Barons Game Notes

Published on April 10, 2011 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Oklahoma City Barons News Release


Oklahoma City Barons (40-28-2-9) at Houston Aeros (45-28-1-5) Game 80 | Road Game 40 | AHL Game 1193April 10, 2011, 4:05 pm CDT | Toyota Center, Houston, TX Broadcast: KXY 96.1 FM

TONIGHT: With a Calder Cup playoff berth secured by last night's 2-0 win at Texas, the Barons conclude the regular season against the Houston Aeros (Minnesota Wild). The Barons are 1-5-1-2 against the Aeros, with a 1-2-0-1 mark in Houston. The Aeros will be the No. 2 seed in the West Division and will face an opponent to be determined by today's results, either Texas, Peoria or OKC. The Barons are fifth, but could move as high as third based on today's games.

OFF THE TOP: The Barons bring a 4-game winning streak into today's regular season finale. A victory today would match OKC's longest winning streak of the season, a 5-gamer from Oct. 24-Nov. 5. That streak was halted with a 4-2 loss to the Aeros at the Cox Center Nov. 6. Reebok/AHL Player of the Week Jeff Deslauriers has been in net for all 4 wins during the current streak, 3 by shutout, as the Barons have out-scored the opposition 18-2 in those games. Deslauriers has stopped 96 of 98 shots in the last 4 games, a .980 save percentage, while allowing 2 goals in 240 minutes for a 0.50 goals against average.

MCDONALD EYES GOAL TITLE: Colin McDonald put home his 41st goal of the season last night, matching Hamilton's Nigel Dawes for the league lead. Hamilton ended its regular season last night, so McDonald can win the Willie Marshall Award with a goal today. Named after the league's all-time leader in goals, assists and games played, the Willie Marshall Award was won the past 2 seasons by current Baron Alexandre Giroux while a member of the Hershey Bears. McDonald recorded his first professional 4-goal game in Friday's 7-2 win at San Antonio. He has 16 goals in the last 15 games. McDonald leads the league with 18 power play goals. None of his 41 goals this season has been into an empty net. Prior to this season, McDonald had totaled 35 goals in 3 seasons as a professional.

GIROUX'S STREAK ENDS: Alexandre Giroux, the AHL's second-leading scorer with 78 points, saw a 10-game point streak end last night. Giroux had 3 goals and 12 assists during the streak, which had been the longest active point streak in the league prior to last night. Giroux is the first-team left winger on the AHL post-season All-Star Team, his third straight season as a first-teamer. That feat has been accomplished by only two other forwards in AHL history (Pete Leswick, 1948-50 and Art Stratton, 1963-65). Giroux is in his seventh consecutive 30-goal season, tying a record held by AHL Hall of Famer Dick Gamble. Giroux is currently 10th in AHL history in goals with 340.

MO-MENTUM: Brad Moran is part of a 4-way tie for fourth in the AHL with 72 points. He had his second 4-assist game of the season in Friday's 7-2 win, helping on each of Colin McDonald's goals. Moran added an assist on McDonald's insurance tally last night.

KYTNAR FINISHING STRONGLY: Milan Kytnar has points in 6 straight, tallying 6 goals and 3 assists in that span. Kytnar's goal at 6:47 of the second period last night proved to be the winner. The Barons have not trailed at any point during the current 4-game winning streak.

SPECIALIZATION: The Barons are 16-for-17 on the penalty kill in the last 4 games. Their penalty killing is 12th in the league at 83.2 %. OKC scored an even-strength goal as a power play expired last night to officially go 0-for-8 against Texas. The Barons are 2-for-19 with the man advantage in the past 4 games. OKC's power play is 16th at 18.6 %. The Barons have had 404 power play opportunities this season, the most in the league by 23 over the nearest club, Charlotte.

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