From: Ryan Stanzel
Director of Communications
Monday, March 29, 2004
713.361.7930 (Direct Line)

This week on aeros.com – Wednesday, check out www.aeros.com for a feature story on Aeros rookie netminder Kyle Kettles, who has taken over the No. 1 goalie position. The popular Q&A segment will feature winger Kyle Wanvig. Send questions to qanda@aeros.com prior to 10 a.m. Wednesday, and the Q&A will be posted Thursday. It’s all this week on www.aeros.com, your complete source for information on the Houston Aeros. If you’re not signed up for Aeros Afterburner exclusive online newsletter, click here.

Coming attractions:

Houston plays just four games over the final 13 games of the season, including two home contests this week.

THU, vs. CIN, 7:00 p.m.
Guest appearance by WWE champion Victoria
Don’t forget to call the Aeros office at 713.974.PUCK to order both a ticket to this game and next Monday’s WWE event at Toyota Center for just $30! Tickets can also be ordered online through www.aeros.com/themenights. Username is wwe, and password is aeros.
Thursday is also Aeros Happy Hour
Center ice seat and $10 in Toyota Center Bucks ($38 value) for only $25! Order an Aeros Happy Hour here.
The Aeros open up an important two-game home series against the Ducks, with another game in Cincinnati on tap next Friday. Houston and Cincinnati enter the week separated by just five points. Houston had won three straight home meetings versus the Ducks prior to a 3-1 loss January 27. The Aeros are 4-1-1-0 all-time versus Cincinnati at home and 7-3-2-1 overall. Houston sports a 2-2-1-0 mark this season against the Ducks. Cincinnati is led by Keith Aucoin (18-27=45) and Tony Martensson (14-28=42). Chris Armstrong (7-33=40) is the Ducks’ leading defenseman. Ilya Bryzgalov is Cincinnati’s workhorse netminder. He’s gone 25-24-7 with a 2.24 goals against average.

FRI, vs. CIN, 7:00 p.m.
Spring hockey pucks (3,000); Aggie Night (Steve McKinney appearance)
The Aeros and Ducks meet again before Houston takes a rare six-day break and watches the scoreboard and standings. Houston next plays its third game against Cincinnati in nine days Friday, April 9, at 6:35 p.m., in Ohio.

Aeros getting closer to post-season after five-point week

Week in review: HOU 5, UTA 5 (OT); HOU 3, SAN 0; HOU 4, SAN 2; MIL 3, HOU 1
The Aeros went 2-1-1-0 last week, getting five points to reach the 70-point plateau on the season. Houston enters the final two weeks of the season five points ahead of fifth-place Cincinnati, and seven up on sixth-place Utah. The top five teams in each division make the post-season.
Sunday, Houston’s four-game unbeaten streak was snapped as Milwaukee’s Tony Hrkac and Simon Gamache each scored power-play goals in a 3-1 win at Toyota Center. Brian Finley made 27 saves for the Admirals.
Saturday, the Aeros fell behind by two goals early in the second period but stormed back with four unanswered to continue their dominance of in-state rival San Antonio, 4-2. Dan Cavanaugh celebrated his Bobblehead Night with a game-tying goal, and Jordan Krestanovich put Houston ahead 1:20 later in the second period. Kyle Kettles, in his first game as Houston’s No. 1 goalie, made 18 saves.
Friday, Mark Cullen scored the game-winner and assisted on Jeff Hoggan’s fifth goal in as many games to raise another $150 for Sunshine Kids, and Johan Holmqvist made 25 saves for his career-best fourth career shutout, as Houston beat San Antonio 3-0 at SBC Center.
In a wild game Tuesday, Houston’s Travis Roche and Kyle Wanvig each posted a goal and an assist, and Utah’s Jason Bacashihua made eight of his 36 saves in overtime in an amazing performance, as the Aeros and Grizzlies skated to a 5-5 tie at Toyota Center.
West Standings, 3/29
X-Milwaukee 96 7 GR
X-Grand Rapids 90 7 GR
X-Chicago 84 7 GR
Houston 70 4 GR
Cincinnati 65 7 GR
Utah 63 5 GR
San Antonio 60 10 GR
X - Clinched playoff spot

Hoggan starts another streak – Aeros winger Jeff Hoggan had his five-game goal streak snapped Saturday, but he rebounded Sunday against Milwaukee with his sixth goal in seven games. Hoggan, who has eight goals in the last 11 games, is the Aeros’ second leading goal scorer with 20 and is tied fourth in points with 34. The AHL doesn’t have a Most Improved Player award, but if it did, Hoggan would be a leading candidate. The second-year Nebraska-Omaha product posted 11 points (6-5=11) in all of his rookie campaign of 2002-03. Hoggan is a plus-four, one of only two Aeros regulars with a positive rating.

Playoff picture still not sorted out – The Aeros inched closer to the post-season last week as they got to 70 points, five more than fifth-place Cincinnati, seven better than Utah and 10 up on San Antonio in the West, which qualifies five teams for the Calder Cup Playoffs. There are five games this week that involve two of the four teams to start clearing the situation up. The Mighty Ducks, who have three games in hand on Houston, play in San Antonio Tuesday, then in Houston Thursday and Friday and in Milwaukee on Saturday. The Grizzlies, who have one game in hand on the Aeros, play host to San Antonio Friday and Saturday. San Antonio, which has six games in hand on Houston, hosts Cincinnati Tuesday, then starts a seven-game road trip Friday and Saturday in Utah and Sunday in Chicago. The Aeros’ magic number to qualify for the post-season is 10 points, a combination of their points gained and points lost by Cincinnati.
Houston – 70 points (4 games left, 3H, 1R)
GR (1H/0R), CIN (2H/1R)
Cincinnati – 65 points (7 games left, 2H, 5R)
MIL (0H/1R), CLE (1H/1R), SA (0H/1R), HOU (1H/2R)
Utah – 63 points (5 games left, 3H, 2R)
MIL (1H/0R), SA (2H/1R), CLE (0H/1R)
San Antonio – 60 points (10 games left, 3H, 7R)
MIL (0H/1R), CHI (0H/3R), GR (1H/1R), UTA (1H/2R), CIN (1H/0R)

Beckett enjoys first two-point night in three-plus seasons – Jason Beckett posted his third career two-point game Saturday, and his first since December 30, 2000, in his rookie season with Philadelphia against Hershey. Beckett, whose four goals this season are an AHL high, has certainly taken advantage of his increased ice time lately. Beckett has three points (2-1=3) in his last four games, and he had three goals in March. Beckett has four goals in his last 24 games, after going without one in the season’s first 34 games.

Aeros rally from two down - Saturday’s 4-2 win over San Antonio marked the first time all season the Aeros have won when trailing by two goals. Houston was down two early in the second period.

Sunshine Kids update – Mark Cullen posted a goal and two assists last week, raising another $200 for Sunshine Kids. Cullen, with the help of an anonymous local donor, has raised $750 since March 5 for the organization which helps children with cancer and their families. Cullen was diagnosed with malignant melanoma during Minnesota’s training camp in September.

Playoff strips on sale now - Fans, the 2004 Calder Cup Playoffs are around the corner, and your defending champion Aeros are closing in on a berth in the post-season. Playoff strips are now on sale, so you can enjoy all the action. Full playoff strips start at just $238, and you can buy strips for rounds 1-3 for $126. Playoff vouchers are also available. Flexibility is the key with a savings on the gate price. Call 713.974.PUCK for more details.

Spirit of Spring is Friday - The annual Spirit of Spring Luncheon and Fashion Show, hosted by Aeros Charities, is this Friday at the Warwick Hotel.

Player of the week RW Jeff Hoggan -
Hoggan is nominated for the second straight week...Has a goal in six of his last seven games and nine points overall in that span...Scored in Tuesday’s 5-5 tie versus Utah...Tallied a goal in Friday’s 3-0 win over San Antonio, his fifth straight game with a goal...Was held off the scoresheet Saturday, but scored Houston’s lone goal in a 3-1 loss to AHL-leading Milwaukee on Sunday...Has posted a negative plus-minus rating just once in the last 18 games to go from a minus-11 to a plus-four.
Hoggan this week...
3/23 vs. UTA 1-0=1, +1
3/26 at SAN 1-0=1, +1
3/27 vs. SAN 0-0=0, E
3/28 vs. MIL 1-0=1, +1
4gp, 3-0=3, +3