Ducks end Houston's season, 6-3
Published on April 17, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Houston Aeros News Release
Houston, TX â Stanislav Chistov scored twice, Curtis Glencross added a goal and two assists and Tony Martensson supplied four helpers, as the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks completed a two-game West Division Qualifying Round sweep of the Houston Aeros with a 6-3 victory at Toyota Center. Cincinnati, which won its first ever playoff series, advances to play top-seeded Milwaukee in the division semifinals. Mark Popovic, Mike Mottau and Chris Armstrong had a goal apiece and Ilya Bryzgalov made 34 saves for the Ducks, who entered the series 2-8 in playoff games. Stephane Veilleux had a goal and an assist, and Zbynek Michalek and Marc Cavosie each scored for Houston, which fell to 4-2 when facing elimination under head coach Todd McLellan. Frederic Cloutier made 17 saves for Houston.
The Aeros came out with a sense of urgency, getting the game's first nine shots, but Bryzgalov was strong, making one save with the chin of his mask.
Cincinnati finally recorded its first shot, a deflection attempt, midway through the first on the power play. The Ducks would go ahead on their second shot, on the same man advantage. Keith Aucoin hit Chistov in stride at center ice, and Chistov skated wide around two Aeros defensemen and put a shot high blocker side on Cloutier from the left circle.
Bryzgalov's best save of the first came with Houston circling on the power play, as he snared a Michalek rifle from the top of the left circle with his glove.
Veilleux's power-play tally, 43 ticks into the second, got the Aeros even. The speedy winger picked the pocket of an Aeros player behind the net, walked into the lower left circle and lifted a backhand over Bryzgalov for his first goal in four games since returning from Minnesota.
The goal snapped an 0-for-40 power play streak against the Ducks, and was Houston's second man advantage goal in the last 42 attempts overall.
Bryzgalov stoned Mark Cullen's rebound attempt with Houston once again on the power play midway through the second. Bryzgalov slid far to his right to swallow up the attempt as Cullen put a Kevin Mitchell miss on net.
The Ducks, who had five shots in the first, struggled offensively as the second began as well. Cincinnati got its first shot 10:30 into the second period, after Houston had seven attempts in the frame.
Cincinnati went back on top 2-1 with 7:52 left in the second. Chris Kunitz sent a shot on net from the left point, and as Popovic and Houston's Kyle Wanvig battled for position in front of the net, the puck crossed the line. The goal was credited to Popovic, his first of the post-season.
The Aeros wasted little time tying it back up, also getting a goal with some confusion 1:07 later. Derek Boogaard carried the puck the length of the ice along the left boards, and got it behind Bryzgalov. With a penalty upcoming to Cincinnati behind the play, Boogaard got the puck to Dan Cavanaugh at the right doorstep. Cavanaugh's attempt was knocked down by Bryzgalov, and with players falling all over, Michalek tapped the puck into the net for his first goal since coming back from the Wild.
Cloutier made his best save with 4:14 left in the second and Cincinnati on the man advantage. Mottau slid a cross-ice pass to Martensson in the right circle, and Cloutier slid from right to left to gobble up the Swede's shot.
The Ducks reclaimed a 3-2 lead 6:50 into the third, when Mottau unwound a shot from the top of the left circle that changed directions in front of Cloutier and hit the back of the net.
Cincinnati went up two goals with 7:56 left on Armstrong's rocket from the right point that went through traffic in front and by Cloutier. The Ducks continued to pour it on, scoring 2:42 later as Chistov popped home a rebound from the low slot for his second of the game.
The Aeros threatened to make a game of it with 3:07 left and Cloutier pulled, as Cavosie got his team within 5-3. However, Glencross completed his three-point night with an empty netter with 1:53 left.
Houston finished 1-for-6 on the power play, while Cincinnati went 1-for-2. The Ducks scored on three of their seven chances in this series.
American Hockey League Stories from April 17, 2004
- Comets Add Oklahoma's Villarroel and Stephens from University of Texas - Houston Aeros
- Sound Tigers Go Up 2-0 With Another OT Win - Bridgeport Islanders
- Pellerin Nets OT Game-Winner; IceCats Take Game Two - Manchester Monarchs
- North Division Semifinal Game Five (Ticket C) Tickets On Sale Now - Syracuse Crunch
- Ducks eliminate defending Calder Cup champion Aeros - Cincinnati RailRaiders
- Ducks end Houston's season, 6-3 - Houston Aeros
- Aeros, Ducks battle in Game 2 tonight - Houston Aeros
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.
