Lost in the drama of the Aeros big OT win last night were a couple of roster changes, though, frankly, neither really has much effect right now.
First off is that Morten Madsen and his fierce hat are heading to Switzerland to join the Danish National team. At least I hope the hat is going. I know Morty is. Goodbye, Morty! Badbye, hat!
He's been a healthy scratch quite often lately, so I don't really see this being much of an impact to the team for the rest of the playoffs. Lundbohm and Ryznar have a good handle on that extra forward role.
So, there's your two Aeros who are participating in the World Championships which start tomorrow, and 5 Wild organization players total (Harding-Canada, Zidlicky-Czech Republic, Miettinen-Finland). I think the rest of the Wild had or will have off-season surgery or have concussions...
------------
Secondly, the Aeros signed Brian Kaufman, a "versatile" forward from Miami (Ohio) aka "Cold Miami" for the 2009-2010 season.
Apparently he had a fantastic junior year at Cold Miami, didn't set anything on fire his senior year, but he did attend Wild development camp this past summer, so he knows the organization and they know him. Here's an article from his time at dev camp.
He was the captain of his Miami team his senior year, much like trade-bait Ryan Jones was the year before that, so at least that indicates a certain quality of character, I would think.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
OH NO! It's Shaun Davis!
This shot was on the Journal Star Web site. The caption does not say, but I think this was the real-time reaction to the string of penalties in the first period.
Some other important information for you stat-nerds and folks that like to plan your lives ...
(Again, from Dave Eminian's PJS article:)
"How important is Game 5? The AHL says that in its postseason history, the winner of Game 5 in a 2-2 series has gone on to win the series 78.6 percent of the time. There have been just 22 teams in 103 series to buck that trend. ... The Milwaukee Admirals, who finished a four-game sweep over Rockford on Tuesday night, will host either Peoria or Houston in the West Division Finals with Games 1 and 2 in Milwaukee on April 30 and May 2.
If that is the case, then look for the Aeros or Rivermen to host games 3 and 4 (and 5 the week of May 4-10. For those of you who have the audacity to plan a trip to beer town for Games on the 4/30 and 5/2, here is a convenient link to the only place where you can get a non-stop flight from Houston to Milwaukee's Bradley Airport.
Round 1, Game 5: Holding my breath
Whenever the Aeros are in a precarious, do-or-die situation like they are heading into the weekend, I get writer's block a bit after games. I don't even want to breathe on the mojo for fear it will flutter away.
But here goes anyway:
Literally, the stick and puck* I played in goal for today had better hockey than the first period of this game. Brutal stuff. Here are my first two power play notes:
I'm also pretty sure I declared Pouliot "dead to me" at some point. He's probably relieved. Maybe I'll get off his ass already.
But all of that is forgotten, as wins seem to wash away even the most stubborn, set-in irritations almost instantly. Unless you're Fred hating on Dimples.
So, I had a question for Constantine tonight that I couldn't bring myself to be Debbie Downer enough to ask, nor could I really find the right words, but sometimes I watch this team and their amazing comebacks and think... is it really about the ability to comeback or is it about being unable to manufacture urgency, or "hard" as KC calls it, when their backs aren't against the wall?
In other words, is this team just exceptionally resilient or are they chronic procrastinators?
Whatever the case, it was a gutty win tonight. More importantly, it was a WIN tonight.
Last year, the team lost out at home to Rockford on my birthday. This year, they could advance on my birthday. There's definitely a different vibe this season, and I didn't leave the rink tonight thinking, "See you in 5 months!" More like, "See you next week!" I don't want to speculate too much on that intuition, but there it is anyway.
Here's Andrew's post-gamer for the Chron
My post-gamer for PHN
Peoria Journal Star post-gamer
*For the uninitiated, stick and puck is ice time set aside so hockey players can get on the ice informally and either take lessons or just work on shooting, stick handling, etc. for the first 15 minutes or so, and then usually everyone (except those taking lessons) come together for a scrimmage. No ref, no rules, not much defense, just simple hockey.
But here goes anyway:
Literally, the stick and puck* I played in goal for today had better hockey than the first period of this game. Brutal stuff. Here are my first two power play notes:
PP – Corazzini – holding – terribleAnd I looked over at the boys at one point and said, "Well, if they piss me off, I guess I won't miss them so much. Silver lining!"
PP – Junland – HS – Crappy
I'm also pretty sure I declared Pouliot "dead to me" at some point. He's probably relieved. Maybe I'll get off his ass already.
But all of that is forgotten, as wins seem to wash away even the most stubborn, set-in irritations almost instantly. Unless you're Fred hating on Dimples.
So, I had a question for Constantine tonight that I couldn't bring myself to be Debbie Downer enough to ask, nor could I really find the right words, but sometimes I watch this team and their amazing comebacks and think... is it really about the ability to comeback or is it about being unable to manufacture urgency, or "hard" as KC calls it, when their backs aren't against the wall?
In other words, is this team just exceptionally resilient or are they chronic procrastinators?
Whatever the case, it was a gutty win tonight. More importantly, it was a WIN tonight.
Last year, the team lost out at home to Rockford on my birthday. This year, they could advance on my birthday. There's definitely a different vibe this season, and I didn't leave the rink tonight thinking, "See you in 5 months!" More like, "See you next week!" I don't want to speculate too much on that intuition, but there it is anyway.
Here's Andrew's post-gamer for the Chron
My post-gamer for PHN
Peoria Journal Star post-gamer
*For the uninitiated, stick and puck is ice time set aside so hockey players can get on the ice informally and either take lessons or just work on shooting, stick handling, etc. for the first 15 minutes or so, and then usually everyone (except those taking lessons) come together for a scrimmage. No ref, no rules, not much defense, just simple hockey.
Round 1, Game 5: Aeros vs. Peoria -- It's Gonna Be A Showdown
Max Noreau stood at his locker, a smile on his face, sweat dripping from his body. He gave credit to Matt Beaudoin for setting up his shot. He said that the team never gave up. That they reminded themselves between periods that they have come back on many teams this season. That they reminded themselves that they had already come back on Peoria two times this season.
So what was just one more comeback?
With five minutes remaining in the third period of Game Five against the Peoria Rivermen, the Houston Aeros looked dead. Sure, there would still be one game left in the playoff series, but would it really matter? There had been a Mitch Love fight in the second period after which the team showed a little life. But really, with the score 2-0 and five minutes left, the game looked to be over.
But as Max Noreau said, this Houston Aeros team had already comeback to defeat Peoria twice this season. So why not make it one more time?
It started, of course, on the power play. With Jonas Junland in the box on a delay of game penalty, Matt Beaudoin was able to find a way to get the puck past Manny Legace and make the score 2-1 at 15:43. And a minute-and-a-half later, Justin Falk fired the puck toward Legace. Legace blocked the shot, but Robbie Earl was in the right spot to get the rebound and slip the puck past Legace to tie the score at two-all.
“It was kind of a scrum puck but we got it to the D,” Earl said. “And it was kind of a blocked shot and it came to me back door and I put it in.”
But the Aeros didn’t make it easy in overtime, spending the first part killing off a five-on-three power play. But in a game filled with penalties, it was pretty obvious that referee Shaun Davis was going to even things up, which he did by giving Peoria a penalty at 10:00 and another at 11:46. And at 12:14, after Peoria had killed off the first penalty, Max Noreau found himself with the puck in great position and fired the slap shot past Legace, giving the Aeros the 3-2 overtime victory.
More importantly, the win gave the Aeros the 3-2 edge in the best of seven series.
The teams are now taking two nights off before they return to ice on Saturday night in Peoria.
MISCELLANEOUS GAME NOTES:
I’ve got to apologize because I had some more problems with my tape recorder tonight. I forgot to start it when I was talking to Max Noreau, so I’ve got no quotes that I can use at the moment. Which is a shame because I got some good stuff from him I think.
But he said that the team’s been watching lots of videotape, and they know how to beat Legace. He repeated what I’ve heard from some of the other guys in that they know Legace likes to go low with the shot, so the key is going high. And Noreau’s shot was high, going over Legace’s shoulder.
*********************
I believe that I said in my Game Five Preview that the team that scored first would probably win the game. But I also said that based on their regular season play, the Aeros were one of those teams that can come back and win the game, more so than Peoria.
So as far as I’m concerned, I nailed the prediction for this game.
And I asked Kevin Constantine to comment on his team’s penalty kill and power play, which have been keys to their play this season, and which helped the team to victory tonight. But he deflected that and went to his key. This team has an ability to come back from a deficit and win a game.
“One other thing that our team’s been good at all year,” he said, “for whatever reason, more than any team I’ve been with it, is the come-from-behind part. The two goals we scored late is something that’s happened all year. So this team has always kind of hung in there.”
Max Noreau’s thoughts were along that same line. This team knows it can come back. And it knows that it can come back against any team and at any time. Especially Peoria. And Robbie Earl concurs: “We know we can do it,” he says. It gives us a confidence that we can get those goals that we need.”
Now I’d just like to say one thing. I love that this team doesn’t give up and that it has confidence that it can score and come back. But I’d be more pleased if this team could actually come out strong, grab the lead, and just destroy the other team.
********************
Andrew and Fred, especially Fred, weren’t too thrilled with Anton Khudobin’s play tonight. And Khudobin didn’t exactly have the best of nights. Yes, he was lucky. Yes he appeared to be out of position at times. But in the end, all that matters is the result, and this team got the win.
I think we’ve been too spoiled by watching Nolan Schaefer these past two seasons. Schaefer’s one of those guys who can shut down any team at any time. It doesn’t matter how bad the defense is, or how bad the offense is, the team can win with Schaefer. But Khudobin’s not at that point. He got the job done. And that’s all I care about.
As long as the team wins.
********************
Now it all comes down to this weekend. The Aeros have two shots at getting this fourth win. So I think the best way to get set for this weekend is with a little ELO. So here's "Showdown."
So what was just one more comeback?
With five minutes remaining in the third period of Game Five against the Peoria Rivermen, the Houston Aeros looked dead. Sure, there would still be one game left in the playoff series, but would it really matter? There had been a Mitch Love fight in the second period after which the team showed a little life. But really, with the score 2-0 and five minutes left, the game looked to be over.
But as Max Noreau said, this Houston Aeros team had already comeback to defeat Peoria twice this season. So why not make it one more time?
It started, of course, on the power play. With Jonas Junland in the box on a delay of game penalty, Matt Beaudoin was able to find a way to get the puck past Manny Legace and make the score 2-1 at 15:43. And a minute-and-a-half later, Justin Falk fired the puck toward Legace. Legace blocked the shot, but Robbie Earl was in the right spot to get the rebound and slip the puck past Legace to tie the score at two-all.
“It was kind of a scrum puck but we got it to the D,” Earl said. “And it was kind of a blocked shot and it came to me back door and I put it in.”
But the Aeros didn’t make it easy in overtime, spending the first part killing off a five-on-three power play. But in a game filled with penalties, it was pretty obvious that referee Shaun Davis was going to even things up, which he did by giving Peoria a penalty at 10:00 and another at 11:46. And at 12:14, after Peoria had killed off the first penalty, Max Noreau found himself with the puck in great position and fired the slap shot past Legace, giving the Aeros the 3-2 overtime victory.
More importantly, the win gave the Aeros the 3-2 edge in the best of seven series.
The teams are now taking two nights off before they return to ice on Saturday night in Peoria.
MISCELLANEOUS GAME NOTES:
I’ve got to apologize because I had some more problems with my tape recorder tonight. I forgot to start it when I was talking to Max Noreau, so I’ve got no quotes that I can use at the moment. Which is a shame because I got some good stuff from him I think.
But he said that the team’s been watching lots of videotape, and they know how to beat Legace. He repeated what I’ve heard from some of the other guys in that they know Legace likes to go low with the shot, so the key is going high. And Noreau’s shot was high, going over Legace’s shoulder.
*********************
I believe that I said in my Game Five Preview that the team that scored first would probably win the game. But I also said that based on their regular season play, the Aeros were one of those teams that can come back and win the game, more so than Peoria.
So as far as I’m concerned, I nailed the prediction for this game.
And I asked Kevin Constantine to comment on his team’s penalty kill and power play, which have been keys to their play this season, and which helped the team to victory tonight. But he deflected that and went to his key. This team has an ability to come back from a deficit and win a game.
“One other thing that our team’s been good at all year,” he said, “for whatever reason, more than any team I’ve been with it, is the come-from-behind part. The two goals we scored late is something that’s happened all year. So this team has always kind of hung in there.”
Max Noreau’s thoughts were along that same line. This team knows it can come back. And it knows that it can come back against any team and at any time. Especially Peoria. And Robbie Earl concurs: “We know we can do it,” he says. It gives us a confidence that we can get those goals that we need.”
Now I’d just like to say one thing. I love that this team doesn’t give up and that it has confidence that it can score and come back. But I’d be more pleased if this team could actually come out strong, grab the lead, and just destroy the other team.
********************
Andrew and Fred, especially Fred, weren’t too thrilled with Anton Khudobin’s play tonight. And Khudobin didn’t exactly have the best of nights. Yes, he was lucky. Yes he appeared to be out of position at times. But in the end, all that matters is the result, and this team got the win.
I think we’ve been too spoiled by watching Nolan Schaefer these past two seasons. Schaefer’s one of those guys who can shut down any team at any time. It doesn’t matter how bad the defense is, or how bad the offense is, the team can win with Schaefer. But Khudobin’s not at that point. He got the job done. And that’s all I care about.
As long as the team wins.
********************
Now it all comes down to this weekend. The Aeros have two shots at getting this fourth win. So I think the best way to get set for this weekend is with a little ELO. So here's "Showdown."
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
View from the Press Box - Game 5
Consider this quote from Kevin Constantine about what the Aeros did Wednesday night in their 3-2, overtime win over the Peoria Rivermen at Toyota Center:
“One strength of this team, even more so than any other team that I have been with, is the come-from-behind part. The two goals we scored late is something that we have been able to do all year. This team has just always hung in there.”
I have said this all along, and I will continue to believe it. This is the best comeback team I have ever seen, and I have been watching or covering the Aeros since 1994. If anyone wants to debate this, you pick the time and place.
Teams that have 2-0, third-period leads in the playoffs don't lose games, but the Rivermen did that tonight. I sat in amazement how Shaun Davis called penalty after penalty after penalty, and I knew that if the Aeros, who entered the game hitting 40 percent of their PP chances, something, anything could happen.
The Aeros could win this series on their power play alone if they keep getting all these chances. Legace was mostly helpless on the first and third goals, and he stopped a pretty decent shot through traffic by Falk before Earl's tying marker on the rebound.
Look, I am starting to like whatever mojo Khudobin is bringing with him to the rink, but he was a little shaky in the first two periods. He saw a lot of shots, and when luck was on his side early (Regier missed on a breakaway for example) I had a feeling that he would be OK.
Now the Aeros have two chances to win the series. For all you stat nerds -- and I think I will call myself your president or VP of that department -- the Aeros have been in six playoff series that they have led three games to two. They have won five of those, so history is on their side.
The only loss you ask? 2001 ... final IHL year against Manitoba. That team actually led 3-1 and lost the last three games, including two in double overtime. The last two games of that series were at home and the good old Compaq Center.
“One strength of this team, even more so than any other team that I have been with, is the come-from-behind part. The two goals we scored late is something that we have been able to do all year. This team has just always hung in there.”
I have said this all along, and I will continue to believe it. This is the best comeback team I have ever seen, and I have been watching or covering the Aeros since 1994. If anyone wants to debate this, you pick the time and place.
Teams that have 2-0, third-period leads in the playoffs don't lose games, but the Rivermen did that tonight. I sat in amazement how Shaun Davis called penalty after penalty after penalty, and I knew that if the Aeros, who entered the game hitting 40 percent of their PP chances, something, anything could happen.
The Aeros could win this series on their power play alone if they keep getting all these chances. Legace was mostly helpless on the first and third goals, and he stopped a pretty decent shot through traffic by Falk before Earl's tying marker on the rebound.
Look, I am starting to like whatever mojo Khudobin is bringing with him to the rink, but he was a little shaky in the first two periods. He saw a lot of shots, and when luck was on his side early (Regier missed on a breakaway for example) I had a feeling that he would be OK.
Now the Aeros have two chances to win the series. For all you stat nerds -- and I think I will call myself your president or VP of that department -- the Aeros have been in six playoff series that they have led three games to two. They have won five of those, so history is on their side.
The only loss you ask? 2001 ... final IHL year against Manitoba. That team actually led 3-1 and lost the last three games, including two in double overtime. The last two games of that series were at home and the good old Compaq Center.
Round 1, Game 5: Some Pregame Notes
I've been poring over the notes, trying to get some idea of what is going to happen tonight. And my conclusion: I don't know. What? Do you think I'm Andrew or something? However, I'm not backing off of my prediction of the Aeros winning in six, so I guess that means they have to win tonight.
The Aeros will hopefully be returning Krys Kolanos to the lineup tonight. He was pretty sick Monday, and the team played kind of sick without him. Let's hope all of the guys are on their game tonight.
The cliche is that the team that scores first in the playoffs wins the game. And in this series, that has been true with the team that scores first winning each game. For the season, Houston is 23-9-1-3 when scoring first, and Peoria is 34-7-2-1. But luckily, the Aeros were better in the season in coming from behind, going 15-22-1-6 when they let the other team score first while Peoria is only 9-24-0-3. What's that mean? The Aeros have a decent ability to come from behind and win games. But if Peoria falls behind early, they lose.
So here's to the Aeros getting the first goal tonight.
The key has been the first period, of course. Peoria has been killing Houston in the first period, outshooting the Aeros 45/24 in the opening period. And while Khudobin's play hasn't been spectacular, he's only let in three first goals while handling that barrage of shots. The Aeros have, like they have for most of the season, dominated play in the third period. They've outshot Peoria 60/32 in third, and they've outscored Peoria in the third frame. Of course, the Aeros have been behind in the third often and they've been playing desperate hockey.
And aside from the key of the first period and the key of the first goal, another key is the number of goals scored. Peoria loses when it scores two or less goals in a game -- 0-2 in the playoffs and 9-24-1-2 in the regular season. So if the Aeros score first, and if they keep Peoria to two or fewer goals, they should win this game.
It would also help if Krys Kolanos is healthy and able to skate.
The Aeros will hopefully be returning Krys Kolanos to the lineup tonight. He was pretty sick Monday, and the team played kind of sick without him. Let's hope all of the guys are on their game tonight.
The cliche is that the team that scores first in the playoffs wins the game. And in this series, that has been true with the team that scores first winning each game. For the season, Houston is 23-9-1-3 when scoring first, and Peoria is 34-7-2-1. But luckily, the Aeros were better in the season in coming from behind, going 15-22-1-6 when they let the other team score first while Peoria is only 9-24-0-3. What's that mean? The Aeros have a decent ability to come from behind and win games. But if Peoria falls behind early, they lose.
So here's to the Aeros getting the first goal tonight.
The key has been the first period, of course. Peoria has been killing Houston in the first period, outshooting the Aeros 45/24 in the opening period. And while Khudobin's play hasn't been spectacular, he's only let in three first goals while handling that barrage of shots. The Aeros have, like they have for most of the season, dominated play in the third period. They've outshot Peoria 60/32 in third, and they've outscored Peoria in the third frame. Of course, the Aeros have been behind in the third often and they've been playing desperate hockey.
And aside from the key of the first period and the key of the first goal, another key is the number of goals scored. Peoria loses when it scores two or less goals in a game -- 0-2 in the playoffs and 9-24-1-2 in the regular season. So if the Aeros score first, and if they keep Peoria to two or fewer goals, they should win this game.
It would also help if Krys Kolanos is healthy and able to skate.
10 worst team names in pro hockey?
Well, the Aeros are not on the list, but two Texas teams (almost three) did.
Joe O'Donnell Previews Tonight's Game
If you don't check out Aeros.com often, you might not know that they've got quite the multimedia operation going on over there. Here is Joe O'Donnell's video preview of tonight's Game Five from this morning's skate (the video requires Quick Time to play).
And the news from the preview is that Krys Kolanos should be playing, and Constantine says that Anton Khudobin will be back in the goal for tonight's game. There's also an interview with Constantine and with Jason Ryznar.
And the news from the preview is that Krys Kolanos should be playing, and Constantine says that Anton Khudobin will be back in the goal for tonight's game. There's also an interview with Constantine and with Jason Ryznar.
Free Tickets Available For Tonight's Game
I've been notified that the Aeros booster club has some free tickets available for tonight's game. It is first come, first serve. Contact aerosboosterclub@gmail.com for information.
And thanks for the info, Rob.
And thanks for the info, Rob.
Peoria is back at full strength
Vancouver swept St. Louis, so they are done for the season and their AHL playoff-eligible players can return to the team today. This means the always-threatening Yan Stastny and defenseman Tyson Strachen are on their way to Houston to join the Rivermen.
Meanwhile, the always-threatening Krys Kolanos appears to be on the mend and seems probable to return to the Aeros line-up tonight.
Meanwhile, the always-threatening Krys Kolanos appears to be on the mend and seems probable to return to the Aeros line-up tonight.
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