Texas stays on top of this week's poll; Lake Erie rises to the Top 3

The Texas Stars stay on top of the rankings as we enter the virtual second half of the season. Please click on the image below to get a better look at the poll.They got three of a possible four points in their home and home against San Antonio last weekend, so they will stay at the top of the poll entering their game against the Aeros Friday night at Toyota Center.

The biggest mover at the top of the poll is the Lake Erie Monsters, who, with a win tonight, will sit atop the North Division. The Aeros have lost all four of their games against Lake Erie this season and have not held the lead in a single one of them.

They have talented forwards, and it looks like their goaltending issues from early December are a thing of the past. The Monsters could stay in the Top 5 if their parent team, the Colorado Avalanche, stays healthy.

Click on the image to see the Western Conference Power Rankings

They have won 11 of their last 16 games, dating to mid-December, and this weekend, they'll host the red-hot Abbotsford Heat (pun intended) in a battle for first place. This is definitely a case to see offense vs. defense, and the Monsters will play the Heat in four of their next five games. The Heat split a pair of games at Charlotte last weekend and remain at No. 6 in this week's poll.

Grand Rapids fell two spots this week after getting swept at home by the Aeros ... Toronto drops almost by default due to the lack of games, but they will get plenty of time to move back up as they play just three home games between now and mid March. This is a season-defining stretch for the Marlies, who like the Aeros better play well away from home for the next six weeks.

The Milwaukee Admirals are up three spots this week to No. 10. I probably had them too low last week, but they killed the OKC Barons after losing six in a row, the last a 3-2 loss to the Aeros.

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If you would have told me back in October that Texas would be the No. 1 team in the AHL before the All-Star break, I probably would have chuckled a bit. Top 10, not so much of a stretch ... but in the last three weeks or so we have seen the Stars transform from just an average AHL team to arguably the best in the 30-team league. The Stars are the No. 1 team this week; please click on the image to get a better look at the poll. 

Click on the image to see the Western Conference Power Rankings

During their inaugural season, the would grind teams down, and they were so hard to play against. Then Aeros head coach Kevin Constantine, in just the third or fourth game of the season, predicted they'd be "one of the last teams standing." Well, they were, making it all the way to the Calder Cup finals before Hershey took them out in six games.

In the last two weeks, their roster has been decimated by call-ups to Dallas due to the end of the NHL lockout. They have not missed a beat, and their only setback in their last 10 games was a loss at Chicago more than a week ago.

This weekend the Stars will face the San Antonio Rampage in a home and home series. It'll be interesting to see if they can keep up their torrid pace against a far inferior opponent (points wise) ... The Rampage have traded wins and losses since the new year, and I think they'll take at least one from this week's No. 1 team.

But the Stars will get No. 1 goalie Chris Nilstorp soon from Dallas. And when they happens, they'll be poised for another run to the Calder Cup.

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So we are about into a week where several AHL rosters have been raided and decimated due to the NHL training camps and the start of the NHL 48-game shortened season. Last week, I started the power poll for the Western Conference, and unlike last season, I am going to keep them all in the same post so those of you who want to see all the results may do so more easily.

The power poll image is smaller so it will fit in the allotted space. Please click on the image to get a better look at the poll. 

Click on the image to see the Western Conference Power Rankings

This week, the Charlotte Checkers have moved into the No. 1 spot. They have won four straight and have points in seven straight overall since an awful trip to Texas that saw them swept by the Aeros, Stars and Rampage. Toronto is a solid No. 2 thanks to a great home record and the best goal differential in the West. Our biggest movers were the Rochester Americans (up four) and the OKC Barons (down four). The Aeros get an honorable mention for dropping three spots due to their uninspired tailspin last weekend. Now they get to play the next two months on the road, so Aeros fans will really get to see what their team is made of.

Abbotsford stayed the same and kept from dropping further thanks to a couple of wins over the West doormat, the Hamilton Bulldogs. These guys have really had a rough go of it since making it to the conference finals two years ago.

Two teams that I can't really figure out right now are the Lake Erie Monsters and the Rampage. Lake Erie's won/loss total is bolstered by the overtime games and the Rampage keep trading good weekends with bad ones. I want to put them ahead of Peoria, thanks to that beating they put on them two weeks ago ... but I can't. The Rampage are just awful on the road, and just can't seem to turn the corner.

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The calendar has rolled around to 2013, the NHL lockout has ended, and now there are about three months left in the regular season. With that being said, it's time to crank up the old Western Conference power rankings again! Click on the image down there to take a gander at this season's first installment. Currently, I have the Aeros right where they are in the standings - fifth!

Click on the image to see the Western Conference Power Rankings

Last year, I started this to see what kind of feedback I'd get ... and it was marginally successful. Hard core AHL fans got a kick out of it and debating with me as to why I ranked so and so there, etc. Some even asked why I didn't include the entire league, but I just don't think I could do one of these deals without being able to see them play.

I do get to see all of the West teams at least once, and I follow news about all those teams on a daily basis. And with the new rankings, I have updated how I calculate the formula. This year's first list, though, is kind of boring. The conference is so tight from top to bottom, and everyone still has a shot at getting into the Top 8 for the playoffs tournament.

Grand Rapids tops the first Western
Conference poll of the season

On this list, I have Grand Rapids over Toronto for the top spot mostly because of how well the Griffins play both at home and on the road. Toronto can only win at home, but they do lead the conference in goal differential. Needless to say, the top 2 spots were very close.

When all the numbers were crunched (and basically all that means is that I weigh different stats on a scale of 1-100 percent) the next 10 or so teams were, too, very, very close together. I expect there to be more chatter and debate this time around.

I will try to crack these out every week between Monday and Wednesday afternoon in advance of that week's games. I hope you'll give these a nice look every now and then and let me know what you think.

Aeros sweep two-game set at Grand Rapids. Zucker heads to All-star game, Aeros off until Friday

The Aeros became the first team this season to sweep a two-game set at Grand Rapids with a 5-2 win over the Griffins Saturday night at Van Andel Arena. Other than a soft goal to open the scoring in the first period, Darcy Kuemper was again solid in net, allowing the offense to score at least five goals for the first time since Dec. 11. That was when the Aeros hosted the San Antonio Rampage for the kiddie game at Toyota Center.

Defenseman, No. 2, Paul Mara - Grand Rapids Griffins photo

All phases are the game are clicking right now, and that is what this team can do when healthy. The penalty kill was nearly perfect (one 6-on-4 goal allowed), and the Griffins never looked comfortable setting up their offense. A team like Grand Rapids - currently the No. 2 team in the West - needs time and space, and the Aeros gave them neither.

Marco Scandella was recalled to Minnesota after two solid games following his return from a groin injury. Matt Dumba was returned to his junior team, so that is where the spot on their roster opened up. Jared Spurgeon is still nursing a lower body injury after blocking a shot in the Wild's second game of the season.

Jason Zucker is off to the All-Star game in Providence, and the rest of the team will get a lot of time at home before opening up a three-game homestand next Friday against the red-hot Texas Stars. The Aeros have lost three straight against the Stars, who split a home and home series against the San Antonio Rampage.

After the quick homestand, the Aeros will hit the road for 12 of their next 13 on the road. Go see the team while you can. They are going to be road warriors.

One quick thought. I like the direction of the team right now, and like many of you, I certainly hope they have better luck with injuries. They had a six-game winless streak before winning three in a row, but even with all the lockout uncertainty and a boatload of injuries, the Aeros are 7-5-3-0 since Christmas.

They can be a top four team if they continue to play well on the road and both teams stay away from their trainers.

Have a great All-star week!

Aeros take down the red-hot Griffins with a 1-0 road win

The Aeros have won back-to-back games for the first time in a month thanks to a 1-0 shutout win over the Grand Rapids Griffins Friday night at Van Andel Arena. 

Kuemper kicks one to the corner / Grand Rapids Griffins photo

The sell-out crowd did little to boost the Griffins, who had won three straight including a 10-plus goal performance against Rockford last weekend. If you're keeping score, the Aeros have 1-0 wins in two of their last three victories. 

The Aeros will complete a five-game road trip tonight in Grand Rapids. Win, and you've got a successful, winning road trip after starting with a pair of losses at Chicago and Peoria. 

Justin Fontaine swept in a loose puck for the only goal of the game, and the Aeros were again perfect on the penalty kill and scored a five-on-five goal. 

Darcy Kuemper made 28 saves, including 10 in the third period for his third shutout of the season. Kampfer was plus-1 on the night, and was paired with Marco Scandella on the goal. Scandella is back after nursing a groin injury, so the Aeros sent Trevor Ludwig back to the Allen Americans (CHL). 

Nick Petersen and Kris Foucault were hurt in the Milwaukee game and did not play against Grand Rapids. 

Scoring a single goal is not going to win games most of the time, but the Aeros really frustrated a Griffins team that likes to send four guys toward the net on what you'd call a fast-break in basketball. 

But Kuemper is hot right now. He's won four of his last five starts (two shutouts) and has allowed more than two goals in just one of those games. Two of his last three wins are shutouts, and he is just playing better than Matt Hackett right now. 

Hackett's been (far too often) a victim of a terrible penalty kill and sloppy play by a banged up defense. He's not playing poorly, and he's got the confidence of the coaches and the team around him. Yes, Kuemper is playing better right now, but it's hard to find any goalie in the AHL that's played better than Kuemper in the last three, four weeks. 

Check on the video below for a highlight of the Aeros goal and some comments about Houston from a Griffins player and the head coach. 

Aeros snap six-game skein, win 3-2 over Milwaukee

Milwaukee Admirals photo

It certainly wasn't pretty, but the Aeros fought their way past the Milwaukee Admirals to snap a pair of dubious losing streaks. Gone now are the overall losing streak (6) and the road losing skid (9). The Aeros responded twice quickly when the Admirals seemingly grabbed the momentum during the hockey game and the sparse crowd of witnesses (less than 3K announced, far fewer than than in the seats for Soup Nazi night).

Here is the recap from the Milwaukee-Journal Sentinel, whose game-day coverage of the Admirals is top-notch.

From my point of view, Wednesday's positives include, but are not limited to:

• Zucker buried one of his many scoring chances
• Kampfer did not finish in the negative 
• Brodin and Fontaine returned from injuries
• The penalty kill was perfect
• Kuemper made 12 saves in the third period
• The team scored three goals
• Nick Petersen continues to score for the Aeros
• Jake Dowell sticking up for teammate with a nice fight
• Stephane Veilleux with another point

These all add up to a nice game for the Aeros, who will try to slow down the red hot Grand Rapids Griffins. And due to a TON of injuries to the Red Wings and several suspensions, the Griffins will be a bit shorthanded. The schedule certainly favors the Aeros, so getting anything less than two points in these two games in unacceptable.

Hey Admirals .... 

If you watch the full game highlights below, you'll see just how close this game should not have been. Score could have been 6-1 if the Aeros bury some of their prime chances, and this continues to be a major concern for this young team. But you can't complain when the team gets the "W" on the road for the first time since Dec. 7.

There are reports than Kris Foucault was re-injured ... so we'll try to check on that. Also, Nick Palmieri, who finally decided to accept his demotion from the NHL, was a healthy scratch. Zack Phillips, zero points and minus-four in his last four games, was also benched ... And Brodin, deemed completely healthy after breaking clavicle in November, is on his way up to the Wild. They play tonight against the Red Wings in Detroit.

Aeros win 3-2 at Milwaukee
More Hockey

Road trip continues in Milwaukee, Grand Rapids

Before the All-star break, the Aeros will play three games in four nights against Milwaukee (tonight) and Grand Rapids (Friday and Saturday). After that, they'll break and then continue the season with three home games before their long road trip starts back in Grand Rapids and Milwaukee.

Photo by Chris "wunderkind" Jerina

It's been 18 days and six games since the Aeros left the ice with two points, and the lack of offense is entirely to blame. They have scored more than three goals just twice since Dec. 26, and zero times in the last eight games overall. The Aeros have relied totally on the power play, but when you can't score 5-on-5 and your penalty kill stinks ... you are in trouble. And the Aeros are in trouble.

To be fair, their defense has been shredded with injuries and suspension (Mara) and they spend more time losing faceoffs and chasing the puck. I'd REALLY love to see how much time they've actually had on the attack when 5-on-5.

The shorthanded goals by Veilleux and Dowell were nice on Sunday, but the Aeros got pistol-whipped by a very bad Peoria team. The Rivermen have been on the uptick recently, and the Aeros ... well, they've lost six straight overall and nine in a row on the road.

Last month, early, the Aeros won six straight and seven of eight and were in the top three in both the conference and the overall standings. Since they, they're 5-8-3-1, and twice their head coach has accurately predicted losing streaks and/or slumps.

And when you really look at it, their above. 500 record is bolstered entirely on their performance against the San Antonio Rampage (4-1-1-0), Texas (4-3-1-0) and OKC Barons (6-1-0-0-). They are 14-5-2-0 against those three teams and 4-15 (with a few OT points sprinkled in) against everyone else.

Last year, the Aeros were Milwaukee's slump buster. Let's hope the Aeros can return the favor this year against their long time rivals. The Aeros could have Mara back, as his suspension was three games. Jonas Brodin (shoulder) has been skating and could return for a game or two starting tonight. And Marco Scandella (groin) could come back this weekend, if his rehab continues to progress.

The good news is that these guys are coming back. The bad news? Well ... they haven't played in a awhile and as baseball players say, they will need to get their timing back.

From Heather: 

Just wanted to add a couple other player notes. I noticed Palmieri hadn't played since clearing waivers along with Veilleux and Dowell and since he seemed quite happy and healthy in the Wild/Aeros scrimmage, I didn't think he was injured.

Turns out, after some investigating by Russo, that he simply didn't report to the Aeros until yesterday. You can see the quote on it from a pretty ticked off Chuck Fletcher in Russo's blurb about it today.

Understandably, too. Bad move unless ones goal is to get traded, but since he's cleared waivers, he'd probably just end up back in the AHL somewhere else. Of course, the Aeros luck lately, it would be with Texas or OKC or something. Haha.

But really, look around you. You might as well suffer the AHL in an organization that's so desperately injury-prone, a call-up is just a concussion or sprained ankle away. He was high on the list, and I don't know why you'd blow that. I'd say he was #2 behind Zucker unless Coyle started going crazy again.

Also, Johan Larsson was injured, looked like knee or something, against Chicago the other day, per reports from our midwestern correspondant Chris Jerina. Seems like Tyler Cuma has been out a few games, too, so maybe he's banged up again (though he just tweeted that he's back in the lineup tonight).

The team did return F Derek Couture to Ontario today, so maybe others are on the mend. Regardless, I don't see this team stabilizing at all until after the all star break on Jan. 27-28, where Jason Zucker will have the pleasure of playing with 2nd time All Star, Barry Brust. Lucky duck.

Okay, back to Andrew:

Before we go, here is some updated stats on the season and all-time series against the Admirals, courtesy of the Houston Aeros Press Office:

Houston Aeros (18-15-4-3, 43 points) at Milwaukee Admirals (17-16-3-3, 40 points)

The Houston Aeros and the Milwaukee Admirals meet for the third of four meetings this season. The two teams played on Oct. 27, a 4-0 win for the Aeros at the Toyota Center. Milwaukee claimed a 5-4 overtime win in the first meeting of the season on Oct. 21. The Aeros will visit Milwaukee for the final game of the season series on Feb. 8. The Aeros are coming off a 6-2 loss at Peoria on Sunday night. Houston is two games into a five-game road trip and currently winless in their last nine road games, going 0-6-2-1 since a 2-1 overtime win on Dec. 7 at Texas. Overall, the Aeros are mired in a season-long six-game winless skid (0-4-2-0) dating back to Jan. 4. The Aeros are 6-9-2-1 on the road and 2-5-3-0 over the last ten games. The Admirals return home after a 2-0 loss at Abbotsford on Sunday, extending the team’s winless skid to five games at 0-3-1-1. Milwaukee is 10-3-2-2 at home this season and 3-4-1-2 over the last ten games.

Milwaukee leads the all-time series, posting a 55-32-5 record. Houston is 35-49-8 against Milwaukee in 92 AHL meetings. The Admirals swept the season series in 2011-12, besting the Aeros in all four meetings by a combined score of 10-4. Houston lost one in overtime and one in a shootout, posting an 0-2-1-1 mark against the Nashville Predators AHL affiliate. Dating back to the 2010-11 season, the Aeros have dropped six of the last seven decisions to the Admirals.

Aeros start road trip with 3-1 loss at Chicago; Kampfer is minus two again.

Losing is a disease; as contagious as .... 

The "Ls" continue to pile up for the Aeros, who lost 3-1 at Chicago on Saturday night. From most accounts, the Aeros wasted a gutty performance by Matt Hackett and got beat by a goalie playing well above his normal capabilities.

Carson McMillan scored the lone goal from the Aeros, who are fading quickly.

There is no shame in losing to a better team, but what is most disappointing about this set-back is how the Aeros wasted a very favorable schedule. Chicago was playing its third game in four nights, and the Aeros, fresh with new blood from the NHL, did not take advantage.

The Aeros gave up another short handed goal, this time when the opposition made them pay while sitting for a double minor. The laziness that led to that goal was mind-boggling. Let's hope that was just rust, as the Aeros will try to snap their overall and road losing streaks today at Peoria. The dagger was a game-winning power play by the Wolves in the final minute of the second period. For a team, whose confidence is fading rapidly, a goal like proved to be insurmountable.

Jason Zucker (minus-2), who along with Charlie Coyle (minus-2) continue to prove invisible during this slide, had several good looks for a chance to tie the game. Steve Kampfer, pictured above, continues his atrocious play and finished minus-2 in the game.

A quick look at his game-by-game reveals a far-too embarrassing trend. In his last 12 games played (keep in mind he was injured in the middle of them, he has been been on the wrong side of zero 11 times. Eleven times! And in seven of those games, he's been minus-2. Add it all up, and in just 12 games, he's minus-18. Kampfer is minus-18 in 12 games.

I keep repeating his name (Kampfer, Kampfer, Kampfer) in hopes that someone, maybe he, his agent or a family, has a Google alert set up for him and will sign in as anonymous and will defend him. I can see a bad stretch here or there, but this guy is on the ice for just about every opponent goal since the beginning of December.

John Torchetti sent the media subliminal messages about Kampfer and a few other players after their most recent home games, but he refuses to name names. Injuries on the blue line continue to be one of the main reasons why Kampfer has to play.

I guess one way to look at it is that it can't get much worse for Kampfer.

Palmieri clears waivers and is returning to Houston; Stephane Veilleux and Jake Dowell coming with him

The Aeros did not lose any players when the Wild put them on waivers earlier this week. There are a few horrible teams in the NHL right now, and those always make you nervous around mass waivers time.

Well, Nick Palmieri, Stephane Veilleux and Jake Dowell survived and won't be going to the NHL for now. Instead, they get a Delta Air Lines flight to Chicago to join the Aeros as they start a five-game road trip against the Chicago Wolves.

Palmieri was playing well up until the lockout was lifted. And maybe it was a little before that when he took his foot off the gas. I know we all hope he got some good advice (along with Kampfer) about the demotion. Go down, play hard, and get back up here the second those groins start to pop.

Veilleux played in Houston from 2002-2005 and helped the Aeros win the Calder Cup in 2003. He scored one of the biggest goals in franchise history when he beat Ty Conklin in the finals that year. That was an OT goal to tie the series (2-2)  in Houston. If they lose that game, they probably don't win the title. That simple.I do, however, think his time in the NHL is over. I think Steph may be in Houston, barring injury up north, for the rest of the season.

Dowell played in Dallas last season and did OK in about 50 games or so. His best year in the NHL was the year before with the Chicago Blackhawks. He's not an "offensive" guy, but Aeros fans really have to hope that he will use this time in the minors as motivation to get back to the NHL.

Here is some more information on the guys that were sent down (via the Houston Aeros press offiice:


Palmieri has played in 36 games for Houston this season, scoring nine goals and setting up 10 others for 19 points. The fourth-year pro has played in 87 NHL games from 2009-2012 for Minnesota and New Jersey. The 23-year old has 13 goals and 25 points over his NHL career. The Utica, NY native has also suited up in 178 AHL games for Houston, Lowell and Albany, scoring 45 goals and totaling 84 AHL points. Palmieri was drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the third round (#79 overall) of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

Dowell joins the Aeros after attending training camp with the Wild. The Eau Claire, WI native spent the 2011-12 season with Dallas, scoring two goals and totaling seven points in 52 games with the Stars. The sixth-year pro has played in 154 NHL games with Dallas and Chicago, scoring 11 goals and amassing 33 points. The 6-foot, 205-pounder has suited up in 211 AHL games for Rockford and Norfolk, scoring 22 goals and totaling 65 points. Dowell was drafted in the fifth round (#140 overall) of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

Veilleux returns to the Aeros where he began his 12-year career in 2001-02. The Saint-Georg, PQ native played in 229 games for Houston from 2001-05, scoring 49 goals and picking up 75 assists for 124 points. He was also a member of the Aeros 2003 Calder Cup Championship squad, scoring seven goals and totaling 18 points in 23 playoff games. The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder has played in 460 NHL games with Minnesota, Tampa Bay and New Jersey. He has 46 career NHL goals and 55 assists for 101 points. The left wing was selected by the Minnesota Wild in the third round (#93 overall) of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.

It's getting kind of warm in here: An update on the Toyota Center Lease

Last week, we had a few people tell us that they read in the Chronicle that the Aeros were leaving Houston and that it was a done deal. There were also a few people that mentioned this to us in the comments section of one of our home game stories from last week.

And we were like, "What the ... ?"

So we did what any normal person would do - we Googled it. It took awhile, but we finally found the Chronicle/Aeros reference literally buried in a Ken Hoffman column. Whether or not you don't like him does not matter. The guy is random, which really makes the following lines so curious coming from a column entitled "Pethouse Pet of the Week: Jan. 13:"

(Ideal home: Where will the Houston Aeros play next season? Toyota Center is just too big for the small crowds the Aeros draw. They need to find a more "intimate" ice rink. I'm betting there will be an announcement soon)

Come on Scooby, help us out!

Now it is no secret that the Aeros lease with the Toyota Center is up after this season. They signed a 5-year deal after the 2007-08 season, and that comes to an end when this season is officially over. I think many people are so nervous because this is by far the longest its ever gone to renew the deal.

The Aeros and Wild are on the record from last year as saying they have done and will do everything they can, within reason ($$$$$) to keep the team in Houston. I believe them based on who I have talked to, but I also understand that when business comes to business ... well, money always wins.

So what about the odd/random comment in the Hoffman column? Them staying or going has nothing to do with the size of the rink ... they have been here for 19 years, and have consistently been in the top 10 in the league's attendance recently.

The line that sticks out to me is "I'm betting there will be an announcement soon ... " Someone told Hoffman something, and this thing is about to get really interesting either way.

In the summer, I thought there was an 80 percent chance the Aeros would stay, then it went down to 70 around training camp. When we got past Thanksgiving, my faith dropped to 60 percent. Now, I am afraid the Aeros will be forced out of Houston. I think there is only a 20-percent chance the Aeros (as an affiliate of the Minnesota Wild) sign another multi-year lease agreement with the Toyota Center.

I really do think the Wild wants to keep them here, but as we've said on this blog several times before ... it has to make sense financially. And I don't think it does any more.

Skiddish Aeros lose fourth straight, 2-1 OT decision to Checkers

Kind of says it all right now

The Lake Erie Monsters own the Aeros. Four losses to the Cleveland Club, and the Aeros never held the lead in any game.

Cutting into that ownership is a Charlotte Checkers club that simply can't lose right now, even with an ECHL goalie that frustrated the Aeros to no end, especially at the end of the first period when the Aeros finally woke up.

This effort was their best of the weekend. Friday was just awful, and they know that. Saturday, they had the jump, but not the brains. And Sunday, they just got beat by a better team, plain and simple. The PK seems to be getting better, but it's still a major concern.

Remarkably, after only getting one point on the weekend, the Aeros are still in the playoff picture. They are still Top 10 in the league, but they better figure out how to win on the road again. The schedule gets really, really crazy. Check out these numbers.

Starting Friday, the Aeros will play

• 5 straight on the road
• 13 of their next 16 away from Toyota Center
• 17 of their next 21 games on the road
• a total of 19 of their next 25 away from home

That is literally their worst schedule in the history of the team. Here's to hoping you hard core fans can make it through two months of NeuLion ...

Aeros Lose 3-2 to Monsters

John Torchetti was not a happy man after tonight's 3-2 Aeros loss to the Lake Erie Monsters. The Aeros played a better game than they did in Friday's loss to the Stars, but the team was sloppy and depending too much on goalie Darcy Kuemper to make way too many saves.

"We’ve got a lot of hockey players that think they’re better than they are," Torchetti said. "And that’s the end of the subject."

But it wasn't quite the end of the subject. He spoke of the lacking leadership and accountability. And he said the team had to tighten up their act on the ice.

The Monsters scored first. The Aeros tied it up on the power play when Charlie Coyle sent a puck cross-ice to Jason Zucker who one-timed it backdoor for a pretty goal. It stayed that way through the third when the Monsters took the 2-1 lead before Johan Larsson tied it on the power play. But this is the Aeros, and just moments later, the Monsters scored again.

"That’s how losing streaks start," Torchetti said. "Because we’re not detailed and we’re not committed."

The Aeros are going to have work harder now that the NHL season is preparing to start. Mikael Granlund is gone. And since this is he Wild the team's dealing with, the injuries will start pretty quickly. That means a lack of chemistry, a lack of consistent line. That means talent alone is not going to be enough. And if the team doesn't pay attention to the details and if it's not committed to the system, then this team could indeed be in for losing streak.

And if any of these guys are expecting automatic call-ups just because of the Wild-injury history, then maybe they all to think on that some more.

"In the end, the NHL executives on our team ask us who’s playing well," Torchetti said. "So it ends up hurting you more than anything. If you think you’re trying to not get hurt for up there, you’re not even going to be part of their training camp because what you do this week is what you for next week to get in there."

The Aeros have a chance to break the losing streak before it can really get tomorrow tomorrow at 5:00. But who knows what Aeros team is going to show up.