Houston Aeros @ Rockford IceHogs ... 12-20

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AHL/Game Stats -
http://stats.theahl.com/stats/text-game-report.php?game_id=1005203

Houston Aeros 2 at Rockford IceHogs 1 - Status: Final

Dec 20, 2008 - Rockford MetroCentre

1st Period:
Scoring - 1. Houston, T. Mojzis (2) (B. Rogers, M. Rosa) 16:52 PP
Penalties - C. Locke Hou (hooking) 0:53, J. Falk Hou (roughing) 12:11, E. Brophey Rfd (interference) 12:11, M. Love Hou (fighting) 14:38, M. Brennan Rfd (fighting) 14:38, N. Hjalmarsson Rfd (closing hand on puck) 15:51, J. Falk Hou (fighting) 17:13, J. Skille Rfd (fighting) 17:13

2nd Period:
Scoring - 2. Houston, M. Rosa (7) (P. Olvecky, C. Stoner) 15:50 PP
Penalties - J. Hendry Rfd (hooking) 3:26, C. Locke Hou (hooking) 5:27, P. Pelletier Rfd (roughing) 11:07, T. Mojzis Hou (roughing, roughing) 13:10, E. Brophey Rfd (roughing, roughing) 13:10, N. Hjalmarsson Rfd (cross-checking) 15:32

3rd Period:
Scoring - 3. Rockford, J. Hendry (2) (J. Skille, T. Brent) 2:11
Penalties - D. Irmen Hou (hooking) 14:11

HOU Shots: 7 9 9 TOTAL: 25
RFD Shots: 10 7 9 TOTAL: 26

Power Play Conversion:
Houston Aeros 2-4
Rockford IceHogs 0-3

Goaltenders:
Houston Aeros -
Brust 8-3-3 Start: 1st 0:00 Min: 59:58 SV: 25 GA: 1 [W]
Rockford IceHogs -
Niemi 7-7-2 Start: 1st 0:00 Min: 59:15 SV: 23 GA: 2 [L]

Attendance: 3246

Referee I: Kyle Rehman (37)
LINESMAN I: Aaron Mills (23)
LINESMAN II: Al Stensland (98)

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IceHogs Website -
http://icehogs.com/news/index.html?article_id=925

AEROS HANG ON TO BEAT HOGS 2-1

IceHogs couldn't rebound from 4-3 shootout loss on Friday

12/20/2008

Rockford, Ill.- The Houston Aeros completed a weekend sweep with a 2-1 win over the Rockford IceHogs on Saturday at the Rockford MetroCentre.

Despite a late surge from the IceHogs, the Aeros defense was able to hang on to the lead and come away with another two points.

After the IceHogs led by two going into the final frame on Friday, the tables were turned on Saturday.

The Aeros took advantage of two power-play opportunities against a Rockford penalty kill that had stopped 90 percent of power plays at home coming into Saturday. Houston finished the evening 2-for-4 on the power play while Rockford was held scoreless in three opportunities.

"We allowed two goals on the power play tonight," said defenseman Tim Hambly. "In this league, special teams are going to tell the story."

In the first period, Houston blueliner Tomas Mojzis poked in a loose puck at 16:52. Brandon Rogers and Marco Rosa were marked as helpers.

Houston's second marker was deflected past Rockford goaltender Antti Niemi by Aeros' forward Marco Rosa. It was assisted by Peter Olvecky and Clayton Stoner at 15:50 in the second period.

The IceHogs were finally able to find the back of the net in the third period with a goal from Jordan Hendry to cut the Aeros lead in half at 2:11 in the third. Jack Skille and Tim Brent were credited with the assists on the marker.

The goal ended Barry Brusts' 135:32 minute scoreless streak at the Rockford MetroCentre stretching back to the longest scoreless game in American Hockey League history on April 19, 2008. It also ended a 71:08 minute personal scoreless streak going back to Wednesday's second period in Milwaukee.

Brust finished the game with 25 saves for the Aeros. Niemi finished with 23 saves for the IceHogs.

With a two-game sweep of the Rockford IceHogs, the Aeros are 10-0-1-1 against the division in 2008-09.

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Aeros Website -
http://www.aeros.com/news/News/index.html?article_id=1987

HOUSTON AEROS WIN 2-1 OVER ICEHOGS TO EXTEND STREAK

From: Patrick Armstrong, Director of Communications/Scott Henninger, Communications Manager

December 20, 2008

ROCKFORD, IL. – The Houston Aeros took a 2-1 decision against West Division-rival Rockford IceHogs Saturday night, moving Houston into a four-way tie for second in the division. The Aeros (15-10-1-4) earned four points with back-to-back wins over the IceHogs and Brought their current undefeated streak to 5-0-0-3. Houston’s streak over the West Division now stands at 12-0-1-1, which includes the final two games of the 2007-08 regular season.

Houston defenseman, Tomas Mojzis netted the game’s first goal, his second of the season on a power-play late in the first period to give the Aeros a 1-0 lead before the first intermission. Marco Rosa was credited for an assist on the goal for his first of two points on the night. Defenseman Brandon Rogers recorded the other assist for his eighth helper this season.

The second period mirrored the first as Houston tallied another power-play goal, this time courtesy of Rosa who tipped in a hard shot from Peter Olvecky for the eventual game winner. Clayton Stoner earned the second assist on the goal that put the Aeros up 2-0. Rosa’s had a goal and an assist Saturday, identical to his numbers Friday night. He has three two-point games in his last four contests.

After the second intermission, Rockford didn’t waste any time trying to get back in the game as Jordan Hendry brought the IceHogs within one, only 2:11 into the third period on an even-strength goal. After the early marker, neither team seamed to have an advantage until the IceHogs pulled goaltender Antti Niemi. The home team opted for the extra attacker in an attempt to tie the game with less than a minute remaining. Aeros’ goaltender Barry Brust made a number of saves in the waning moments to hold on for Houston’s 2-1 victory.

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Rockford Newspaper -
http://www.rrstar.com/sports/x1069309927/IceHogs-fall-to-Aeros-again

IceHogs Fall To Aeros Again

By Alex Gary-BusinessRockford.com

Posted Dec 20, 2008

ROCKFORD — Though a late flurry made for a furious finish Saturday night, in the end the Rockford IceHogs came up on the short end of a 2-1 home loss to the Houston Aeros.

Rockford got an early third-period goal from Jordan Hendry, but Aeros goalie Barry Brust stopped the remaining IceHog tries, including a last-minute surge which included five quick slapshots.

The Aeros got a goal in each of the first two periods and held on from there. Rockford and Houston, tied in the West Division with 33 points headed in, battled back and forth before the Aeros pulled out a 4-3 shootout victory at the MetroCentre on Friday.

Rockford could not earn any payback on its home ice Saturday.

“Obviously we’re disappointed to lose any game, especially to the same team two nights in a row,” ‘Hogs head coach Bill Peters said. “And it’s even more important when you play a team you’re tied with. Now we’re behind the eight ball.”

Both teams came out fighting, and the gloves dropped three times in the first period alone. But despite getting the better of each of the short brawls, the IceHogs found themselves down 1-0 when Tomas Mojzis slid one past Rockford goalie Antti Niemi at the 16:52 mark.

Niemi kept it close with four point-blank pad saves during a fast-paced second period, but he couldn’t stop Marco Rosa’s power-play, goal with just over four minutes left in the second.

Petri Kontiola’s quick tap-in at the second-period buzzer found the net and got the crowd into it, but the play was reversed and the goal was wiped off the board for coming too late.

Rockford would find the net again quickly in the third period, and that one stuck. Hendry posted his second goal of the season off a faceoff win by Tim Brent 2:11 into the period.

“It’s tough going when you’re down two goals,” Hendry said. “That one gave us a little more life.”
But despite the quick boost, Aeros goalie Barry Brust earned the win with 25 saves, including about five in the last minute. Niemi had 23 saves in the game.