 | Jason Morgan celebrates his goal Saturday (Photo by Jason Villanueva) |
Monday, April 2, 2007
713.361.7930 (Direct Line)
AEROS WEEKLY REPORT
Coming Attractions – Maple Leaf Pub Happy Hour Game Tuesday
TUE, vs. PEO, 7:05 p.m.
Maple Leaf Pub Happy Hour
Call 713.974.PUCK today to order the Maple Leaf Pub Happy Hour package!
The Aeros are 3-4-0-1 against Peoria this season, but are an unbeaten in regulation 3-0-0-1 at home versus the Rivermen. Counting the post-season, the Aeros are 9-1-0-1 all-time at home against Peoria.
Peoria (34-31-2-6) trails fourth-place Iowa by six points for the West Division’s final playoff spot, although the Rivermen have a game in hand. Peoria is 0-4-0-1 in its last five and is just 3-11-0-2 in its last 16 games.
FRI, at PEO, 7:30 p.m.
The Aeros make their final trip of the season to Carver Arena, where they are just 2-7-0-0 in the regular season, including five straight losses and an 0-4-0-0 mark this season. In 2006-07, the Aeros have been outscored 18-6 at Carver Arena.
SAT, at OMA, 7 p.m.
The Aeros are only 1-5-3-0 against Omaha this season, with Saturday’s game the final meeting. Houston is 2-4-1-2 all-time at Omaha Civic Auditorium, going winless in the last seven meetings (0-4-1-2) after winning its first two games there – both in a shootout.
Omaha (43-24-4-1) has clinched a playoff berth but has its sights on the West Division title. The Ak-Sar-Ben Knights trail first-place Chicago by two points, but with three games in hand. Omaha has won four of six and plays three times before Saturday’s tilt with the Aeros.
All Aeros games are broadcast live on KNTH 1070-AM and through Aeros.com.. For $6, you can also watch the game live via B2 Networks. Visit Aeros.com 10 minutes prior to gametime to order.
Player of the Week G Dieter Kochan
3/30 vs. PEO, 47-50, W
Totals – 1gp, 1-0-0, 3.00 gaa, .940 save pct.
Stopped 47-of-50 shots, including 37 saves over the final two periods, in 6-3 win over Peoria on Friday…Has won three of last four decisions, making 113 saves on 117 shots (.966) in his three victories.
Notables –
Aeros D Curtis Murphy has a point in six straight games (2-5=7) to tie a career-best. Murphy had four previous six-game point streaks, the last from January 5-15, 2006. The run also ties Matt Foy’s team season-high. Murphy ranks tied for seventh among AHL defensemen in scoring with 38 points (8-30=38).
Worcester’s Mike Iggulden tallied a hat trick Saturday, becoming the first opponent ever to score three times in a game against the Aeros twice in his career. Iggulden also posted three goals for Cleveland on February 15, 2006.
After Saturday’s 7-3 loss to Worcester, the Aeros finished their schedule against the Eastern Conference with an 0-6-0-0 mark. Houston was also winless versus the Atlantic, and the entire Eastern Conference, last season, going 0-3-1-0. The Aeros’ last win against the East came March 4, 2005, a 3-1 home win over Hartford. Since then, the Aeros are 0-9-1-0 against the East.
Aeros C Jason Morgan scored his 100th career goal as a professional Friday. Morgan is on the verge of another milestone as well, having played in 498 career AHL games entering this week.
Aeros rookie D John Scott had one assist in the season’s first 55 games, but posted three helpers on Friday and one on Saturday. Scott, who began the season on the blueline, was converted to forward and then switched back, is a team-best plus-seven over the last five games, having posted a positive rating in each outing but Saturday, when he was even in a 7-3 loss.
Houston tied a franchise record with its 15th shorthanded goal on Friday. The Aeros set the mark in 1994-95. D Erik Reitz and RW Danny Irmen each have three SHG – one off the team record, most recently matched by LW Stephane Veilleux in 2003-04.
The Aeros haven’t outshot any of their last nine opponents, since holding a 29-28 edge March 10 versus Peoria.
Saturday, the Aeros allowed seven goals or more for the fifth time this season. Four of those occasions have come at Toyota Center.
Saturday, Worcester’s Mathieu Darche became the first opponent to post four assists at Toyota Center since Milwaukee’s Simon Gamache accomplished the feat December 29, 2004.
Affiliation News
The National Hockey League’s Minnesota Wild (45-26-8) went 0-2-1 last week after winning nine straight…The Wild is three points behind division-leading Vancouver with only three games left, and the Canucks have a game in hand…Minnesota is in seventh place overall in the Western Conference, two points behind Dallas and San Jose, and two up on Calgary…Minnesota has its final three games of the season this week – all at home – Tuesday and Thursday against Edmonton and Saturday versus St. Louis… C Wyatt Smith has four points (1-3=4) in 59 games and is averaging 9:25 TOI…G Josh Harding is 3-1-1 with a 1.16 gaa and a .960 save pct. in seven games.
The ECHL’s Texas Wildcatters moved into first place in the South Division with 89 points (40-20-5-4) after sweeping two games from Florida over the weekend…The Wildcatters are one up on Florida and two ahead of third-place Gwinnett…Each team has three games left…Texas finishes off the regular season at Charlotte on Wednesday, at Columbia on Friday and at South Carolina on Saturday… D Mike Madill (4-39=43) and D Paul Albers (12-30=42), both Minnesota Wild contracts and ECHL All-Stars, are tied for ninth and tied for 12th among all ECHL defensemen despite their rookie status…Among rookies, Madill is tied for 16th and Albers is tied for 20th… F Mark Rooneem has 22 points (10-12=22)…F/D Riley Emmerson has three points (2-1=3) and 90 PIM’s…F Ben Thomson has six points (4-2=4) in six games…G Matt Yeats, who attended Aeros camp, is 31-17-5-2 with a 2.96 gaa and a .911 save pct…G Miroslav Kopriva is 9-1-0-2 with a 3.03 gaa and a .898 save pct.
Aeros split two games
HOU 6, PEO 3; WOR 7, HOU 3
Friday: Matt Foy scored two goals to become the fifth-leading goal scorer in Aeros history, Jason Morgan, Peter Olvecky, Danny Irmen and Mattias Weinhandl also scored and Dieter Kochan made 47 saves, as Houston defeated the Peoria Rivermen 6-3 at Toyota Center. Rookie defenseman John Scott chipped in three assists, after posting one in the season’s first 55 games.
Saturday: Mike Iggulden recorded a hat trick, Brennan Evans, Torrey Mitchell and Craig Valette posted a goal and an assist apiece, as the Worcester Sharks won their seventh straight game, 7-3 over the Houston Aeros at Toyota Center. Mathieu Darche had four assists, Graham Mink also scored and Thomas Greiss made 25 saves for Worcester.
Erik Reitz, Jason Morgan and Matt Foy each scored a goal and Tony Quesada made 25 stops for Houston.
Aeros’ Practice schedule:
Monday – 10-11:30 a.m., Sugar Land
Tuesday – 10:15-11 a.m., pre-game skate; vs. PEO, 7:35 p.m.
Wednesday – 1-2:30 p.m., Sugar Land
Thursday – Travel Day
Friday – at PEO, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday – at OMA, 7:05 p.m.
Sunday – Travel Day
Non game-day practices (unless specified) are at Sugar Land Ice & Sports Center, the Official Training Facility of the Houston Aeros.
---HOUSTON AEROS---
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