Wolves came in the door with 3 Aeros 0

"Love is in the Air" Valentine's Day

my, aren't the guys handsome in those Red Jerseys... .
However, it was bit confusing at first..one is sooo used to the white/light colored jerseys which this time were on the WOLVES' bods ;-)

BUT.. a big but, considering that over 50 % of the Wolves roster has played on NHL levels last year, and considering that few Aeros have - the credit must go to Barry "Brust-y" in goal (stopping 23 of 26) and the defense which WAS present (except for one or two skaters whose performance left a bit to be desired), to keep the numbers to JUST 3 goals for the Wolves.

It could have been a much bigger distaster without BB and Aeros defense.

First Period: Aeros came out full of energy and held the Wolves off, to 0 : 0, through the whole 20 minutes incl. two PP oppos for the Wolves with 3 SoG for the Aeros, but that d... Chicago defense was simpy too good... and 14 SoG for the Wolves. rau and Smith had some good face offs, as usual. The Penalty kill was up to par, the PowerPlay was less so! Noreau, "Ironman", and Rau- 'Wow" reacting with lightening speed to shove pucks out of harm's way!
Goalie Drew MacIntyreknown to Aeros as fierce foe from last year, in his new colors, had a 'light work day'..facing and stopping 24 SoG..gaining himself a shut out victorey and the number 1 Star!

Wolves # 23 Grant Lewis injured on ice, but able to skate, with 2 helpers, off to locker room, ended the 1. Period on a somber note. Audience honored his efforts by applause.<>

"Testy" (being marched off below) and Sipotz sat 5 for fighting,

which ran over into the second period.

Second Period, Aeros came out still full of punk, but after the Shorthanded goal Nr.1 by Anderson (Star 2) and Vernace, followed at 14:28 by goal Nr. 2 by Galivan(Star 3), Doell and Machacek,

at 18:44 a powerplay goal by Krog (Aeros fan have no fond memories of that skater from years past!) with Vishnevsky (previously of Texas Star fame) and Stapleton; Aeros did show some flagging, even Gillies was not as 'Frisky' in trying to take away the puck. Desperate efforts in 'body checking' by "Irmen-Irms", "Speedy" DiSalvatore and others did help. But Earl, the "Pearl" and "Son of a Gun"-derson missed several opportunities to score by losing pucks to the Wolves. "Avalanche" Kalus and "The Scrapper" Daoust were quite visible tonight, the one by skating up a storm, the other by his usual-getting in and out of scapes, and being caught once to sit for 2 Minutes, but getting his own back on the Wolves later, on the way to the bench - LOL.

Third Period, thankfully NOT a repeat of the Second - Chicago was unable to score any more goals. Brandon "Buck-y" was called for hooking (and still can't believe it..as did some of his team mates), "Sunny" Fraser went down, but out to Locker Room under his own steam, thankfully NO injuries, as he told me afterwards.

Interestingly, in a Blink.. Nr. 31 "Dubie" in net, but in another Blink..Nr. 33 "Brusty" was back in net after a minute or so. Possible "potty break"? Or?

After the game, freshly scrubbed and polished in their "going-to-the-game" suits, most Aeros players hugely pleased their fans by autographing numerous photos, jerseys, sticks, tee-shirts, posters, and who knows what else ;-), with smiles on faces-showing true grit! GO AEROS!