Cincinnati Mighty Ducks - American Hockey League [AHL] - Higher Flight - On MLN Sports Zone

Mighty Ducks

Higher Flight
The Cincinnati Mighty Ducks defeat the defending champion Houston Aeros and advance in the AHL playoffs for the first time in franchise history.

04.17.04 - Houston, TX – The Cincinnati Mighty Ducks have insured that there will not be a repeat champion in the American Hockey League this season.

With a 6-3 win, Cincinnati completed a two-game sweep and eliminated the defending Calder Cup champ Houston Aeros in the West Division Qualifying Round.

Stanislav Chistov scored twice, Curtis Glencross added a goal plus two assists and Tony Martensson supplied four helpers, as the franchise won its first playoff series.

Between the pipes, Ilya Bryzgalov made 34 saves for the Ducks, who now advance to play top-seeded Milwaukee in the division semifinals.

The Aeros came out with a sense of urgency, getting the game's first nine shots, but Bryzgalov was strong, making one save with the chin of his mask.

Cincinnati finally recorded its first shot, a deflection attempt, midway through the first on the power play. The Ducks would go ahead on their second shot, on the same man advantage.

Keith Aucoin hit Chistov in stride at center ice, and Chistov skated wide around two Aeros defensemen and put a shot high blocker side on goalie Frederic Cloutier from the left circle.

Bryzgalov's best save of the first came with Houston circling on the power play, as he snared a Zbynek Michalek rifle from the top of the left circle with his glove.

Stephane Veilleux's power-play tally, 43 ticks into the second, got the Aeros even. The speedy winger picked the pocket of an Aeros player behind the net, walked into the lower left circle and lifted a backhand over Bryzgalov.

It was Veilleux's first goal in four games since returning from Minnesota, where he posted 10 points (2-8=10) in 19 games with the Wild.

The goal also snapped an 0-for-40 power play streak against the Ducks, and was Houston's second man advantage goal in the last 42 attempts overall.

Bryzgalov stoned Mark Cullen's rebound attempt with Houston once again on the power play midway through the second. Bryzgalov slid far to his right to swallow up the attempt as Cullen put a Kevin Mitchell miss on net.

The Ducks, who had five shots in the first, struggled offensively as the second began as well. Cincinnati got its first shot 10:30 into the second period, after Houston had seven attempts in the frame.

Cincinnati went back on top 2-1 with 7:52 left in the second. Chris Kunitz sent a shot on net from the left point, and as Mark Popovic and Houston's Kyle Wanvig battled for position in front of the net, the puck crossed the line. The goal was credited to Popovic, his first of the post-season.

The Aeros wasted little time tying it back up, also getting a goal with some confusion 1:07 later. Derek Boogaard carried the puck the length of the ice along the left boards, and got it behind Bryzgalov.

With a penalty upcoming to Cincinnati behind the play, Boogaard got the puck to Dan Cavanaugh at the right doorstep. Cavanaugh's attempt was knocked down by Bryzgalov, and with players falling all over, defenseman Zbynek Michalek tapped the puck into the net for his first goal since coming back from the Wild.

Cloutier made his best save with 4:14 left in the second and Cincinnati on the man advantage. Mike Mottau slid a cross-ice pass to Martensson in the right circle, and Cloutier slid from right to left to gobble up the Swede's shot.

The Ducks reclaimed a 3-2 lead 6:50 into the third, when Mottau unwound a shot from the top of the left circle that changed directions in front of Cloutier and hit the back of the net.

Cincinnati went up two goals with 7:56 left on Armstrong's rocket from the right point that went through traffic in front and by Cloutier. The Ducks continued to pour it on, scoring 2:42 later as Chistov popped home a rebound from the low slot for his second of the game.

The Aeros threatened to make a game of it with 3:07 left and Cloutier pulled, as Marc Cavosie got his team within 5-3. However, Glencross completed his three-point night with an empty netter with 1:53 left.

Houston finished 1-for-6 on the power play, while Cincinnati went 1-for-2. The Ducks scored on three of their seven chances in this series.