Aeros In Three Way Tie For Third With One Game Left

Published on April 13, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Houston Aeros News Release


HOUSTON, Texas - The Houston Aeros beat the Milwaukee Admirals 3-2-Saturday night in front of the biggest crowd of the season of 11,831 fans at Toyota Center. After jumping out to a 3-0 lead, the Aeros gave up two goals in the third period but held on for the win and two points in the standings. Houston is now tied with Milwaukee and San Antonio for third place in the West Division with just one game left in the regular season.

The Aeros season finale is tomorrow afternoon against the Milwaukee Admirals at 4:00 p.m. at Toyota Center. The first 3,000 fans will receive rally towels and it is the last Family Day of the season. Packages include four tickets, four Aeros gifts, $20 in Toyota Bucks, free parking and a post game activity! Call (713) 974-PUCK for tickets.

Colton Gillies put the Aeros up 1-0 in the first period on his first professional goal. Brandon Rogers ripped a shot from the top of the right circle that was deflected by Ross Carlson, and Gillies picked up the rebound and banged it into the open net. The Aeros came right back down and made it 2-0 less than two minutes later when Joel Ward took a rebound of a Peter Olvecky shot and buried the short angled rebound to the stick side of Admirals' goaltender Pekka Rinne.

Houston nearly made it 3-0 when, at the six minute mark of the second period, Serge Payer broke in unabated but Rinne stoned Payer snatching his backhand out of the air. Shortly after, Ward registered his second goal of the night at the 11:51 mark to give the Aeros a three-goal lead. The goal proved to be the game winner, and it marked Ward's 20th of the season. He is now tied with Ryan Hamilton for the most goals on the Aeros this season.

The Admirals came to life in the third period, but were helped by the Aeros costly penalties. Houston was whistled for the final six penalties of the game giving Milwaukee five power plays in the third period. The Admirals converted on two of the five opportunities.

First, Andreas Thuresson took a pass inside the right dot and lifted a wrist shot over the left shoulder of Barry Brust to end his shutout bid at the 7:47 mark. Then Cal O'Reilly notched an unassisted power play goal with 5:50 remaining in the game when he came out from behind the Aeros net and jammed the puck in past Brust. Houston killed the final power play opportunity and held on for the one-goal win, their 44th win of the season.

Notes:

- The Aeros and Admirals could not be more evenly matched going into the final game of the regular season. The teams are tied with San Antonio for third place in the West Division with 94 points each. Houston and Milwaukee have nearly identical records, both with 44 wins and 29 losses. The only difference is that the Aeros have two overtime losses and four shootout losses and the Admirals have four overtime losses and two shootout losses.

- Houston's magic number this season remains three. The are 34-1-2-3 this season when scoring three or more goals and they are just 10-28-0-1 when scoring two or fewer.

- Joel Ward's two goals raised another $4,000 for Bo's Place due to the generous donations of an anonymous donor. Ward is now tied with Ryan Hamilton for the team lead this season with 20 goals.

- The Aeros current 94 points is a 30-point improvement over last year's 64. It marks the largest single season improvement since joining the AHL and is tied for the team record for the best improvement from one season to the next. Houston recorded a 30-point improvement between the 1995-96 and 96-97 seasons while in the IHL.

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American Hockey League Stories from April 13, 2008


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