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Mighty Ducks-Aeros Preview

March 29, 2002 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Cincinnati RailRaiders News Release


GAME: Cincinnati Mighty Ducks (32-30-9-3) at Houston Aeros (34-26-9-5)

TIME: Friday, 8:30 p.m. EST

TV/RADIO: ESPN 1160-AM (WBOB)

The Cincinnati Mighty Ducks look to avenge a 3-1 setback Wednesday against the Houston Aeros as the clubs complete a two-game series at the Compag Center.

Cincinnati resides in the 10th and final playoff spot in the Western Conference standings, trailing both Philadelphia and Rochester by one point for the eighth seed.

The Ducks are 2-3-0-0 in their last five road contests and 14-20-3-1 on foreign ice this season. They are 10-10-4-1 against the West Division and 25-23-8-3 versus the Western Conference.

Cincinnati has been plagued by a dearth of offense in recent action, scoring just 21 goals in its last 12 games. The Ducks have been held without a power-play goal in their last 12 road contests, going 0-for-39 with the man-advantage in that stretch.

While the power-play has struggled, the Ducks penalty kill has been fabulous of late with the club allowing just three opposition man-advantage goals in their last 49 shorthanded situations (93.9 percent).

Houston sits in sixth place in the Western Conference with 82 points. The club trails fifth-place Chicago by one point and fourth-place Utah by two with six games left to play.

The Aeros are 2-3-0-0 in their last five games and 4-5-0-0 in their last nine. They have posted a 17-12-5-3 home record, including a 4-5-2-1 mark in their last 12 appearances at the Compaq Center.

STANDINGS: Ducks - 76 points, 3rd place, 10 PB Central Division. Aeros - 82 points, 4th place, 7 PB West Division.

TEAM LEADERS: Ducks - Steve Brule, 21 goals, 40 assists, 61 points; Travis Brigley 22 goals and 42 points; Dwayne Zinger 154 PIM. Aeros - Cory Larose 30 goals and 58 points; Curtis Murphy 35 assists and 46 points; Jason Shmyr 160 PIM.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Ducks - Power play: 16.8 percent (51-for-303), 13th in AHL. Penalty killing: 86.2 percent (287-for-333), 3rd. Aeros - Power play: 15.6 percent (58-for-371), 21st. Penalty Killing: 80.2 percent (288-for-359), 25th.

GOALTENDERS: Ducks - Ilja Bryzgalov (20-15-4, 4 SO, 2.41 GAA); Jason Elliott (10-14-5, 1 SO, 2.71 GAA). Aeros - Derek Gustafson (14-13-6, 4 SO, 2.74 GAA); Jamie McLennan (20-18-3, 3 SO, 2.93 GAA).

SEASON SERIES: Ducks lead, 2-1-0-0 (0-1-0-0 at Compaq Center).

LAST MEETING: Cory Larose, named Thursday to the 2002 AHL All-Rookie Team, netted his team-leading 30th goal and dished out a pair of assists to lead the Aeros to a 3-1 victory over the Mighty Ducks March 27 at the Compaq Center. Larose, a teammate of Cincinnati right wing Ben Guite at the University of Maine, assisted on Mike Matteucci's goal at the 8:34 mark of the first period and had a helping hand in a shorthanded tally by David Cullen 5:08 into the middle stanza. He sealed the win for the Aeros with an empty-net tally with 67 seconds left in regulation. Jamie McLennan stopped 26 pieces of vulcanized rubber for Houston en route to his 20th victory of the season. Steve Brule registered the lone goal for Cincinnati in the third period to extend his point streak to six games. Ilja Brzygalov made 36 saves in the loss for Cincinnati, which killed all seven Houston power-play chances.

ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Ducks - 14-20-3-1 on the road; Aeros 17-12-5-3 at home.

CINCINNATI - HOUSTON CONNECTIONS: Aeros center Brett McLean played seven games with Cincinnati in 1998-1999. Aeros defenseman Mike Crowley played parts of two seasons with Cincinnati from 1997-1999. Houston left wing Greg Crozier is the son of former Cincinnati Swords coach Joe Crozier (1971-1972). Cincinnati goaltender Jason Elliott posted a 19-16-3 record with a 3.03 goals-against average in 41 games with Houston last season.



American Hockey League Stories from March 29, 2002


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