Aeros downed by Penguins in shootout 3-2
Published on January 3, 2009 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Houston Aeros News Release
WILKES-BARRE, Penn. - The Houston Aeros were defeated by the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 3-2 in a shootout Saturday night at Wachovia Center. Aeros' netminder Barry Brust stopped 30 of 32 shots for Houston, but did not record the loss as Nolan Schaefer spelled him in the shootout. The Penguins came back from a 2-0 deficit to tie the game in the third period and ultimately won it in a shootout on Mark Letestu's shootout winner. Houston continues their longest road trip of the season and a three-in-three Sunday afternoon when they take on the Providence Bruins at 3:00 p.m. CST. Tune in live to Joe O'Donnell on KNTH 1070-AM or watch online at AHLLIVE.com.
The Aeros and Penguins started off with a bang. A fight was recorded in each of the first two seconds of the game. Aeros' LW Matt Kassian squared off with LW Paul Bissonnette after the opening puck drop and Aeros' D Mitch Love faced RW Aaron Boogaard immediately following the second face-off. It took 13:19 of the first period for the Aeros to record the first goal of the game. C Corey Locke came in the zone along the left wing boards and centered a pass to RW Danny Irmen who was all alone in the right slot, Irmen wristed the puck over the glove of goaltender John Curry to give the visitors the lead. Houston outshot the Penguins 6-2 in the period, finished 0-for-2 on the power play, and didn't record a minor penalty.
Only 40 seconds into the second period, the Aeros added to their lead with a goal by RW Jesse Schultz. He came in along the right wing, tried a backdoor feed to a streaking Ryan Hamilton, but the puck went off a defenseman and found the back of the net. Schultz was assisted by Peter Olvecky and Brandon Rogers. Less than two minutes later, the Penguins got on the board with C Mark Letestu's sixth goal of the season. RW Jean-Michel Daoust threw the puck on net and Letestu tipped it past Brust. Houston was forced to kill four penalties in the period and but did not allow another goal although they were outshot by the Pens 17-5.
Right wing Janne Pesonen tied the game for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at the 12:22 mark of the final frame. After a scramble in front of Brust, Pesonen found the loose puck and buried his 10th goal of the season. It proved to be the only goal of the period, and for the tenth time this season, the Aeros were headed to overtime.
Neither team scored in the overtime period although each team had four-on-three power play opportunities. In the shootout, Schaefer came in for Brust and stopped three of five shooters, but only one Aero was able to score. Final score: Penguins 3 - Aeros 2.
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