Roche has hand in all three goals as Aeros down Grizzlies 3-1

Published on February 3, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Houston Aeros News Release


Houston, TX - Travis Roche had a goal and two helpers to tie a career-high in points, and Johan Holmqvist posted 24 saves also registered an assist, as the Houston Aeros beat the Utah Grizzlies 3-1 at Toyota Center. Stephane Veilleux and Chris Bala also scored for Houston, which rebounded from a 7-2 loss at Manitoba on Saturday. The Aeros (46 points), who broke out of a fourth-place tie with Cincinnati, play host to Utah again Thursday during an Aeros Happy Hour. Get a $28 center ice ticket and $10 in Toyota Center Bucks for just $25 by calling 713.974.PUCK or by visiting www.aeros.com. Nick Naumenko scored and Dan Ellis stopped 26 shots for Utah, which has lost seven of eight and came within 4:55 of being shut out for the ninth time in 49 games this season. The Grizzlies, who entered the game averaging just 1.90 goals per game, were held to two or less for the 10th straight game. Utah remained seven points behind Cincinnati for the fifth and final playoff spot from the West Division.

The teams combined for an Aeros' season low eight shots in the opening period – four by each team.

But Veilleux got the Aeros on the board on their fourth shot with 3:23 left in the first period. Jan Vodrazka got the puck ahead to Veilleux, who skated into the zone on the left wing. Veilleux was ridden off the play by two Grizzlies, but still got the puck just wide of Ellis. The puck then squirted to Roche at the right point, and the blueliner sent a shot towards the net that got knocked down in front. Veilleux took the rebound in the left circle and got one by a screened Ellis for his 10th of the season and team-best 27th point.

Houston took control by scoring twice in the second, although Ellis helped keep it a one-goal game 1:10 into the frame when he kicked out an attempt by Dan Cavanaugh from the left circle.

Ellis, however, couldn't stop Roche's attempt 1:45 into the middle stanza. Roche caught a pass from Cavanaugh at the top of the right circle, walked into the lower circle and roofed one short side over Ellis for his fifth of the season. Zbynek Michalek, in his first game back from Minnesota, picked up an assist on the play as well.

The Aeros continued to pour it on as Bala tallied his eighth of the season at 7:31 of the second. Roche fed Bala streaking up the left wing. With a defender draped all over him, Bala put one through Ellis' legs for his first non empty-net goal since December 20.

Naumenko clanked one off the crossbar just before time expired in the second.

Holmqvist's best efforts of the night came with seven minutes gone by in the third. He blocked an attempt by Antti Miettinen from the right circle, then snared Charles Linglet's rebound attempt with his glove.

Michalek hit the post in an attempt for his fourth goal with 6:20 left in regulation. Ellis kept it a three-goal game when he craftily grabbed a Mark Cullen 2-on-1 shorthanded attempt from the left circle less than a minute later.

Utah prevented the shutout with 4:55 left, as Naumenko's shot from the right point deflected off a Houston player's leg in front past Holmqvist for his third of the season.

The Aeros' Erik Reitz fought Zenon Konopka as the buzzer sounded, their second fight of the final 8:02.

Houston, ranked 24th in the AHL on the power play, finished 0-for-6 with the man advantage, while Utah, with the 27th ranked power play, went 1-for-4 The Grizzlies are 3-for-25 on the power play in the last seven games.

Notes:

The Aeros started a streak of 20 consecutive games against the West Division, including all of their 15 February tilts.

Houston improved to 43-37-3-1 overall against the Utah/Denver franchise, the most meetings between the Aeros and any team.

Michalek last played with the Aeros on January 9. He was held without a point in eight games with the Wild.

Roche has five multi-point games, trailing only Kyle Wanvig's six for the team lead. The Aeros are unbeaten (3-0-2-0) when he has two or more points. Roche, who was a season-best plus three, has averaged a point per game in the last 15 contests (3+12=15). In the last five games, Roche has seven points (1+6=7).

Roche has notched three points on five occasions, most recently January 18, 2003, against Manitoba.

The Aeros took a lead into the second period for the first time in six games.

Five Aeros have three-point games this season, and three of them are defensemen (Roche, Reitz, Jason Marshall.)

Holmqvist's other assist this season came December 5 against Cincinnati. He had a pair of assists in his first three North American pro seasons. Teammate Kyle Kettles also has a helper this season.

Houston's Jason Beckett played in his 200th AHL game, while teammate Marc Cavosie saw action in his 100th pro game, all with the Aeros.

The Aeros have just two regulation losses in their last 15 home games (8-2-4-1).

Houston is halfway to its January win total of two.

Aeros defenseman Kevin Mitchell had his five-game point streak snapped.

Houston remained unbeaten in regulation when allowing one goal or less (15-0-3-1). The Aeros have just two wins (2-21-6-2) when yielding two or more.

The Aeros are 3-for-39 on the power play versus Utah, which has the league's fourth-best penalty kill unit, this season.

Utah's David Gove, the team's second leading scorer, didn't play.

Houston won for just the third time in the last seven meetings with the Grizzlies (3-4-0-0).

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American Hockey League Stories from February 3, 2004


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