Quick strikes lead Chicago

Published on March 7, 2007 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Houston Aeros News Release


CHICAGO, Ill. - Andy Delmore, Mark Popovic and Cory Larose scored a goal apiece in a 2:59 span late in the first period and Michael Garnett made 35 saves, as the Chicago Wolves defeated the Houston Aeros 4-1 at Allstate Arena. Jordan LaVallee added a goal and an assist for Chicago (39-20-2-5), which increased its lead over second-place Omaha to three points.

Ben Thomson scored a power play goal and Miroslav Kopriva made 12 saves in one period for Houston (21-32-3-6), which is winless in a franchise-record 12 straight road games (0-9-2-1). The Aeros, who have scored just nine goals while going winless in their last eight in a row overall (0-7-0-1), are back home Saturday to face Peoria.

Garnett was brilliant early on. He stopped Joel Ward in the opening minute, and on an Aeros power play, Garnett appeared out of the play but reached up to stone Ryan Hamilton.

Four minutes into the game, Kopriva stopped Larose on a breakaway. A bit later, Kopriva sticked aside Niko Dimitrakos' attempt of a Larose rebound.

Kopriva also denied Larose on a shorthanded breakaway midway through the opening period.

The Wolves solved Kopriva with 3:54 remaining in the first. Delmore took a pass from Darren Haydar at the point and launched a shot through traffic that eluded the netminder for his 15th goal of the season.

Popovic made it 2-0 with a one-time blast on the power play, exactly two minutes after Delmore's goal. The tally was his 12th of the season.

Larose's power play goal after an Aeros turnover extended the lead to 3-0 with 56 ticks left in the first. Larose tucked the puck in the net after LaVallee's centering attempt went off an Aeros defenseman.

Haydar nearly made it 4-0 early in the second after Dieter Kochan replaced Kopriva, but Haydar missed a nearly open net.

LaVallee did get Chicago's fourth goal with 8:29 left in the second. LaVallee rebounded a long Brian Sipotz miss by Kochan for his 12th goal of the season.

Thomson got the Aeros on the board with 50 seconds remaining in the second, putting a Roman Voloshenko power play shot by Garnett. Curtis Murphy picked up the second assist, becoming just the fourth player - and first defenseman - in team history to reach 200 points.

Past the midway point of the third, Hamilton tussled with Chicago rookie defenseman Nathan Oystrick.

Houston finished 1-for-10 on the power play, while Chicago went 2-for-9.

Notes:

Not dressing for the Aeros were Shawn Belle, Mattias Weinhandl, Josh Olson and Chris Ovington.

Houston assigned goalie Tony Quesada to CHL Austin.

The Aeros are 3-17-2-2 this season in games in which goalie Josh Harding doesn't play. Harding remains on recall to NHL Minnesota.

Houston fell to 2-23-2-2 when scoring two or fewer goals.

The Aeros are winless (0-20-1-4) when allowing four goals or more.

The Aeros are 0-9-2-1 in their last 12 games in the month of March, dating back to last season.

Houston has allowed the game's first goal in seven of its last eight games, and hasn't led after one period in any of those seven games.

Murphy has 200 points (55-145=200) in 302 career games in Houston.

Kochan stopped 33-of-34 shots in relief.

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American Hockey League Stories from March 7, 2007


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