The final seven minutes of the game on Friday night turned out to be the difference in the game as the Houston Aeros defeated the Iowa Chops, 4-2. The win by Houston brings them into a tie with Iowa for 3rd place in the West Division standings with both teams at 57 points. The Chops dominated the game for the first two periods, but couldn't hold it down in the third, as the Aeros knocked three goals in to put them past the Chops 4-2. The first period saw the Chops put in two unanswered goals, putting Iowa up 2-1 going into the 2nd period. Drew Miller scored the first goal on a shorthanded rush on a nice pass by Francis Wathier. The Chops answered again just four minutes later as Brian Salcido got a pass from Miller and deked Nolan Schaefer out of the net. Salcido scooper the puck in front to an open Matt Caruana who slid it in for the only Chops lead of the night. The second period, although uneventful, saw the Chops in many scoring opportunities, they just coudln't bury the puck. This led to a 3rd period full of back and forth opportunities. The Aeros tied the game with seven minutes to go as a rebound by Chops goaltender David LeNeveu squirted to Brandon Rogers who buried a slapshot to tie the game. Minutes later on a 4 on 4 Marco Rosa banked in a shot off a Chops defender for a 3-2 Houton lead. In the end, the Aeros' quick two goals led to a frustrated Chops offense, which got them into penalty trouble. Less than a minute later, the Aeros pound in their fourth goal of the game, sealing the Chops fate.
The win by Houston makes Saturday's Chops home game against the Aeros very important with the teams now tied in the standings. Face-off on Saturday, February 14th at the Wells Fargo Arena is at 7:05pm. Saturday night is a Wendy's Family Night! Fans can get a lower bowl ticket, an Iowa Chops Rally Towel, an Iowa Chops Cowbell and a Wendy’s Combo Meal for only $9.95 per person! You heard it right… $9.95 for a ticket, rally towel, cowbell and combo meal. To order your family deal, call the Chops office at 564-8700 or visit www.iowachops.com to learn more. The Iowa Chops are pleased to announce that the world-famous ZOOperstars will be performing during the intermissions during Saturday's game. The ZOOperstars! Lovable. Outrageous. Zany. Unpredictable. Hysterical. Incredible. Unbelievable. All of which describe this crazy combination of animalistic superstars. We would like to introduce you and your kids to the "fastest growing entertainment act" in the country. The act that millions of fans have fallen in love with…it's the ZOOperstars this Saturday at the Iowa Chops home game. Finally, during the Pink in the Rink home game on Friday, February 27th one Iowa Chops rookie will have to dye his hair pink, and best of all… the fans will make the decision! During the next two home games, each rookie has a jar and a photo of what he would look like with pink hair, located at the Customer Service Table behind Section 124. All fans have to do is donate money in the jar of the rookie you would like to see dye his hair pink! The rookie with the most donation money, wins. All donations will benefit the John Stoddard Cancer Center. So far the leaders are: 1) Adrian Veideman 2) Steve Nitzel 3) Matt Caruana 4) Eric Regan 5) John de Gray 6) Stu Bickel.
Game Summary
3rd Period
0:00-Game over. Houston's three, 3rd period goals the difference in this one.
-:33.9- The Chops pull LeNeveu and go for the goal with the extra man.
-2:54- GOAL And just like that, the Chops are down 4-2. Aeros powerplay goal by Jesse Schultz, with assists from Maxim Noreau and Brandon Rogers.
-3:40- The Chops face more trouble, as Logan Stephenson gets the box for tripping.
-3:44- GOAL The Aeros get the quick go-ahead goal, with Marco Rosa putting the shot past LeNeveu. Assists to Benoit Pouliot and Maxim Noreau.
-5:20- A couple penalties have been handed out now. Brennan Evans gets the call for cross-checking and Houston's Robbie Earl gets 2 minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct. The game will go 4-on-4 for the next 2 minutes.
-7:38- GOAL The tying goal comes late in the third, as Brandon Rogers fires a slapshot right over a diving LeNeveu.
-8:48- This period has been flying by. Zero penalties and only a few scoring opportunities to speak of at this time, but if I were to choose the first star of the game right now, it'd be Drew Miller, hands-down. He hasn't wasted a minute of ice time, and is throwing shots at the net. Just my two cents on it.
-12:59- Drew Miller takes a pass from Ajay Baines and works his way to the net, letting loose a quick wrist shot on Nolan Schaefer that is deflected. It doesn't show in the scoring column, but these Chops are hot right now.
-14:52- Charlie Kronschnabel turns on the jets and gets past Houston's defense, but trips up a little bit, letting the shot go just to the right of the net.
-18:36- Houston's Benoit Pouliot slams into the boards behind the Aeros' net awkwardly, and is slow to get up. He appears to be fine, though, and returns to his bench.
2nd Period
Although the 2nd period was scoreless, there was plenty of action to go around for both teams. Ryan Dingle made key hits and connected with Troy Bodie for a one-timer that could've put the Chops up 3-1, but it wasn't meant to be. The Chops have to watch those penalties for too many men on the ice, as they have taken 2 this game already, a rare statistic for the Chops this season.
-:.49.3- Ryan Dingle feeds a great pass to Troy Bodie at the top of the crease, who gets the one-timer off, but the shot is saved by Schaefer.
-2:22- LeNeveu makes a great save, after he deflects an errant shot by the Aeros. At this time, I'd like to mention that the Chops have been steadily outscoring the Aeros, with 20 shots to Houston's 12.
-5:12- Houston's Kurtis Foster winds up and lets a huge slapshot go at LeNeveu, but LeNeveu nestles the puck in his glove for the save.
-7:39- Drew Miller was just a hair away from getting his second shorthanded goal of the night, as he goes for a wraparound on net, but he's just barely stopped by Nolan Schaefer.
-9:13- The Chops get another bench minor for too many men on the ice, and Ryan Donally will serve for the Chops.
-9:13- Logan Stephenson stood awful tall on that last hit. Bryan Lundbohm looked to deke past Stephenson on his way to the net, but Stephenson shut him down at open ice.
-11:32- Boy, if Bodie only connected...Troy Bodie goes for a hammering check behing the Chops' net on Brandon Rogers, but he barely misses and bangs into the boards.
-13:01- Eric Boguniecki gets the scoring chance at the top of the slot, but his slapshot is quickly blocked by a diving Bryan Lundbohm.
-15:08- The Chops get their first powerplay opportunity of the period, as Matt Kassian goes to the box for cross-checking. This is the Chops' 2nd powerplay of the night.
-15:54- LeNeveu has been on tonight, and it showed in that last series of shots. Houston's John Lammers and Marco Rosa had picture-perfect opportunities to land the tying goal, but LeNeveu's got them all covered.
-16:48- Eric Boguniecki almost gets ahold of a juicy rebound from Schaefer and nearly pots the Chops' third goal, but the defense is there to stop him.
1st Period
The Chops came out with fire on their heels, moving the puck quickly across the ice. Of course, the Aeros came ready to play as well. The Aeros notched the first goal when Benoit Pouliot gets past the defenders and gets the puck past LeNeveu on a penalty kill. The Chops came back quickly with two goals of their own, including a shorthanded goal of their own by Drew Miller. The way this game is going, two goals may not be enough for the Chops, so look for them to lock down the game with a few more in the second.
-1:07- CHOPS GOAL! The Chops get the go-ahead goal, when Matt Caruana gets a nice tip from Brian Salcido at the top of the crease, and tips it in past Schaefer. Assist also goes to Drew Miller. Chops up 2-1.
-5:44- CHOPS GOAL! Sheesh, shorthanded goals don't usually come this often in a game. Drew Miller tears down the left side and rips one short-side past Nolan Schaefer for the Chops' first goal of the game. Assist goes to Francis Wathier.
-5:58- The Chops will go on the penalty kill once again, this time it's Brennan Evans for interference.
-6:47- BIG slapshot by Wathier at the top of the right faceoff circle, but it goes just a little wide.
-9:43- The Chops are able to kill off their first penalty, with only 1 shot on net for the Aeros during the kill.
-11:43- The Chops get their first penalty of the game, as Francis Wathier gets called for holding.
-13:01- T.J. Trevelyan gets control of the puck in the slot and fires a whopper of a shot at Nolan Schaefer, but it goes just wide.
-14:40- Houston's Mitch Love goes for a huge hit on Legan Stephenson in the Chops' defensive zone, but Stephenson saw it coming, and decided to give Love a stiff-arm, and puts him on his back.
-16:58- GOAL A quick shorthanded marker for the Aeros, as Benoit Pouliot glides in and puts the puck past LeNeveu. Chops down 1-0.
-18:51- Houston gets the first penalty of the game, a bench minor for too many men on the ice. Mitch Love will serve the 2:00 minor for the Aeros, putting the Chops on their first powerplay of the game.
-20:00- Hey there, Chops fans. Hope you're safe and sound tonight, after the nasty storm that hit the Des Moines area earlier today. We've got a great game on tap tonight, as the Chops take on the Houston Aeros. The Chops took the last game 4-3, and we'll look to continue that streak.
Starting for your Chops tonight are as follows: Defensemen Brendan Mikkelson and Adrian Veideman, Wingers Drew Miller and T.J. Trevelyan, and Ajay Baines in at Center. David Leneveu will start between the pipes tonight.
