It seemed a bit deja vu... didn't it?
When Nr. 17 Casey Wellman faced down Matt Climie Nr 33 in goal for Chicago,
Wellman got 2 goals on Climie - not quite a repeat of that other game.
But exciting enough to keep us on the edge of our seats ...will he make a Third goal and get another hat trick?
Now that would have started the season off with a real bang.
Nevertheless, the game progressed nicely.
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| Goal One |
From a reasonable (10 SOG by Aeros vs 5 by Wolves), but scoreless First by both teams, the Aeros went gungho in the second with 20 Shots on Goal vs 8 by Chicago, scoring 2 goals in rapid succession by Wellman 17 (Helpers Taffe 22, Penner 5 and then McMillan 27) - later 1 by Ortmeyer, prominently wearing 41 (must remember that number change from 22 to 41), with Peters 25 and Foucault 13 assisting.
Matt Hackett keeping Chicago scoreless through 2 periods....and getting us to believe in a shut out!
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| Goal 3 -Fans Happy |
But no, Chicago came howling back in the third with 12 SOG vs Aeros with just 4..one of which however was goal Nr. 4 by DiSalvatore 14 with Foucault 13 and Taffe 22.
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| Chicago Goal-fans unhappy! |
The lone Chicago goal came at about 4 minutes into 3rd. by Mancari with Doell and Polasek..
And at least twice it looked to me as if Mancari could have slipped the puck into Aeros net again! Were it nor for Hackett stopping 24 of 25 SOG..
whose glove catching facility has immeasurably improved over the summer!
And Climie had to eat the loss with 30 stops of 34 SOGs.
Team Chicago a bit disconcerted by Aeros efforts needed 2 periods to regroup!
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| Sauve couldn't save...Last Aeros Goal |
Was the two Too many men on ice, and one Delay of game penalties for the Aeros just a sign of a newly gungho team spirit? All those new Aeros raring to go?
Whatever it was, Chicago was unable to use the 9 penalty opportunities,
while Houston made 2 of their 7 count.
Three Stars of the Game were all Aeros:
Casey Wellman Nr.1,
DiSalvatore Nr.2 and
Rookie Foucault Nr.13.
Kris Foucault 13, and Nystrom 23 skated well and fast with a certain "turn on a dime" agility which looked so easy.
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| Peters on the Draw |
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| Caught me a Puck! |
Peters, Rau and McMillan did most of the face off honors.
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| Two melees...at one time |
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| Ortmeyer helps stop the puck! |
Prosser 15, Palmer 19 and Taffe 22 played a very solid game.
Rau had some nifty moves as did Wellman.
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| Joel Broda |
Hendry 24 and Broda 56 appear to have taken on the Kassian mantle!
Genoway 39 was somewhat invisible.
Early on Cuma 61 took quite a while to right himself after a collision near the bench.
Team speed and passing, plus puck possession seemed rather improved - but it is early yet!
Over all this first regulation game of the season was up tempo and exciting to watch by almost 10,000 fans!
