Aeros Weekly

Published on November 25, 2002 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Houston Aeros News Release


HERE AND THERE: The Aeros had a three-in-three weekend, which took them to three different cities. It started in Houston as they defeated Hartford 4-3 in overtime on Thursday before traveling to Cleveland and winning there, 8-3. The weekend ended on a low note as the Aeros fell in Chicago, 1-6.

THE WEEK THAT WAS: Houston won their first two games of the week, before losing to Chicago.

NOVEMBER 21: The Aeros snapped their two game losing and scoreless streak with a 4-3 overtime victory over Hartford. Hnat Domenichelli scored for Houston late in the first. Early in the second, Curtis Murphy scored before Hartford collected two goals 13 seconds apart to tie the game. In the third, Chris Dyment scored his first professional goal for Houston. The Wolf Pack tied the game to force OT. Then in overtime, the Aeros pulled off some comeback magic. The team killed a three-minute man advantage. As Erik Reitz stepped out of the penalty box, Lawrence Nycholat fed him the puck and Reitz buried the shot to give Houston the win. Rickard Wallin tallied three assists.

NOVEMBER 22: Houston traveled to Cleveland and downed the Barons 8-3 in an offensive outburst. Rickard Wallin led the attack, tallying two goals and two assists. Cleveland scored the first goal of the game and then the Aeros rolled off six straight goals by Cory Larose, Curtis Murphy, Jean-Guy Trudel, Tony Virta and two for Wallin. After the Barons scored their second, Travis Roche and Kyle Wanvig picked up third period goals for Houston around Cleveland's third. Derek Gustafson was in net for Houston and finished the game 26 of 29. Houston's power play went 3 for 9 to snap a three-game skid with no power play goals.

NOVEMBER 23: Chicago scored two goals in the first period, one shorthanded. The Aeros drew within one when Mark Cullen scored at the 11:50 mark of the second. Kyle Wanvig and Jean-Guy Trudel collected the assists. Chicago tallied another goal in the second and three unanswered in the third. Dieter Kochan was in net for Houston and made 34 saves on 40 shots. Norm Maracle tended net for Chicago and turned away 22 of 23 shots. Houston was 0 for 11 on the power play and Wolves went 2 of 11.

HOT SWEDE: Rickard Wallin had an amazing game on Friday scoring two goals, including the game-winner, and collecting two assists in Houston's 8-3 win over Cleveland. On Thursday, against Hartford, Wallin had three assists for seven points in two nights, tying the Aeros record for most points in two consecutive games. The Swede now has 5-12-17 on the season and ranks third on the Aeros in points and assists.

SOMETHING DIFFERENT: The Aeros have played some different teams last weekend and will continue to this week. Thursday's game vs. Hartford was the first match-up of the year and one of two games total. Friday was the second time the Aeros and Barons have played and tonight's game against the Wolves is the first between the teams. Upcoming this week, Houston plays a pair against the Norfolk Admirals for the first time in club history. In comparison, the Aeros have already played San Antonio, Utah and Grand Rapids four times each.

OVERTIME IS MY TIME: Houston has played three overtime games this season and won two thanks to rookie defenseman Erik Reitz. He made his first pro goal one for the scrapbook as it was the OT game-winner on October 19 at Cincinnati. Thursday, he added his second game-winner in overtime. He is tied with four other Aeros for the team lead with two game-winning goals.

RECORD-SETTING NIGHT: The Aeros set or tied several team records with their eight-goal performance Friday. First, eight goals ties the record for most goals in a game which has been achieved five times before, most recently on April 4, 2001 in 8-3 win vs. Cincinnati. Second, they tied the record for most assists in a road game with 13. The other time was December 13, 1995 in 7-5 win at Atlanta. Third, the team set the record for most points in a road game with 21. The old record was 20 in the Dec. 13, 1995 win at Atlanta.

A GROUP EFFORT: Friday night, 14 separate players collected at least a point for Houston. Rickard Wallin was top with 2-2-4; Jean-Guy Trudel and Travis Roche both had a goal and assist, Jeremy Stevenson and Mark Cullen had two assists each. Cory Larose, Curtis Murphy, Tony Virta and Kyle Wanvig scored the other goals while Dan Cavanaugh, Marc Cavosie, David Cullen, Hnat Domenichelli and Jeff Hoggan each collected an assist.

TRANSACTIONS: 11/20 - LW Rastislav Pavlikovsky assigned by Minnesota; 11/25 - RW Kyle Wanvig recalled by Minnesota

NEWS AND NOTES:

* LW Jean-Guy Trudel continues to lead the team in points and goals with 9-13-22, ranks fifth (tied) in AHL scoring;

* C Cory Larose is second in points on the Aeros with 3-15-18 and fifth (tied) in the league in assists;

* D Curtis Murphy leads Aeros' defensemen and ranks 7th-T among AHL blueliners with 7-7-14. Leads d-men in goals;

* D Lawrence Nycholat leads the Aeros and ranks fourth-tied in the league with a plus-12;

* C Rickard Wallin has seven points (2g, 5a) in the past three games and ranks third on team in assists (12) and points (17);

* RW Kyle Wanvig is fourth on the team in points and second in goals with 8-7-15 and leads in penalty minutes with 52;

* C Mark Cullen leads Aeros rookies in goals and points (tied) with 5-4-9 in 14 games;

* LW Jeremy Stevenson has 3-2-5 in six games played and 40 penalty minutes;

* G Derek Gustafson is tied for league lead in win with eight. His 2.40 GAA is 11th in the AHL;

* The Power Play went 3 of 22 over the weekend and now 23 of 143/16.1%, ranking 15th;

* The Penalty Killing has remained steady over the past few weeks and is 111 of 130/85.4%, ranking ninth.

WILD WATCH: Minnesota continues to lead the Northwest Division with a record of 13-5-4 for 30 points, trailing league leader Dallas by one point. Marian Gaborik leads the NHL with 15 goals. The Wild have three games this week. They host the Vancouver Canucks tonight before traveling to Dallas for a Wednesday game vs. the Stars and return home to host the Colorado Avalanche at 1:00 PM on Friday.

ICEGATOR UPDATE: Louisiana has posted a record of 11-5-3 for 25 points in 19 games, after going 3-0-1 this past week. They currently rank second in the East Coast Hockey League's Southwest Division. Bruce Richardson is tied for fifth in league points with 11-15-26. Kevin Mitchell leads defenseman in assists and is second in points with 1-20-21.The IceGators host the Pensacola Ice Pilots on Thanksgiving and the Mississippi Sea Wolves on Friday. They finish the home-and-home with Mississippi on Saturday.

UPCOMING GAMES

Friday 11/29 AT NORFOLK

Houston travels to Norfolk for the first ever match-up between the two franchises in an early season Western Conference showdown. This game is the first of a back-to-back set.

Saturday 11/30 AT NORFOLK

Through the first six weeks of the season, Houston and Norfolk have been the top two teams in the AHL. Norfolk makes its only visit to Houston on Dec. 19 & 21.

Wednesday 12/4 VS GRAND RAPIDS

The Griffins return to Houston to open the team's busiest month at home with nine games in Compaq Center. The Aeros are 2-1-1 against Grand Rapids this year.

Friday 12/6 VS WILKES-BARRE

Houston hosts the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for the first time. The Penguins are the farm team of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Sunday 12/8 VS MILWAUKEE

At Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN The Aeros head north and take the ice as the home team in their parent club's building. The Milwaukee Admirals are the opponents for this game. It also is Houston's first telecast of the season on KTBU-55.

ON THE AIR: Houston Aeros games can be heard on AM 700 "The Voice" KSEV this season. The game from Norfolk on Friday will be joined in progress at 7:00 PM Central. All Aeros games are also available via the internet at www.aeros.com.

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American Hockey League Stories from November 25, 2002


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