Koivu scores tying goal in 5-4 PlanetUSA All-Star shootout win
February 14, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Houston Aeros News Release
MANCHESTER, N.H. â Three nights after kicking off one of the biggest comebacks in Houston Aeros' history, Houston centerman Mikko Koivu played a big part in another historic comeback. Koivu scored the game-tying goal in the third period, as the PlanetUSA All-Stars rallied from a four-goal deficit for a 5-4 shootout victory over the Canadian All-Stars in the 2005 AHL All-Star Game at Verizon Wireless Arena. The victory snapped a five-game Canadian All-Star team winning streak.
Skating on a line with fellow Finland native Tony Salmelainen of the Edmonton Road Runners and Bridgeport's Sean Bergenheim, Koivu one-timed a shot past Manchester Monarchs goalie Mathieu Garon with 10:18 left in regulation. Koivu, skating between the circles, slid a pass to Salmelainen in the left circle, then took the return give-and-go pass. Koivu scored Houston's first goal in Saturday's 5-4 shootout win over Chicago, a game in which the Aeros rallied from three goals down to win.
The pair nearly combined to end the game before the shootout, as Koivu â who displayed outstanding puck-handling in the third period â set up Salmelainen with three seconds left, but Garon forced the shootout with the save.
The Canadian All Stars built a four-goal lead against Chicago's Kari Lehtonen in the first period, getting goals from Kyle Wellwood (St. John's), Michel Ouellet (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton), Eric Perrin (Hershey) and Rene Bourque (Norfolk). Perrin's goal was shorthanded, coming with Binghamton's Jason Spezza â the AHL's leading scorer â in the penalty box for holding.
PlanetUSA got goals from All-Star Most Valuable Player Tomas Plekanec (Hamilton), Andy Hilbert (Providence) and Brandon Bochenski (Binghamton) versus Grand Rapids' Joey MacDonald in the second to get within 4-3, setting the stage for Koivu's goal to force the shootout. Plekanec, Hilbert and Zach Parise (Albany) scored goals in the opening three rounds of the shootout, while Ryan Miller (Rochester) kept three Canadian All-Stars off the board.
The 2006 AHL All-Star Classic will be held at the brand-new MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
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American Hockey League Stories from February 14, 2005
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