Flames blank Aeros

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By Craig DeVrieze | Thursday, April 10, 2008 | No comments posted

“Better late” seems like an empty refrain with the playoffs out of reach for the Quad-City Flames.

So rookie Q-C goaltender Matt Keetley would prefer to think a rare Flames’ home winning streak can be an early start on a solid home record next year.

“Hopefully we can get the next one, come back next year and keep rolling,” Keetley said after leading the Flames to a 1-0 victory over the playoff-bound Houston Aeros in the season’s second-to-last home game Wednesday at the i wireless Center.

Keetley is rolling, for sure.

The rookie pitched his first professional shutout Wednesday, four days after coming within 2:08 of one in a 2-1 Q-C win over Iowa on Saturday, also at home.

The Flames will host those same Iowa Stars in the home finale Friday, where they can post the first three-game home winning streak of a frustrating first AHL campaign here.

They have won two straight at home for the fourth time this year, but those earlier streaks never reached three games, which helps explain a 15-18-2-4 home record.

And that home record also helps explain why a team that is 21-14-0-3 on the road is staying home for the postseason.

“It would be nice if we did that when we were fighting for a playoff spot,” veteran forward Carsen Germyn said after sweeping in the game’s lone goal on a short rebound at 12:48 of the third, but he added, “It’s nice to give the fans something to cheer about.”

Germyn also scored Saturday’s game-winning goal by batting in a rebound in the crease.

Wednesday’s winner was created by defenseman Tim Ramholt, who got the puck near the blueline and fed it to defenseman Gerry Burke, who fired the shot Germyn rebounded home.

“I could have stepped in and pounded it, but I saw Burkey was open and ready,’’ Ramholt said. “It’s nice to get a win. Even nicer to get a 1-0 win. We could have used a couple of those earlier in the season. But it’s nice to give the fans a little bit of fun.’’

Keetley certainly is having some late-season fun.

His first career shutout featured 25 saves and came with the assistance of a couple of third-period Houston post ringers.

Keetley, though, figured he was owed a bounce or two over the course of an interesting rookie campaign that saw him go from the season-opening starter here, to Calgary’s NHL backup for a month, then to third-stringer here for a stretch, and, finally, to a little-used Q-C No. 2 over the season’s second half.

Now, Keetley has made a case at least to be in the conversation concerning a starting assignment here next fall.

But coach Ryan McGill cautioned Wednesday against any jumped-to conclusions, suggesting the pressure is off with the playoffs out of play.

But Keetley, who improved to 10-7-3, said that’s not necessarily true.

“There is always pressure on me — I put it on myself,” he said.

Too, he said, the Flames as a group are not playing like there is nothing left to play for, especially at home. That, he said, was proven as Tomi Maki injured himself diving in front of a puck with the Flames on a penalty kill inside the final 3 minutes.

That kind of effort helped preserve a win that upped the Flames record to 36-32-2-7 and, with three games left, ensured the Q-C’s first AHL season will end on the winning side of the ledger.

“We want to go out with a bang and get some fans back,” Keetley said.

Flames scoreboard

Score

Quad-Cities 1, Houston 0

Next:

The Flames play their final home game of the season at 7 p.m. Friday vs. the Iowa Stars. They will wrap up the season with road games Saturday and Sunday in San Antonio, Texas.

New players might not play

The Flames signed three former draft picks to Amateur Tryout Agreements Wednesday, but coach Ryan McGill said there only is an “outside chance’’ any of the three will play in a game this final week of the season.

And, if that happens, it only will happen Friday. McGill confirmed none of the three will make the weekend’s final road trip to San Antonio.

Essentially, forwards John Armstrong and J.D. Watt are here for a late-season evaluation and an early introduction to the Calgary offseason skating program. Scout Ronnie Sutter is here for the former, and skating coach Barry Karn for the latter.

Armstrong and Watt could land in the Quad-Cities next year, but Aulie, who will turn 19 in June, will return to juniors.

Armstrong (6-2, 188), a 2006 third-round selection, scored 21 goals for the Peterborough Petes in his fourth Ontario Hockey League season this year. The 20-year-old from Unionville, Ontatio, once was traded to Peterborough in exchange for potential 2008-2009 Q-C teammate Dan Ryder.

Aulie (6-5, 208) was a fourth-round pick a year ago. He will return to the Brandon Wheat Kings next season.

He had five goals and 12 assists for that Western Hockey League team this season.

Watt (6-2, 196) played as an over-aged 20-year-old junior with the Red Deer Rebels and Regina Pats this year, where he had a combined 13 goals and 24 assists. He will turn 21 in May and was a fourth-round Calgary pick in 2005.

Jerseys for fans

The Flames will award game-worn jerseys to 19 fans after Friday’s home finale.

Everyone who comes to the game can enter a drawing for a Flames jersey.

Winners will be announced during the second intermission.

Flames facts

n Flames coach McGill never has had a sub.-500 season in the AHL and won’t again after Wednesday’s win ensured a winning record.

n Grant Stevenson, currently eighth in the league with 72 points, could become the first Calgary farmhand to finish in the AHL’s top 10 since 2000-2001.

n Stevenson has 30 goals and is one of seven Flames who have established a new career high for goals, along with Krys Kolanos (28), David Van der Gulik (17), Tim Hambly (4), Tim Ramholt (4) Derek Couture (10) and Adam Pardy (2).

Curran fired in K-zoo

Former Quad-City Mallards coach Brian Curran was fired Tuesday with three games remaining in the Kalamazoo Wings season.

With the Wings a point out of the International Hockey League playoffs, general manager Wade Welsh will take over as coach.

The Wings were 0-1-2-1 in their last four games, and Welsh hinted to the Kalamazoo Gazette that the fiery Curran had lost his team.

“I don’t think the guys were excited to come to the rink every day,” Welsh said. “That’s a big thing.”

Glenn Detulleo, who played parts of two seasons under Curran in the Quad-Cities, said the           decision will motivate the team.

“Obviously, the guys want to go out and show the right decision was made for the right reasons,” he said.

In other Mallards alumni news, Justin Chwedoruk, a speedy winger on last year’s Curran-coached team, signed this week with the AHL’s Springfield Falcons.

Summary

Houston      0     0    0    —     0

Quad-Cities   0     0     1    —     1

First period — None. Penalties: Tim Ramholt, Q-C (tripping) 5:31; Morton Madsen, H (tripping) 8:57; John Scott, H (boarding) 12:03; Derek Couture, Q-C (roughing) 12:03; Krys Kolanos, Q-C (cross-checking) 18:11; John Awe, H (interference) 19:43.

Second period — None. Penalties: Gerry Burke, Q-C (interference) 6:36; Brandon Rogers, H (holding the stick) 18:58.

Third period — 1, Carsen Germyn, Q-C, 18 (Gerry Burke, Tim Ramholt) 12:48. Penalties: Cal Clutterbuck, H (roughing) 15:50; Van der Gulik, Q-C (roughing) 15:50; Krys Kolanos, Q-C (hooking) 16:44;

Shots — Houston 5-10-10-25. Q-C: 7-7-6-20

Power-play opportunities — Houston 0-4. Q-C: 0-3.

Penalties: Houston: 5-10, Q-C: 6-12.

Goaltenders — Houston: Barry Brust (L, 23-16-3) 20 shots, 19 saves; Q-C: Matt Keetley (W, 107-3) 25 shots, 25 saves.

Attendance: 2,960

Referee: Ryan Fraser. Linesmen: Justin Lyle and Bryan Pancich.

Craig DeVrieze can be contacted at (563) 333-2610 or cdevrieze@qctimes.com. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.