time and opponent will be announced at a later date. Individual ticket prices are $58, $31, $23, $19 and $14. Playoff packages and Voucher Books can still be purchased by calling the Aeros office at 713.974.PUCK. Discounts are available for groups of 20 or more.

Blood Drive this weekend - Houston Aeros Charities are teaming up with the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center to host the Spring 'Be A Fan' blood drive this Friday-Saturday. All who attempt to donate will receive a Spring edition 'Be A Fan' Houston Aeros blood drive T-shirt. Eligible blood donors must be at least 17 years of age, 110 pounds and in general good health. All attempting to donate must have positive identification that may include photo identification. The donor coach will be at Toyota Center on Friday from 12-7 p.m., leading up to the Aeros' tilt against the Chicago Wolves. Donors can find the vehicle at the intersection of La Branch and Bell. Saturday from 3-7 p.m., fans can donate blood at the Willowbrook Aerodrome or the Sugar Land Ice and Sports Centre.

Third Jersey auction closing soon - Reminder Aeros fans, Friday is the last day for in-arena bidding on the Aeros' Third Jerseys. Bidding will end at the end of the first intermission. The online auction for the Mikko Koivu and Josh Harding jerseys will end Thursday at 12 p.m. (ct). And remember, one lucky, random fan will walk away with an Aeros Third Jersey at Friday's game!

No extended slide - Houston and Binghamton are the only AHL teams to not lose at least three straight games in regulation this season. For the Aeros, it's a franchise record. The Aeros have lost back-to-back games in regulation eight times, but never three straight games. Houston had lost just three straight in five other seasons, but it has never gone through a season without a losing streak longer than two games. The Aeros also haven't had a winless streak longer than three games, another a team-record. Binghamton has gone through winless streaks of five and seven games this season.

Houston ‘D is stifling - The Aeros are tied for sixth allowing 2.42 goals per game and need to allow seven total goals or fewer to break the team record for fewest goals allowed (197 in 1999-2000). Houston allows 2.21 goals at home (84 total goals), on pace to beat the team record of 92, set in 1998-99. The Aeros allowed 105 road goals, one off the team record set in 1999-2000.

‘Rooters update - Aeros defensemen and alternate captains Todd Reirden and Ray Giroux combine to bring a group of underprivileged children out to each and every Aeros game. This week's groups are a variety of Houston-area charities including 50-plus Special Olympians from The Woodlands (Friday) and Kids Unlimited (Sunday)

Down on the farm - The ECHL's Pensacola Ice Pilots finished with the league's best record at 51-16-5, and they open up American Conference playoff action Tuesday at home against eighth-seeded Greenville...The series is best-of-five...Only one Brabham Cup winner has ever skated away with the post-season Kelly Cup...LW Jordan Krestanovich finished the regular season with a team-best 68 points (27-41=68)...LW Mark Rooneem totaled nine points (2-7=9) in eight games since being reassigned from Louisiana, and had 36 points (19-17=36) in 65 games overall...Former Aeros G Frederic Cloutier went 32-12-5 and was named second team All ECHL...UHL Quad City finished the regular season 39-30-11, and is the eighth seed in the post-season...The Mallards open up UHL playoff action against Muskegon..Quad City has two of the frontrunners for league Rookie of the Year, and they are both Aeros prospects...G Robert Gherson went 24-12-7 with a 2.25 gaa to rank second in the UHL..C Mike Kompon totaled 90 points (39-51=90), including his second hat trick Sunday...Kompon led all UHL rookies in goals, assist, points and PPG (17)...His 90 points put him 10th in the UHL.

Player of the week G Josh Harding -
Ran winning streak to six games with 3-0-0 mark, 1. 67 gaa and .940 save pct...Won twice on the road...In six-game winning streak, has allowed just one goal in five games, and he's made 29 or more saves four times...Has allowed two first-period goals in last eight games...Is 11-3-1 with a 1.68 gaa at Toyota Center... Ranks fourth in AHL in gaa at 1.99...Is on pace to better Houston's franchise-records in goals against (2.13 by Frederic Chabot in 1999-2000) and save percentage (.921 by Chabot in 1997-98)...Johan Holmqvist won six in a row in 2003-04, while Derek Gustafson was the last with seven straight wins, to open the 2002-03 season.

Harding this week...
4/6 at UTA 22-25, W
4/9 at SAN 29-30, W
4/10 vs. SAN 27-28, W
Totals - 3gp, 3-0-0, 1.67 gaa, .940 pct. (78-83)

Aeros' Practice schedule:
Monday - Off
Tuesday - Off
Wednesday - 10:30-11:30, Sugar Land
Thursday - 10-11, Sugar Land
Friday - 10-11, pre-game skate, vs. CHI 7:35 p.m.
Saturday - 10-11, Sugar Land
Sunday - vs. UTA 5:05 p.m.

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American Hockey League Stories from April 11, 2005


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