I've got a kind of state of the season report on the team posted over at the mothership. You can, for the moment, expect more of that kind of material over at the Press as generally do one post a week over there on hockey, and the game recap stories there are kind of dated as my Houston Cougars material is considered to be primary, and also because the Press generally doesn't post stuff on the weekends and game recaps are kind of useless two or three days down the road.
I would, however, ask that you go read the Press post as a) it's how I get my press pass, so clicking, reading, and leaving comments there lets the bosses know that you're interested, and b) I think it's a halfway interesting post on a team that's still searching for it's identity.
You'll read about the second period problems, the unsettled goalie situation, and my thoughts on the team's best line, which is the third line of Peter Zingoni, Carson McMillan, and Cody Almond. I didn't mention the Craig Weller trade because I actually wrote this Sunday night, and I didn't know, at the time, who the Wild was going to send to Houston to take his place. I'm not surprised it's Jaime Sifers as I think it was intended that he would start the season here anyway.
Oh well. I hope you guys make it to to game tomorrow night.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Roster changes
Just to provide a quick update, as the Wild has made some moves that will affect the Aeros (though I make no claims as to the degree of effect).
As you might have heard, the Wild traded Craig Weller, a (college) prospect, and pick for Boston's Chuck Kobasew. This gets the Wild some help up front and drops Weller's $600k+ salary from the Aeros budget.
The Aeros don't get anything in return, but frankly, I don't feel like they lost a lot either. Weller was sent directly to Providence to play for the Bruins AHL team.
However, part of adding Kobasew is that they had to clear a roster spot for him, so they waived Jaime Sifers and he cleared waivers today. They can send him down to Houston any time now, and as you could see on Saturday night, another proven guy on defense for the Aeros wouldn't hurt matters one bit. (UPDATE: The team has sent Sifers down to Houston, per Russo.)
Also, to add to Andrew's post below about the Wolves, they fired their coaches yesterday, too. After not making the playoffs and starting the season with a string of losses, the organization felt like a fresh perspective behind the bench was warranted. Nobody's been hired yet.
As you might have heard, the Wild traded Craig Weller, a (college) prospect, and pick for Boston's Chuck Kobasew. This gets the Wild some help up front and drops Weller's $600k+ salary from the Aeros budget.
The Aeros don't get anything in return, but frankly, I don't feel like they lost a lot either. Weller was sent directly to Providence to play for the Bruins AHL team.
However, part of adding Kobasew is that they had to clear a roster spot for him, so they waived Jaime Sifers and he cleared waivers today. They can send him down to Houston any time now, and as you could see on Saturday night, another proven guy on defense for the Aeros wouldn't hurt matters one bit. (UPDATE: The team has sent Sifers down to Houston, per Russo.)
Also, to add to Andrew's post below about the Wolves, they fired their coaches yesterday, too. After not making the playoffs and starting the season with a string of losses, the organization felt like a fresh perspective behind the bench was warranted. Nobody's been hired yet.
It's Official ... Chelios signs with Wolves
The 1-5 and coach-less Chicago Wolves have a new player, long time and 47-year old Chris Chelios.
Here is the Wolves' release:
WOLVES SIGN CHRIS CHELIOS
The Chicago Wolves have signed 25-year National Hockey League veteran CHRIS CHELIOS. The Chicago native will make his Wolves debut on Friday when the team hosts the Manitoba Moose at the Allstate Arena at 7:30 p.m.
CHELIOS leads all American-born players with 1,644 career NHL outings, and has racked up 948 points (185G, 763A) and 2,891 penalty minutes with the Montreal Canadiens (1983-90), Chicago Blackhawks (1990-99) and Detroit Red Wings (1999-2009).
“It is an honor for us to have him,” said Wolves General Manager Wendell Young. “We are very excited to have someone of Chris’ stature join our team. He will be an excellent example for our young players to watch, both on and off the ice.”
The 47-year-old blueliner has been awarded the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman three times (1989, 1993, 1996), and has been named to the NHL’s First All-Star Team five times (1989, 1993, 1995, 1996, 2002). He has participated in 11 NHL All-Star Games, and been a member of three Stanley Cup winning teams (Montreal, 1986; Detroit, 2002 and 2008), while playing in the Stanley Cup Finals on three other occasions (1989, 1992, 2009).
CHELIOS has competed in 266 Stanley Cup playoff outings, an NHL record, and has missed the playoffs only once in his 25-year NHL career. He has tallied 144 points (31G, 113A) and 423 penalty minutes in postseason competition.
In addition to his storied NHL career, CHELIOS has represented the United States in International play on 12 occasions, which includes captaining Team USA in the 1998, 2002 and 2006 Winter Olympics.
In accordance with team policy, terms of the Professional Tryout Contract were not disclose
Here is the Wolves' release:
WOLVES SIGN CHRIS CHELIOS
The Chicago Wolves have signed 25-year National Hockey League veteran CHRIS CHELIOS. The Chicago native will make his Wolves debut on Friday when the team hosts the Manitoba Moose at the Allstate Arena at 7:30 p.m.
CHELIOS leads all American-born players with 1,644 career NHL outings, and has racked up 948 points (185G, 763A) and 2,891 penalty minutes with the Montreal Canadiens (1983-90), Chicago Blackhawks (1990-99) and Detroit Red Wings (1999-2009).
“It is an honor for us to have him,” said Wolves General Manager Wendell Young. “We are very excited to have someone of Chris’ stature join our team. He will be an excellent example for our young players to watch, both on and off the ice.”
The 47-year-old blueliner has been awarded the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman three times (1989, 1993, 1996), and has been named to the NHL’s First All-Star Team five times (1989, 1993, 1995, 1996, 2002). He has participated in 11 NHL All-Star Games, and been a member of three Stanley Cup winning teams (Montreal, 1986; Detroit, 2002 and 2008), while playing in the Stanley Cup Finals on three other occasions (1989, 1992, 2009).
CHELIOS has competed in 266 Stanley Cup playoff outings, an NHL record, and has missed the playoffs only once in his 25-year NHL career. He has tallied 144 points (31G, 113A) and 423 penalty minutes in postseason competition.
In addition to his storied NHL career, CHELIOS has represented the United States in International play on 12 occasions, which includes captaining Team USA in the 1998, 2002 and 2006 Winter Olympics.
In accordance with team policy, terms of the Professional Tryout Contract were not disclose
Sunday, October 18, 2009
10/17 - Aeros v. Stars
Well, that was craptacular. Actually, I thought the boys played hard but they looked tired later in the game. The score sure made me feel tired: 5-1 Stars.
This may sound weird and I'm not sure how to explain it, but even when they're playing badly/unsuccessfully, it's a lot less frustrating than last year's team when they played badly. The effort seems honest, just too often futile.
Still there's just not much positive to take home from this game, is there? It's unfortunate that Daoust's goal is being overshadowed by the surrounding unpleasantness, but that's how it goes sometimes. Better than a shutout, but not much.
On top of that, I showed up to press row in a bad mood and had to find ways to console myself, if only to keep my colleagues safe from Death by Bitch.
First, John had the bright and self-preserving idea of asking Andrew to bring me a bowl of mashed potatoes from the dining room. Now, I'm in love with these mashed potatoes. Made with real taters but just the right texture, smooth and creamy with a few lumps to let you know a real potato died for your pleasure.
And I played hockey in the morning, so I was ravenous. John and Andrew got Ms. Conduct's co-#1 stars for conspiring for my mashed tater delight.
My #2 star was the potatoes themselves. NOM NOM NOM!
The potatoes helped soothe the beast for a while, but then I got ruffled again and happened to flip through the calendar freebie the team gave away. I expected game photos or something.
No.
Brandon MFing Rogers in a hot tub? And this was free? I've been saying for a while now that the Aeros should do a calendar to sell for charity. You know, hockey beefcake thing? And here it is just handed to me. Well done, Aeros!
Brandon was the only one in full beefcake mode, but the rest were fantastic, too. I might have taken 3 home with me. I also might just decide it's April until the end of time. I mean really, Brusty hamming it up under the hood of a car in his goalie gear? Shut up! Get on my wall, Mr. April!
So, the calendar was my #3 star.
Lake Erie is in town on Wednesday. Always a little ho-hum about playing Lake Erie... they're not a rival, they're not usually very good, and yet they're still a threat, but hopefully it's a chance for the guys to hit the road on Saturday and Sunday on a high note.
Who is in goal Wednesday? If I'm KC, I put Anton back in.
This may sound weird and I'm not sure how to explain it, but even when they're playing badly/unsuccessfully, it's a lot less frustrating than last year's team when they played badly. The effort seems honest, just too often futile.
Still there's just not much positive to take home from this game, is there? It's unfortunate that Daoust's goal is being overshadowed by the surrounding unpleasantness, but that's how it goes sometimes. Better than a shutout, but not much.
On top of that, I showed up to press row in a bad mood and had to find ways to console myself, if only to keep my colleagues safe from Death by Bitch.
First, John had the bright and self-preserving idea of asking Andrew to bring me a bowl of mashed potatoes from the dining room. Now, I'm in love with these mashed potatoes. Made with real taters but just the right texture, smooth and creamy with a few lumps to let you know a real potato died for your pleasure.
And I played hockey in the morning, so I was ravenous. John and Andrew got Ms. Conduct's co-#1 stars for conspiring for my mashed tater delight.
My #2 star was the potatoes themselves. NOM NOM NOM!
The potatoes helped soothe the beast for a while, but then I got ruffled again and happened to flip through the calendar freebie the team gave away. I expected game photos or something.No.
Brandon MFing Rogers in a hot tub? And this was free? I've been saying for a while now that the Aeros should do a calendar to sell for charity. You know, hockey beefcake thing? And here it is just handed to me. Well done, Aeros!
Brandon was the only one in full beefcake mode, but the rest were fantastic, too. I might have taken 3 home with me. I also might just decide it's April until the end of time. I mean really, Brusty hamming it up under the hood of a car in his goalie gear? Shut up! Get on my wall, Mr. April!
So, the calendar was my #3 star.
Lake Erie is in town on Wednesday. Always a little ho-hum about playing Lake Erie... they're not a rival, they're not usually very good, and yet they're still a threat, but hopefully it's a chance for the guys to hit the road on Saturday and Sunday on a high note.
Who is in goal Wednesday? If I'm KC, I put Anton back in.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
10/17 -- Aeros v. Stars -- The Pink Edition
There’s not really much to say about tonight’s 5-1 Houston Aeros loss to the Texas Stars. The 4919 fans in attendance at Toyota Center saw lots of pink -- the Aero Dynamics looked really nice in pink -- and they saw lot of Texas Stars goals. Other than that, meh.
The Aeros, as has been the situation all season, played a really strong first period and threatened Stars goalie Brent Krahn multiple times early in the first. But after one period, the score was 0-0. That’s about the last good thing that can be said about the game as the Aeros, as has been the situation all season, failed to show up in the second period.
The Stars scored four times in the second at 5:45, 10:42, 13:50, and 15:13. After that last goal, Anton Khudobin was pulled for Wade Dubielewicz. But by then, it was far, far too late to save the game.
Kevin Constantine, as he’s been known to do in the past, pulled Dubielewicz at 12:11 of the third to go with the extra skater. Still the Aeros just couldn’t do much, and after the Stars netted an empty-netter at 15:15 to make it 5-1, Constantine sent Dubielewicz back out to end the game.
“I thought in the first period we had some chances,” Constantine said. “It would have been nice to get some goals out of those. The period was pretty even though. And then they clearly -- you guys don’t need me to tell you they dominated the second period. That’s two out of three games we’ve played them where they’ve been a lot better second period team than us. I’m trying to figure out: are we bad, or are they pretty good. I don’t know, I think they’re pretty good, actually.”
Whether the Stars are good or the Aeros are bad, the result is that the Stars have won two of the three games the teams have played this season. Luckily, the Aeros don’t face Texas again for a couple of weeks, so maybe Constantine and the staff can find some answers. The Aeros return to play on Wednesday night when they host the Lake Erie Monsters at 7:05.
SOME MISCELLANEOUS GAME NOTES:
After tonight’s loss, the Aeros sit in a tie for fourth place with the Peoria Rivermen. The Aeros are 3-3-0-0 (6 points) and Peoria is 2-2-1-1 (6 points). Milwaukee sits in sixth place, just one point back. The Rampage are in first at 5-1-1-0 (11 points), and the Stars (4-1-0-1) and Rockford (4-2-1-0) are tied for second with nine points.
*******************
It’s easy to blame Anton Khudobin for tonight’s loss. Easy, but not entirely correct. Khudobin did appear to get rattled after the second goal of the second period. But he didn’t appear to have a lot of help from his defense. The forwards were faked out several times by the Texas defensemen up on the point, and there were long stretches in the second period where the Aeros failed time after time to clear the puck from their zone. And when that happens, goals are almost guaranteed.
“They faked some shots to the points and went around our blocks and got some point shots,” Kevin Constantine said. “That’s a credit to the poise and confidence of their [defense] versus our forwards ability to cover the points. So two of their first three goals were point shots. But I also thought -- they spent time in our end, significant amounts of time in our end where we couldn’t defend and get the puck back. We weren’t quick enough to situations, and they had a very good game.”
********************
The giveaway for tonight was an Aeros calendar featuring the players in their hockey gear doing various non-hockey things -- playing golf, hanging out at the pool, lounging in a hot tub, etc. It’s a nice looking calendar, but I believe that I speak for all of the guys when I ask this one question: When are we ever going to get a calendar of the Aero Dynamics?
Who's with me on this, huh?
********************
Tonight’s game was also the annual Breast Cancer Awareness game, which means the players had pink on their uniforms and sticks, and the Dynamics were dressed in tight pink shirts. Joe O’Donnell was even wearing some pink. But the one thing the Aeros failed to do was play a song with the word pink in the title. I’m thinking of Aerosmith’s “Pink.”
So, to play us out tonight, here’s Aerosmith with “Pink.” (Warning, brief flash of nudity towards the end.)
The Aeros, as has been the situation all season, played a really strong first period and threatened Stars goalie Brent Krahn multiple times early in the first. But after one period, the score was 0-0. That’s about the last good thing that can be said about the game as the Aeros, as has been the situation all season, failed to show up in the second period.
The Stars scored four times in the second at 5:45, 10:42, 13:50, and 15:13. After that last goal, Anton Khudobin was pulled for Wade Dubielewicz. But by then, it was far, far too late to save the game.
Kevin Constantine, as he’s been known to do in the past, pulled Dubielewicz at 12:11 of the third to go with the extra skater. Still the Aeros just couldn’t do much, and after the Stars netted an empty-netter at 15:15 to make it 5-1, Constantine sent Dubielewicz back out to end the game.
“I thought in the first period we had some chances,” Constantine said. “It would have been nice to get some goals out of those. The period was pretty even though. And then they clearly -- you guys don’t need me to tell you they dominated the second period. That’s two out of three games we’ve played them where they’ve been a lot better second period team than us. I’m trying to figure out: are we bad, or are they pretty good. I don’t know, I think they’re pretty good, actually.”
Whether the Stars are good or the Aeros are bad, the result is that the Stars have won two of the three games the teams have played this season. Luckily, the Aeros don’t face Texas again for a couple of weeks, so maybe Constantine and the staff can find some answers. The Aeros return to play on Wednesday night when they host the Lake Erie Monsters at 7:05.
SOME MISCELLANEOUS GAME NOTES:
After tonight’s loss, the Aeros sit in a tie for fourth place with the Peoria Rivermen. The Aeros are 3-3-0-0 (6 points) and Peoria is 2-2-1-1 (6 points). Milwaukee sits in sixth place, just one point back. The Rampage are in first at 5-1-1-0 (11 points), and the Stars (4-1-0-1) and Rockford (4-2-1-0) are tied for second with nine points.
*******************
It’s easy to blame Anton Khudobin for tonight’s loss. Easy, but not entirely correct. Khudobin did appear to get rattled after the second goal of the second period. But he didn’t appear to have a lot of help from his defense. The forwards were faked out several times by the Texas defensemen up on the point, and there were long stretches in the second period where the Aeros failed time after time to clear the puck from their zone. And when that happens, goals are almost guaranteed.
“They faked some shots to the points and went around our blocks and got some point shots,” Kevin Constantine said. “That’s a credit to the poise and confidence of their [defense] versus our forwards ability to cover the points. So two of their first three goals were point shots. But I also thought -- they spent time in our end, significant amounts of time in our end where we couldn’t defend and get the puck back. We weren’t quick enough to situations, and they had a very good game.”
********************
The giveaway for tonight was an Aeros calendar featuring the players in their hockey gear doing various non-hockey things -- playing golf, hanging out at the pool, lounging in a hot tub, etc. It’s a nice looking calendar, but I believe that I speak for all of the guys when I ask this one question: When are we ever going to get a calendar of the Aero Dynamics?
Who's with me on this, huh?
********************
Tonight’s game was also the annual Breast Cancer Awareness game, which means the players had pink on their uniforms and sticks, and the Dynamics were dressed in tight pink shirts. Joe O’Donnell was even wearing some pink. But the one thing the Aeros failed to do was play a song with the word pink in the title. I’m thinking of Aerosmith’s “Pink.”
So, to play us out tonight, here’s Aerosmith with “Pink.” (Warning, brief flash of nudity towards the end.)
View from the Press Box
Friday night the Aeros dominated a tired Rampage team and won 5-2.
In this video, John and I break down the game and give a little preview on tonight's opponent, the Texas Stars.
The Stars were idle Friday, but goalie Matt Climie shut out the Grand Rapids Griffins 2-0 Thursday.
Enjoy!
In this video, John and I break down the game and give a little preview on tonight's opponent, the Texas Stars.
The Stars were idle Friday, but goalie Matt Climie shut out the Grand Rapids Griffins 2-0 Thursday.
Enjoy!
10/16 -- Aeros v. Rampage -- And The Oscar Goes To Edition
It was midway through the second period, and 6557 fans inside of Toyota Center were watching the San Antonio Rampage take the 2-1 lead on the Houston Aeros. Then Rampage goalie Al Montoya got whistled at 9:46 for a tripping penalty, followed less than a minute later by an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
That’s when the hockey game turned into a soccer game as just seconds later Craig Weller was pushed from behind by one of the Rampage. Weller appeared to brush Montoya, and Montoya, doing his best soccer player impersonation, dove face down to the ice, not moving for nearly a minute or so. But unlike in soccer, Montoya wasn’t carried out on a stretcher so as he could come running out minutes later. Montoya had to stand and retake his position in the ice.
That turned out to be a good thing as a rattled Montoya gave up a goal at 11:19 of the second while the Aeros were on the 5-on-3 power play. Max Noreau fired a shot from up around the blue line. Montoya appeared to stop the shot, but Jon DiSalvatore picked up the rebound, fired the puck to Peter Zingoni on the other side of the net, and Zingoni buried the puck to tie the score.
The Aeros coasted from there.
Newcomer Ryan Gunderson scored his first AHL goal at 53 seconds of the third to put the Aeros up 3-2. And after that, it was garbage time as the Aeros dominated the play.
“We started to discover as the game went that if we keep moving our feet, if we keep moving hard, they’re going to draw penalties,” DiSalvatore said afterwards. “And they’re going to put us at an advantage for the game, and that’s something we tried to continue to do throughout the game.”
Duncan Milroy scored a second power play goal at 9:17 of the third as he stuffed in the rebound of a DiSalvatore shot to make it 4-2, then Milroy ended the scoring at 18:56 when, with Montoya pulled and the net empty, Milroy was tripped at center ice but was able to aim the puck toward the San Antonio net where it settled to make the final score 5-2.
“The game definitely had momentum swings,” head coach Kevin Constantine said. “We were okay in the first and got a goal. Then they scored two quick, and that was a huge momentum swing for them. Then we got a little of it back on the power play at the end of the second. That was a key goal. It looked like one of those games where the first goal in the third might be pretty important, and Gunderson’s shot was really important.”
As for Gunderson, he was more happy about the win than he was on actually scoring the goal, saying that “I don’t really focus on it too much.”
So while Gunderson might have put the game-winning point up on the board, it was Al Montoya who probably played the biggest role in tonight’s victory. The win makes the Aeros 3-2-0-0 (6 points) on the season. They return to play on Saturday night when they take on the Texas Stars for the third time in this young season. This also means the probable return in goal of Matt Climie who was stellar in a losing effort for the Stars last week as the Aeros got the 2-1 shootout win.
SOME MISCELLANEOUS GAME NOTES:
The unheralded star of the night was Aeros goalie Anton Khudobin. Khudobin got beat for what appeared to be an easy goal in the second to tie the game, then gave up another tough goal just 11 seconds later to put San Antonio up 2-1. In the past, this kind of thing appeared to rattle Khudobin, but tonight, he was solid and San Antonio didn’t appear to come close to getting the puck past him.
And while this was the team’s third win this season, it was also Khudobin’s. And this fact doesn’t appear to have escaped the attention of Kevin Constantine.
“We started out the year and gave the benefit of the doubt to [Wade] Dubieliewicz just as an older goalie,” Constantine said. “They both got two games each of the first weekends. Once you kind of get through that, there’s got to be a performance factor in your decision making, and Anton had just won the first two games. We just decided that we’ve been real fair up to now, and gave everybody a chance, and now we have to factor in that Anton won and he deserved the right to play this game.”
And while saying that the goalie decision will still be a game-to-game thing, I wouldn’t be surprised if Khudobin got the start against Texas. Constantine is the type who likes to play his hot goalie, and Khudobin at the moment, is that hot goalie. But as Nolan Schaefer and Barry Brust can probably attest, once Khudobin starts to cool off, don’t be surprised to see Dubieliewicz back in the net.
*****************
The line of Cody Almond/Carson McMillan/Peter Zingoni just continues to really impress me. The line didn’t get any points tonight, but once again, they contributed some of the hardest hits and always appeared to be causing some kind of action at the San Antonio goal.
I spoke with Zingoni before the season, and he spoke of the energy and passion that he brings to the game, and watching him on the ice with the two kids, it appears that he’s delivering on that promise. He also appears to be delivering on his promise to deliver in the goal scoring department as tonight’s goal was his third goal in five games. Zingoni missed most of last season with an injury, and he appears to very much want to put that behind him. Zingoni was also one of the players that GM Jim Mill was most excited about bringing to the team, and at this point, it looks like Mill knew what he was doing.
*****************
Danny Irmen’s goal at 14:10 of the first period was a beauty. Petr Kalus fired a shot toward the goal from on high which Montoya was able to block. But Irmen was in great position and appeared to fly over Montoya’s back to get to the puck and stick it in the net before Montoya could recover.
Irmen’s one of the really good guys in the locker room, and it’s always nice to see him have a good game.
*****************
Was it just me, or was the nonstop Michael Jackson music during the game just kind of creepy? None of it they played really seemed to fit a hockey setting. You would expect to hear "Beat It" or "Bad" or something like that to try to fire up the crowd, but no. That didn't happen. Maybe it's just me and my feeling that Jackson isn't really a guy who should be saluted. Anyway, it just seemed kind of strange.
I did like, however, Joe O'Donnell quizzing the players on Michael Jackson. And I really liked the dance the Lady Dynamics did to the Michael Jackson medley during the second intermission. And maybe it's just me, but please, could the team please make more use of the Dynamics.
Please?
*****************
Maybe Al Montoya was swept up in the Michael Jackson fervor which had nothing but Michael Jackson music being played during the game. So perhaps he just wanted to turn the game into a Thriller of some kind, or maybe he was just trying to Beat It himself. Whatever it was, Montoya just had an awful couple of minutes there in the second period.
The penalties were bad enough, but then there was the dive that would make a soccer play proud. On press row, it reminded us of Jon Lovitz’s Master Thespian character that he used to do on Saturday Night Live back in the 80s. For you youngsters, Lovitz would play an awful actor who was really hamming it up for the audience, then at the end of the skit, he would shout out “ACTING!”
That was going to be my video for tonight, Lovitz doing his Master Thespian, but unfortunately, NBC and Saturday Night Live, who can seem to make every god awful Kristen Wiig skit available on the net have chosen not to offer up any of those Lovitz skits. So you’re going to have to be content with Lovitz doing a version of the character -- without the “ACTING!” tag -- on this Subway commercial.
That’s when the hockey game turned into a soccer game as just seconds later Craig Weller was pushed from behind by one of the Rampage. Weller appeared to brush Montoya, and Montoya, doing his best soccer player impersonation, dove face down to the ice, not moving for nearly a minute or so. But unlike in soccer, Montoya wasn’t carried out on a stretcher so as he could come running out minutes later. Montoya had to stand and retake his position in the ice.
That turned out to be a good thing as a rattled Montoya gave up a goal at 11:19 of the second while the Aeros were on the 5-on-3 power play. Max Noreau fired a shot from up around the blue line. Montoya appeared to stop the shot, but Jon DiSalvatore picked up the rebound, fired the puck to Peter Zingoni on the other side of the net, and Zingoni buried the puck to tie the score.
The Aeros coasted from there.
Newcomer Ryan Gunderson scored his first AHL goal at 53 seconds of the third to put the Aeros up 3-2. And after that, it was garbage time as the Aeros dominated the play.
“We started to discover as the game went that if we keep moving our feet, if we keep moving hard, they’re going to draw penalties,” DiSalvatore said afterwards. “And they’re going to put us at an advantage for the game, and that’s something we tried to continue to do throughout the game.”
Duncan Milroy scored a second power play goal at 9:17 of the third as he stuffed in the rebound of a DiSalvatore shot to make it 4-2, then Milroy ended the scoring at 18:56 when, with Montoya pulled and the net empty, Milroy was tripped at center ice but was able to aim the puck toward the San Antonio net where it settled to make the final score 5-2.
“The game definitely had momentum swings,” head coach Kevin Constantine said. “We were okay in the first and got a goal. Then they scored two quick, and that was a huge momentum swing for them. Then we got a little of it back on the power play at the end of the second. That was a key goal. It looked like one of those games where the first goal in the third might be pretty important, and Gunderson’s shot was really important.”
As for Gunderson, he was more happy about the win than he was on actually scoring the goal, saying that “I don’t really focus on it too much.”
So while Gunderson might have put the game-winning point up on the board, it was Al Montoya who probably played the biggest role in tonight’s victory. The win makes the Aeros 3-2-0-0 (6 points) on the season. They return to play on Saturday night when they take on the Texas Stars for the third time in this young season. This also means the probable return in goal of Matt Climie who was stellar in a losing effort for the Stars last week as the Aeros got the 2-1 shootout win.
SOME MISCELLANEOUS GAME NOTES:
The unheralded star of the night was Aeros goalie Anton Khudobin. Khudobin got beat for what appeared to be an easy goal in the second to tie the game, then gave up another tough goal just 11 seconds later to put San Antonio up 2-1. In the past, this kind of thing appeared to rattle Khudobin, but tonight, he was solid and San Antonio didn’t appear to come close to getting the puck past him.
And while this was the team’s third win this season, it was also Khudobin’s. And this fact doesn’t appear to have escaped the attention of Kevin Constantine.
“We started out the year and gave the benefit of the doubt to [Wade] Dubieliewicz just as an older goalie,” Constantine said. “They both got two games each of the first weekends. Once you kind of get through that, there’s got to be a performance factor in your decision making, and Anton had just won the first two games. We just decided that we’ve been real fair up to now, and gave everybody a chance, and now we have to factor in that Anton won and he deserved the right to play this game.”
And while saying that the goalie decision will still be a game-to-game thing, I wouldn’t be surprised if Khudobin got the start against Texas. Constantine is the type who likes to play his hot goalie, and Khudobin at the moment, is that hot goalie. But as Nolan Schaefer and Barry Brust can probably attest, once Khudobin starts to cool off, don’t be surprised to see Dubieliewicz back in the net.
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The line of Cody Almond/Carson McMillan/Peter Zingoni just continues to really impress me. The line didn’t get any points tonight, but once again, they contributed some of the hardest hits and always appeared to be causing some kind of action at the San Antonio goal.
I spoke with Zingoni before the season, and he spoke of the energy and passion that he brings to the game, and watching him on the ice with the two kids, it appears that he’s delivering on that promise. He also appears to be delivering on his promise to deliver in the goal scoring department as tonight’s goal was his third goal in five games. Zingoni missed most of last season with an injury, and he appears to very much want to put that behind him. Zingoni was also one of the players that GM Jim Mill was most excited about bringing to the team, and at this point, it looks like Mill knew what he was doing.
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Danny Irmen’s goal at 14:10 of the first period was a beauty. Petr Kalus fired a shot toward the goal from on high which Montoya was able to block. But Irmen was in great position and appeared to fly over Montoya’s back to get to the puck and stick it in the net before Montoya could recover.
Irmen’s one of the really good guys in the locker room, and it’s always nice to see him have a good game.
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Was it just me, or was the nonstop Michael Jackson music during the game just kind of creepy? None of it they played really seemed to fit a hockey setting. You would expect to hear "Beat It" or "Bad" or something like that to try to fire up the crowd, but no. That didn't happen. Maybe it's just me and my feeling that Jackson isn't really a guy who should be saluted. Anyway, it just seemed kind of strange.
I did like, however, Joe O'Donnell quizzing the players on Michael Jackson. And I really liked the dance the Lady Dynamics did to the Michael Jackson medley during the second intermission. And maybe it's just me, but please, could the team please make more use of the Dynamics.
Please?
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Maybe Al Montoya was swept up in the Michael Jackson fervor which had nothing but Michael Jackson music being played during the game. So perhaps he just wanted to turn the game into a Thriller of some kind, or maybe he was just trying to Beat It himself. Whatever it was, Montoya just had an awful couple of minutes there in the second period.
The penalties were bad enough, but then there was the dive that would make a soccer play proud. On press row, it reminded us of Jon Lovitz’s Master Thespian character that he used to do on Saturday Night Live back in the 80s. For you youngsters, Lovitz would play an awful actor who was really hamming it up for the audience, then at the end of the skit, he would shout out “ACTING!”
That was going to be my video for tonight, Lovitz doing his Master Thespian, but unfortunately, NBC and Saturday Night Live, who can seem to make every god awful Kristen Wiig skit available on the net have chosen not to offer up any of those Lovitz skits. So you’re going to have to be content with Lovitz doing a version of the character -- without the “ACTING!” tag -- on this Subway commercial.
Friday, October 16, 2009
10/16 - Aeros v. Rampage
Man does it ever feel good to get a decisive win, especially against a team that had yet to lose a game in regulation and has two NHL teams feeding it prospects.
He wasn't included in the stars of the game but the Aeros got an awful lot of help from a flopping, diving, penalty-taking San Antonio goalie, Al Montoya.
At one point, Weller bumped into Montoya and Montoya dropped like he'd been shot and was face down on the ice, motionless for nearly a minute. The replay clearly showed that contact was minimal. It was an Oscar-worthy performance.
John will be on later with all the juicy details, but the final was 5-2 Aeros.
He wasn't included in the stars of the game but the Aeros got an awful lot of help from a flopping, diving, penalty-taking San Antonio goalie, Al Montoya.
At one point, Weller bumped into Montoya and Montoya dropped like he'd been shot and was face down on the ice, motionless for nearly a minute. The replay clearly showed that contact was minimal. It was an Oscar-worthy performance.John will be on later with all the juicy details, but the final was 5-2 Aeros.
Good-bye Morten Madsen
Morten Madsen has left the Aeros and will play in Sweden. (Sorry the site is not in English, but it says that Morten Madsen will play in Sweden.)Madsen is likely never going to play in the NHL, although he was with the right organization if those dreams were to be realized. Players pull groins just getting on and off the buses in St. Paul, so he might have just been three or four more road trips away from playing at the X.
But Madsen just appeared to be miserable playing for Constantine's system down here. He never seemed to "get" it. He had a good couple of weeks with the Aeros last year, but (no pun intended) has been wildly inconsistent since making the jump from juniors.
Most people get raises when they do well at work.
Morten got a pay cut this year playing for the Aeros and now stands to make more money in Sweden. So, for someone that was apparently miserable here and making less money, this is a great deal.
I wish Morty nothing but the best overseas, and I know I will miss his great choice in head wear and post-win celebration dancing antics.
Tribute Night
Just a reminder. Tomorrow's night game with the Rampage is the Aeros 4th Annual Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Awareness Night. And in honor of that, the Aeros will be wearing pink in their uniforms and on their sticks.
Tonight's game is supposed to be a Tribute To Michael Jackson night. We have not been able to get confirmation on whether the players will be skating with just one glove, or whether they will be getting their skin bleached or setting their hair on fire.
Tonight's game is supposed to be a Tribute To Michael Jackson night. We have not been able to get confirmation on whether the players will be skating with just one glove, or whether they will be getting their skin bleached or setting their hair on fire.
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