No fooling; Aeros score twice late to tie Ducks 4-4

Published on April 1, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Houston Aeros News Release


Houston, TX – Kevin Mitchell and Jeff Hoggan scored 35 seconds apart in the final 1:32 of regulation, finishing off a furious Aeros comeback from three goals down, as Houston tied the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks 4-4 in an epic and possible playoff preview at Toyota Center. Mark Cullen assisted on both goals and tacked on one of his own to earn another $200 for Sunshine Kids, and Erik Reitz also scored as Houston (71 points) maintained a three-point advantage over the Ducks in the race for fourth place and likely home ice in a Calder Cup qualifying series. Frederic Cloutier, in relief of Kyle Kettles, stopped the final 12 shots he faced after allowing a goal to garner the tie. The teams meet again Friday at 7 p.m. on Aggie Night. The first 3,000 fans will get a voucher for an Aeros Spring Puck, which they can collect on the way out.

Casey Hankinson, Chris Armstrong, Pierre Paranteau and Chris Kunitz all scored in a wild second period for the Ducks, who were 1:32 away from closing the gap to one point. Ilya Bryzgalov turned aside 32 shots for Cincinnati, which has two games in hand on the Aeros.

Cincinnati used its four-goal second period to take a 4-2 lead, and the advantage stayed that way until the final two minutes.

With 1:37 left, Aeros head coach Todd McLellan called a timeout with a faceoff just outside the Cincinnati blueline, and gave his players a set play, which worked to perfection. With Cloutier pulled, Cullen won the draw back to Marc Cavosie, who faked a dump in and fed Mitchell streaking up the middle. With the defensemen parted, Mitchell wristed a wide open shot from between the circles, and the puck eluded Bryzgalov's glove for his sixth goal of the season with 1:32 showing on the clock.

The Aeros struck again, on Hoggan's 21st of the season, with 57 seconds left. Cullen fed Billy Tibbetts, whose shot from the corner was knocked down in front. Hoggan crashed a wild fracas in front of the net and poked the puck by an out of position Bryzgalov. Hoggan had six goals in all of his rookie season of 2002-03.

With the crowd on its feet, neither team scored in overtime, as the Aeros moved to 0-4-13 in the extra session.

The teams were held off the board in the first period, but they erupted six times in the opening 11:05 of the second, with the Ducks pulling ahead 4-2. Cincinnati scored three times in the opening 7:50 to seemingly take control.

Cincinnati got on the board first 2:12 into the second. Moments after Kettles kicked out his right pad to rob Keith Aucoin from close range, Hankinson popped a rebound into an open net for his 14th of the season.

The Ducks took a 2-0 lead 2:18 later when Nick Smith won a faceoff in the right circle back to Armstrong, and the former Minnesota Wild farmhand one-timed it past Kettles blocker side for his ninth of the season.

Cincinnati went ahead by three goals 3:20 later at the 7:50 mark, when Parenteau wrapped one around the post by Kettles for his 14th of the season. That goal chased Kettles in favor of Cloutier. The Ducks held a 20-9 advantage in shots when Cloutier entered.

Reitz scored only 56 seconds after Paranteau's goal, to make it 3-1. Tibbetts fed Reitz at the right point, and the defenseman wristed one through traffic that hit the back of the net for his fifth of the season.

The Aeros continued to press, but the Ducks scored on their first attempt against Cloutier with 9:16 left in the second. The netminder blocked Tony Martensson's shot with his body, but the rebound popped over his shoulder. As the puck trickled through the crease, Kunitz tapped it into the net for his 18th of the season.

Houston got back within two goals only 19 seconds later. Matt Foy, behind the net, slid a pass to Cullen in the low slot, and the Aeros centerman slid a shot under Bryzgalov for his 10th of the season.

The third period was tame, until the final 92 ticks.

Houston finished 0-for-7 on the power play, while Cincinnati went 0-for-6. The Aeros are 4-for-52 on the power play over their last nine games, including 0-for-19 the last three. The Ducks, meanwhile, are 0-for-15 on the power play over their last three games.

Houston had the best chance of the opening period, but Dan Cavanaugh drew iron on a shot with 8:30 left. Tibbetts stole the puck in the corner, walked behind the net and threaded a pass to a streaking Cavanaugh, whose one-timer hit the corner of the post.

The Ducks were outshooting Houston 8-1 at one point in the opening period, but finished the stanza with just a 10-8 edge.

Notes:

Prior to the game, the Aeros reassigned defenseman Ben Storey and center Ed McGrane to ECHL Louisiana. Storey, named first team All ECHL earlier in the day, scored a goal and added an assist tonight in a 4-1 IceGators' victory over Pensacola. Storey and former Aero Derek Gustafson (second team) both garnered All ECHL honors.

Defenseman Chad Starling (ECHL Peoria) and right wings Ryan Wade and Jason Marsh (University of Alberta) all made their Aeros debuts.

Houston is unbeaten in regulation its last nine attempts (6-0-2-1) against teams with sub .500 records.

Armstrong played for Aeros head coach Todd McLellan in IHL Cleveland in 2000-01.

Houston had allowed 23.7 shots per game over its last three contests, but gave up 27 through two periods tonight.

Foy has a goal and four assists in the last six games, and he has nine points (4-5=9) in 15 games since returning from a month-long bout with mononucleosis.

Houston hasn't scored a power play goal against Cincinnati's third-ranked penalty kill unit in the last 16 attempts.

Cincinnati entered the game averaging only 1.83 goals per game on the road.

Houston's Christoph Brandner sat out the second of his two-game suspension for a boarding match penalty Saturday against San Antonio. He's eligible to return tomorrow.

The Aeros got their first point this season when trailing by more than two goals.

Cullen has helped Sunshine Kids earn $950 in the last month.

Houston's magic number to qualify for the post-season dropped to six points, a combination of points gained by the Aeros and lost by San Antonio.

The Aeros are 6-1-1-0 in April over the past three seasons.

Hoggan has a goal in seven of his last eight games and in nine of his last 12.

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American Hockey League Stories from April 1, 2004


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