Mitchell's first two-goal game helps Aeros hold on 5-3

Published on March 21, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Houston Aeros News Release


Norfolk, VA –Defenseman Kevin Mitchell scored twice in a four-goal second period for his first career two-goal game in his 211th professional contest, as the Houston Aeros held on to beat the Norfolk Admirals 5-3 at The Scope to win the finale of their four-game road trip. Christoph Brandner and red-hot Jeff Hoggan also had goals in the second, and Mark Cullen's two assists raised another $100 ($550 total) for Sunshine Kids. Johan Holmqvist made 28 saves for Houston, which had scored just five goals in going 0-2-0-1 in the first three games of the road trip. The Aeros, who got an empty netter from Travis Roche on their lone shot of the third period, return home Tuesday for a 7 p.m. game against Utah. The fourth-place Aeros, who won for the third time in 22 road games (3-13-5-1), moved to 65 points, six clear of Cincinnati and seven ahead of San Antonio in the West. Both of those teams are in action tonight. Please see the website tonight for details.

Houston knocked off a team with a winning record on the road for the fourth time this season while avenging a 3-2 loss in Norfolk last night. The Aeros also snapped two pesky streaks. They won for the first time on the road when allowing the game's first goal (1-16-4-0). Houston also became the last AHL team to record a win when trailing after one period. The Aeros are now 1-22-2-2 in such situations.

Ajay Baines, Brandin Cote and Igor Radulov each scored and Craig Anderson turned aside 18 shots over 40 minutes for Norfolk, which led 1-0 after one but trailed 4-1 just 20 minutes later.

Houston scored four times on eight shots in the second, including a pair of tallies by Mitchell, to seemingly take control. Mitchell, who entered the game with 21 goals in 210 professional games, counting ECHL totals, picked up not only his first career multi-goal game but also the first by an Aeros blueliner this season. Mitchell twice beat Anderson, his teammate for two seasons in juniors at Guelph.

His fourth of the season – third on the power play – evened the score 3:51 into the second, with eight seconds left on a Houston power play. Roche faked a shot from the point and slid a pass to Mitchell, whose one-timer went through a screen and by Anderson. The Aeros had scored on only two of their last 35 power plays on the road prior to Mitchell's tally.

Hoggan's third in three games and 17th of the season put the Aeros in front 2-1 at the 10:05 mark of the second. Matt Foy stole the puck at center and headmanned a pass to Hoggan, who broke in alone on Anderson and got the puck by the goalie for the first three-game goal streak of his career. Hoggan had six goals in his rookie campaign of 2002-03.

The Aeros then scored twice late in the stanza to build a three-goal lead.

Houston went up 3-1 with 2:26 left on its third goal – and Mitchell's second – of the stanza. Marc Cavosie kept the puck alive behind the net, and it caromed to Mitchell at the point with some help from newcomer Maxime Fortunus, just up from ECHL Louisiana. Mitchell ripped a shot by Anderson for his fifth of the season and second of the game.

The floodgates continued to open, as Brandner scored his seventh of the season – and second in as many games – with 59 seconds remaining in the second. Hoggan stole the puck and fed Cullen, who found Brandner for the eventual game-winner.

The Admirals controlled play in the third period, holding Houston without a shot until Roche's empty netter and outshooting the Aeros 13-1 in the stanza. Norfolk scored twice to make Houston earn the victory.

Houston had a man advantage to begin the third period thanks to a fracas after Brandner's goal, but Norfolk took only 90 seconds to get within 4-2 early in the third on Cote's seventh of the season.

Norfolk then got within 4-3 at 9:11 of the third, on Radulov's slapper from the far boards. Traffic in front helped the puck sneak by Holmqvist as Radulov notched his eighth of the season.

The Admirals then went on the power play with a holding penalty to Hoggan at the stanza's midway point. Houston killed off the chance, and Holmqvist stoned Quintin Laing from close range after the advantage was over.

Norfolk's comeback attempt seemed to end with 1:58 left, when Blake Bellefeuille high sticked Dan Cavanaugh, giving the Aeros a man advantage for the rest of the game. However, only 15 seconds later a cross checking call to Hoggan evened things up at 4-on-4.

Roche's seventh of the season, with 45 seconds left in regulation and the teams still 4-on-4, into the empty net sealed the victory. It marked the Aeros' first shot of the third period, a season-low.

Houston went 1-for-8 on the power play, while Norfolk finished 0-for-3.

The Aeros were outshot 14-7 last night in the first period and 35-20 overall, but they came out much stronger this afternoon. Houston had a 14-10 edge in shots in the opening stanza, but Norfolk was able to solve Holmqvist late.

Houston had a scare with 8:26 remaining in the first when Cavanaugh was high sticked by Anton Babchuck. The penalty ended an Admirals power play. Cavanaugh returned to the ice a short time later.

Cavanaugh nearly got revenge later in the stanza, as he stole the puck and skated in on a shorthanded breakaway. Anderson barely got a piece of Cavanaugh's attempt with his glove, pushing the puck inches wide.

Norfolk went ahead with the teams 4-on-4 with 1:36 left in the first. Baines took a cross-ice feed from Babchuk and put it by Holmqvist for his 14th of the season, tying him with Matt Ellison for tops on the team. Norfolk scored its second 4-on-4 goal in as many nights.

The Aeros had scored first in eight straight games prior to yesterday, and have now gone down 1-0 in two straight games. Houston also yielded a first-period goal for the second straight game after eight consecutive games without allowing one.

Notes:

Mitchell has 21 points (5+16=21), including 13 on the power play. He has eight points (3+5=8) over the last 10 games and 18 points (4+14=18) in the last 26 contests. He also had two points (1+1=2) in the Aeros' last four-goal period, March 8 against Grand Rapids.

The Aeros are 4-0-0-0 when Mitchell scores a goal.

Seventeen of Mitchell's 23 career goals have come on the power play.

Roche had been held without a point in five straight games, tying a season-high.

Hoggan, who has three goals and two assists in the last three games, has 10 points (5+5=10) in the last 11 games. His three-game point streak has tied a career-high.

Norfolk allowed four goals or more in a game for just the second time in 17 contests.

The Aeros have won six of seven against Norfolk, counting last season's Western Conference Semifinals.

Holmqvist snapped a three-game losing streak, the first time he's ever lost three straight games in March. His 20 March victories are his most in any month.

Holmqvist is 5-1-2 in his career in the regular season against Norfolk.

Houston won for just the fourth time when allowing more than one goal (4-32-8-3).

The Aeros improved to 2-11-2-2 on either Saturday or Sunday on the road.

Norfolk entered the game minus-14 (60-46) in the third period, the third worst margin in the AHL.

Matt Underhill replaced Anderson for the third period and didn't face a shot.

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American Hockey League Stories from March 21, 2004


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