Top two teams in West Division battle tonight

Published on February 4, 2006 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Houston Aeros News Release


Six things you need to know
- Houston (70 points) and Milwaukee (65) have been 1-2 in the West Division race for nearly two full months, since 12/9. The Aeros' lead was a season-high nine points (58-49) on 1/12. The Admirals briefly cut the lead to two points (60-58) on 1/19.
- Aeros C Erik Westrum (24-47=71) and RW Kirby Law (27-39=66) rank first and second in the AHL in scoring. They are trying to become the first duo from the same team to finish 1-2 in the league's scoring race Paul Gardner (112 points) and Jody Gage (99) turned the trick for Rochester exactly 20 seasons ago - in 1985-86. No two teammates have reached the 100-point plateau since a trio of Carolina Monarchs did it in 1995-96. Westrum has already posted the second-highest point and assist total for an Aero since the the team joined the AHL in 2001-02. Jean-Guy Trudel notched 85 points, including 54 helpers, in 2002-03. Rookie C Patrick O'Sullivan is first in rookie scoring with 48 points (25-25=50), and LW Roman Voloshenko (24-14=38) is second among first-year players in goals and 10th in overall rookie scoring. The line of Law, Westrum and Voloshenko has been held without at least a point in only seven games this season. Veteran D Curtis Murphy, meanwhile, is second among AHL defensemen scoring lead with 39 points (7-32=39).
- The Aeros have scored 74 goals in 15 home games since the 11/27 loss for a 4.93 gpg average. Houston averages 4.19 gpg at home (113 goals in 27 games), on pace for a new franchise-record of 167 goals. Houston has scored five goals or more in 14 of its 27 home games, and four or more in 18. The Aeros have outscored their opponents by a whopping 113-65 margin at home. The plus-48 goal margin is the best in the AHL, and only Wilkes-Barre Scranton (87-45) is within 10 goals.
- Aeros linemates C Erik Westrum and RW Kirby Law each have at least one point in each of the Aeros' 15 home games since getting shut out 11/27 by Milwaukee. Westrum has 31 points and Law 29 in that span, which has seen the Aeros go 13-2-0-0. Westrum has 48 points (15-33=48) in just 27 home games, while Law has 43 points (19-24=43) at Toyota Center.
- Admirals G Brian Finley is 16-6-1 with a 2.01 gaa in his career versus Houston, including a 15-4-0 mark and a 1.95 gaa in the last two seasons. Finley's 16 wins over the Aeros are five more than any other goalie and seven more than any active goalie, and his gaa trails only Jason LaBarbera (1.81) among active netminders (minimum five decisions). Finley is the only goalie ever to shut out the Aeros three times in one season (2004-05), and his five overall shutouts against Houston are the most of any netminder. His shutout sequence versus the Aeros is up to 189:31. Finley last allowed a goal to the Aeros 2/10/04, when Kirby Law scored in the third period of a 2-1 Admirals overtime win in Milwaukee.
- Houston third-year RW Matt Foy didn't join the Aeros from the Minnesota Wild until 11/26, but he's making up for lost time. Foy has 23 points (8-15=23) - just two off his 2004-05 career-high - in only 22 games. After notching just a single assist in his first five games with Houston this season, Foy has posted 21 points (8-13=21) in just 16 games. Foy has a pair of two-goal games, six two-point games and career-best four assist performance 12/17 vs. Peoria. Since 12/4, Foy's centerman, Rem Murray, has notched 20 points (7-13=20) in 23 games since 12/4.

Admirals at Aeros (Aeros are 31-34-7-1 all-time, Aeros are 17-16-4-1 at Houston)
- The teams meet for the 74th time tonight - Houston's 39th home game.
- Milwaukee is the only active AHL team that the Aeros have an overall losing record against.
- The Aeros are 4-15-2-1 in the last 22 meetings since a 5-1 win 10/17/03.
- Since beating Milwaukee 7-0 at Toyota Center 1/11/05, the Aeros are 2-6-1-0 against the Admirals, getting outscored 27-11.
- Houston has been shut out in three of the last five meetings. Seven of the last 13 meetings have ended with one team being shut out.
- The teams traded 3-0 shutouts at Toyota Center 11/25 and 11/27, with Houston's Josh Harding and Milwaukee's Brian Finley each recording shutouts.

Scouting the Aeros
Playing their first game after the All-Star Break, the Aeros (34-12-1-1) have the AHL's second-best winning percentage (.729), trailing only Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (35-6-3-2=75, .815 pct)...The Aeros' West Division lead is five points over Milwaukee, which has a game in hand...Houston has won 16 of 20 overall, and its 21-4-1-1 home mark (.815 points percentage) is tops in the AHL...The Aeros are coming off a six-day break in games, and they are a perfect 7-0-0-0 when getting at least four days' rest...C Erik Westrum has 71 points (24-47=71), five up on RW Kirby Law (27-39=66) for the top spot in the AHL...C Patrick O'Sullivan is first in rookie scoring with with 50 points (25-25=50)...LW Roman Voloshenko (24-14=38) is one behind O'Sullivan for the league lead in goals among rookies...D Curtis Murphy is second among AHL defensemen with 39 points (7-32=39)...G Josh Harding is 21-7-0 with a 2.63 gaa to rank tied for first in the league in wins, tied for third in save pct. (.923) and ninth in gaa...G Seamus Kotyk is 10-5-1 with a 2.75 gaa, ranking tied for 14th in gaa, while G Miroslav Kopriva is 3-1-0 with a 2.79 gaa.

Scouting the Admirals
Milwaukee (30-12-3-1), AHL affiliate of the Nashville Predators, lost 5-4 at home in overtime to North-leading Grand Rapids last night, allowing the game-tying goal with 1.4 seconds left in regulation...The Admirals, 8-1-2-0 in their last 11 overall, have won three straight road games...Former AHL Rookie of the Year RW Darren Haydar leads Milwaukee with 52 points (20-32=52)...D Kevin Klein paces the blueliners with 26 points (6-20=26)...Rookie All-Star G Pekka Rinne is 21-12-1 with a 2.74 gaa, while G Brian Finley is 8-3-0 with a 2.71 gaa...Finley has played just twice in the last 15 games, but with his spectacular record against the Aeros, the odds are good for at least one start in the two-game set.

2005-06 meetings (4th of 8 meetings, Aeros are 1-2-0-0 overall, Aeros are 1-1-0-0 at Houston)
October 28 Houston 1 at Milwaukee 6
November 25 Milwaukee 0 at Houston 3
November 27 Milwaukee 3 at Houston 0
Tonight Milwaukee at Houston
Tuesday Milwaukee at Houston
February 25 Houston at Milwaukee
February 26 Houston at Milwaukee
March 17 Houston at Milwaukee

Quick Hits
- Houston is third in the AHL in scoring at 3.75 gpg, trailing only Grand Rapids' 3.94 gpg and Portland's 3.75 gpg. Since getting shut out 3-0 by Milwaukee 11/27, the Aeros have scored 103 goals in 24 games for a 4.29 gpg average. Houston is trying to score 300 goals for just the second time in team history. The Aeros scored a franchise-record 307 goals in 1998-99, but that came in an 82-game season. This season Houston is on pace for 298 goals.
- The Aeros are 13-4-1-1 in one-goal games, and an impressive 19-6-1-1 in games decided by two goals or less. The Admirals are 12-3-4-1 in one-goal games, and 22-6-4-1 in games decided by two goals or less.
- In their last six victories, the Aeros have outscored their opponents 14-3 in the first period. In the last 13 games overall, Houston has a 25-10 goal margin in the opening 20 minutes, and overall on the season the Aeros are an AHL-best plus-26 (60-34).
- Aeros D Curtis Murphy, an All-Star for the seventh time in as many North American seasons, is on the verge of becoming the Aeros' all-time goal leader among defensemen. Murphy is tied with Jeff Tory for the top spot among blueliners with 42 tallies. Murphy's 140 points trail only Greg Hawgood's total of 145 for the most in team history among defensemen. Murphy, who needs two more assists to become the fifth in team history to reach 100, is second among all AHL defensemen in points this season (7-32=39).
- Houston has trailed at some point in 13 of its 34 victories, with four of the wins coming when trailing by two goals. The Aeros had 16 come-from-behind victories in 2004-05. They are an impressive 11-7-0-0 when allowing the game's first goal.
- The Aeros are 32-3-0-0 when scoring three goals or more, but they are 2-9-1-1 when scoring two or fewer. Three is also the magic number defensively, as Houston is 30-4-1-1 when allowing three of fewer goals and 4-8-0-0 when yielding four or more.
- Iowa, Peoria and Milwaukee are the lone teams with two regulations wins against the Aeros this season.
- The Admirals outscore their opponents 57-40 in the third period. Only Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has yielded fewer goals in the final 20 minutes (34).
- When either leading or tied after two periods, Milwaukee is 27-3-4-1. Houston is 29-3-1-0 in that situation.
- Houston has enjoyed great success on the ice at home this season, but also in the stands as of late. In the last 13 games, dating back to 12/16, Toyota Center has hosted 80,922 fans for an average of 6,225. That has boosted the Aeros' attendance average to 5,411 - up to 10th-best in the AHL. Houston has bettered the 7,000 mark in attendance in each of the last three games, including a 11,672 last Saturday to welcome Rose Bowl Most Valuable Player Vince Young on Boy Scout Night. It marked the Aeros' second-largest crowd in their three seasons at Toyota Center. The last three- and four-game stretch with 7,000 or more fans was during a four-game run to close out the 1998-99 campaign. A 7,000-plus crowd is also expected tonight at Toyota Center.

Power play update
- Houston is second in the league on the power play at 20.9 percent.
- The Aeros are 37-for-149 (24.8 percent) with the man advantage in the last 24 games.
- Houston is 26-for-88 (29.5 percent) at home with the man advantage in the last 15 games. Only once in that span (1/13 vs. Iowa) have the Aeros not scored a PPG.
- The Aeros are 20-3-0-0 when scoring at least two PPG. Houston has scored two or more PPG in 13 of its last 23 games.
- Over their last 22 games, the Aeros have scored on their first or second power play of the game 16 times. Three times in that span, Houston has scored on both its first and second opportunities.
- Houston has been outscored on the power play just three times in its last 26 games.
- Milwaukee is tied for ninth on the penalty kill at 83.8 percent.
- The Admirals have allowed 11 goals on 44 shorthanded chances in the last six games for just a 75.0 percent kill rate.
- Milwaukee is 2-for-18 (11.1 percent) on the power play against the Aeros this season, but 0-for-9 at Toyota Center.

Penalty kill update
- Houston is third in the AHL on the penalty kill at 85.6 percent.
- In the last 11 games, Houston is 61-of-66 (92.4 percent) on the PK.
- Houston is 16-3-0-1 when not allowing a power play goal and 27-5-1-1 when allowing one power play goal or fewer.
- Milwaukee ranks fourth in the AHL on the power play at 20.2 percent.
- The Admirals are 8-for-35 (22.9 percent) with the man advantage in the last six games.
- Houston is 2-for-26 (7.7 percent) on the power play against Milwaukee this season. The Admirals and Peoria Rivermen are the lone AHL teams to hold the Aeros without a PPG in more than one game this season.

Aeros/Admirals connections
- Aeros D Curtis Murphy was a member of Milwaukee's Calder Cup championship team in 2003-04.
- Houston C Bryan Lundbohm spent most of four seasons with the Admirals, from 2001-05. He was injured when Milwaukee won the Calder Cup in 2003-04.
- Aeros G Seamus Kotyk went 10-6-1 with a 2.95 gaa in 23 games with Milwaukee in 2004-05.
- Houston D Erik Reitz played two seasons (1999-2001) with Milwaukee G Brian Finley at OHL Barrie.
- Aeros C Patrick O'Sullivan played junior hockey with Milwaukee's T.J. Reynolds in 2001-02 in Mississauga. Reynolds was Houston C Petr Taticek's teammate in San Antonio in 2004-05.
- Milwaukee D Rick Berry played in Utah in 2004-05 with Aeros C Erik Westrum and D Dustin Wood.

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American Hockey League Stories from February 4, 2006


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