From: Ryan Stanzel
Director of Communications
Monday, March 21, 2005
713.361.7930 (Direct Line)

Aeros Weekly Report

Fan Club event Thursday at Jillian’s – This Thursday from 6-8 p.m. at Jillian’s at 7620 Katy Freeway, join the Houston Aeros Fan Club for a night of fun. Come out and enjoy food*, fun & games at Jillian's. Free Bowling for the first 30 people! Fun Prizes & Giveaways including: an autographed Gordie Howe Aeros Poster, Miracle Movie Poster autographed by Ken Morrow & Mike Ramsey, Houston Aeros Wristwatch & commemorative Aeros Pins just to name a few. Visit the fan club site for more details & go to www.jillians.com to learn more about Jillian's. This event is for Fan Club members ONLY. Please RSVP to Peter Austin at paustin@aeros.com or 713.361.7953 *Food available while supplies last; Drink specials include $2.50 Miller Lite draft

Coming attractions:

WED, vs. UTA, 7:05 p.m.
Happy Hour
It’s always fun when the Aeros and Grizzlies get together. The teams have combined for 90 PIM’s per game in the season series, including a whopping 134 per game in Houston. The Aeros have points in their last six games against the Grizzlies and in six of seven this season overall (4-1-0-2). At least one of the teams has scored five goals in each of the last five meetings at Toyota Center. Get a center ice ticket, free parking and $10 in Toyota Bucks ($45 value) for just $30! Or, get a corner ticket and free parking for just $15 ($27 value). Order via www.aeros.com/themenights. Username is Happy, password is Hour.

FRI, vs. GR, 7:35 p.m.
Half-price Corners
Law-Wanvig-Lessard Nesting Dolls (3K)
The weekend series with the Griffins could help decide which team gets the fourth and final playoff spot in the West. Grand Rapids enters this week three points behind Houston with two games in hand, but it plays 10 of its final 15 games on the road. The Griffins are in Milwaukee Wednesday to kick off a four-game road trip. Grand Rapids has won four of five. Goalie Joey MacDonald has played 13 consecutive games and owns three career shutouts against the Aeros. Good Friday equals a good deal! For a limited time and while supplies last, get a corner seat (normally $20) for only $10 via www.aeros.com/themenights. Username is easter, password is special.

SUN, vs. GR, 5:05 p.m.
Half Price at Center Ice
The Aeros and Griffins celebrate Easter Sunday. The Easter Bunny will be on hand to take pictures with kids (camera not provided). Grand Rapids will finish off a three-in-three stretch after traveling to San Antonio for a Saturday game. The Aeros are 3-2-0-1 this season against Grand Rapids, including a 1-0-0-1 home mark. The Griffins are 1-for-22 on the man advantage against Houston this season. Center ice seats are half priced ($14) by visiting www.aeros.com/themenights. Username is easter, password is special.

West Division standings/schedule (3-5 only)
3. Cincinnati 67 GP, 75 PTS
4. Houston 67 GP, 72 PTS
5. Grand Rapids 65 GP, 69 PTS

CIN (13GR, 8H, 5R); HOU (2, 1H/1R), GR (2, 1H/1R), CHI (2, 1H/1R), UTA (1, 1H), CLE (2, 1H/1R), MIL (3, 3H), SAN (1, 1R)
HOU (13GR, 8H, 5R); CHI (1, 1H), CIN (2, 1H/1R), GR (2, 2H), MIL (1, 1R), SAN (4, 2H/2R), UTA (3, 2H/1R)
GR (15GR, 5H, 10R); MIL (2, 2R), SAN (3, 1H/2R), CIN (2, 1H/1R), HOU (2, 2R), HAM (1, 1R), CLE (1, 1H), UTA (4, 2H/2R)

Aeros get rare two-day break - Following Sunday’s game in Manitoba, the Aeros got a brief, but well-deserved break, going two days without a game before opening up a five-game homestand Wednesday against Utah. Amazingly, Houston hasn’t had a two-day break since the first weekend in March, but it spent one of those two days traveling to St. Paul, Minn. Likewise, the Aeros are spending most of today going back to Houston. The Aeros haven’t had more than two days in a row without a game since the All-Star break.

All West, and that’s not a bad thing - Sunday’s game in Manitoba marked Houston’s last non West Division matchup of the season. The Aeros are 20-14-6-3 against the West, but were below the .500 mark at 11-12-0-1 outside the West.

‘Rooters update - Aeros defensemen and alternate captains Todd Reirden and Ray Giroux combine to bring a group of underprivileged children out to each and every Aeros game. This week’s groups are Houston Children’s Charity (Wednesday), MDA (Friday) and Homes with Home (Sunday).

Third-period success key - In its 31 wins, Houston has allowed just 11 third-period goals, but in the remainder of its 36 games, it has yielded 34, including four in the last two games. The Aeros are 2-14-2-1 in their last 19 games when allowing a third-period goal. Houston has allowed 45 third-period goals, second in the league to Hartford (43).

Aeros spotting their opponents early - In a disturbing trend, the Aeros have allowed the game’s first goal in eight of nine contests. The Aeros are 11-22-4-4 when allowing the first goal, but 20-4-2-0 when scoring it. Houston has scored first just 26 times in 67 games (38.8 percent), and no team has scored first fewer times than the Aeros.

The power of zero – The Aeros have been shut out eight times - three times in the last seven games. That’s one off the franchise record set in 1999-2000. Houston’s goalies have 10 shutouts.

Down on the farm - The CHL’s Austin Ice Bats finished the season 28-27-5 and finished third in the Southeast, but failed to make the playoffs...F Dallas Anderson had 19 points (10-9=19) and 395 PIM’s. to rank second in the CHL...The Pensacola Ice Pilots are an ECHL-best 43-14-5 and have clinched a playoff spot...LW Jordan Krestanovich has 54 points (20-34=54)...LW Bill Kinkel has four points (3-1=4) and a team-best 161 PIM’s in only 25 games...ECHL Louisiana is 21-35-6...RW Mark Rooneem has 27 points (17-10=27)...D Maxime Fortunus has 24 points (8-16=24)...G Kyle Kettles is 5-9-1 with a 3.60 gaa and was hospitalized last week after getting hit in the head with a puck while sitting on the bench...He broke several bones in his face...UHL Quad City is 32-27-10, in fourth place in the West and...The Mallards hold down the eighth and final spot in the playoff chase by three points over Flint...Quad City has two of the frontrunners for league Rookie of the Year, and they are both Aeros prospects...G Robert Gherson is 19-10-6 with a 2.30 gaa to rank second in the UHL...Gherson was the UHL’s Goalie of the Week for the last two weeks...C Mike Kompon has 70 points (28-42=70) - 22 more than any other teammate - to rank second in the UHL among rookies...He’s first in assists with 42.

Player of the week G Mike Smith -
Appeared in four games last week, notching two decisions and going 1-0-1 with a 1.62 gaa and a .942 save pct...Was perfect with 17 saves in two periods of relief Monday versus Cincinnati...Made 27 saves in 5-1 win at Utah on Wednesday...Stopped 30 shots but suffered 2-1 SOL at Utah Friday...Made seven saves in one period of relief Saturday in Manitoba...Ranks 20th in the AHL with a 2.45 gaa...Sports a 16-15-3 record.
Smith this week...
3/14 vs. CIN 17-17
3/16 at UTA 27-28
3/18 at UTA 30-31
3/19 at MTB 7-10
Totals - 4gp, 1-0-1, 1.62 gaa, .942 pct.

Aeros go 1-3-0-1 in busy week
CIN 3, HOU 0; HOU 5, UTA 1; UTA 2, HOU 1 (SO); MTB 8, HOU 1; MTB 2, HOU 0
The Aeros went 1-3-0-1 last week, including 1-2-0-1 on a four-game road trip. Houston scored just two goals in its four non-wins last week.
Monday: Stanislav Chistov snapped a 10-game goal-less streak by scoring twice in the opening 10 minutes and Ilya Bryzgalov stopped 24 shots for his fourth shutout, as the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks rode their mighty forecheck to a 3-0 victory over the Houston Aeros at Toyota Center.
Josh Harding turned aside nine shots in one period of action for Houston. Mike Smith made 17 saves in relief of Harding.
Wednesday: Kyle Wanvig scored twice and added an assist, and he, Junior Lessard and Patrick Traverse scored on three consecutive power plays, as the Houston Aeros shook off a slow start for a 5-1 victory over the Utah Grizzlies at The “E” Center. Mikko Koivu tallied a goal and an assist, Pierre-Marc Bouchard chipped in two helpers and Lessard added an assist .
Friday: Jamie Storr finished with 34 saves and Utah scored on all three of its shootout attempts against former Grizzly Mike Smith, as Utah outlasted the Houston Aeros 2-1 at The “E” Center. Jakub Koreis scored his third goal of the season – all against Houston – for Utah.
Saturday: Nathan Smith nearly doubled his season’s goal total with a hat trick, including a tone-setting goal 77 seconds into the game, and Jeff Hereema added a goal and two assists, as the Manitoba Moose handed the Houston Aeros their worst loss in more than two seasons, 8-1, at MTS Centre. Ryan Kesler finished with a goal and an assist, and Nolan Baumgartner, Jesse Schultz and Kevin Bieksa also scored for Manitoba. Wade Flaherty made 25 saves, while Jimmy Roy tallied three assists and Danny Groulx two for the Moose.
Sunday: Flaherty stopped 21 shots for his fourth shutout and Cory Pecker and Jason Jaffray each scored power play goals, as the Manitoba Moose blanked the Houston Aeros 2-0 at MTS Centre. Manitoba won its third straight.
Harding played admirably with 35 saves for Houston.

Aeros’ Practice schedule:
Monday - Travel Day
Tuesday - 10-11:30 Sugar Land
Wednesday - vs. UTA 7:05 p.m.
Thursday - 10-11:30 Sugar Land
Friday - vs. GR 7:35 p.m.
Saturday - TBA
Sunday - vs. GR 5:05 p.m.


---HOUSTON AEROS, BE A FAN---