Aeros lose game three 2-1 to IceHogs
April 22, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Houston Aeros News Release
HOUSTON, Texas - Derek Nesbitt unlocked a 1-1 tie with 2:46 remaining in the third period to lift the Rockford IceHogs to a 2-1 victory over the Houston Aeros Tuesday night at Toyota Center in game three of the West Division Semifinals. Rockford scored the final two goals of the game from Nesbitt and Kris Versteeg to overcome a 1-0 deficit and take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Marco Rosa tallied the only goal for the Aeros and Barry Brust stopped 32 of 34 shots for his first post-season loss.
Games four and five are at Toyota Center this Thursday, April 24 and Friday, April 25. Tickets are available by calling 713.974.PUCK or visiting AEROS.com.
The Aeros got on the board first, their first lead of the series, when Marco Rosa slapped the puck through traffic from the faceoff circle and it found a way through and into the net at 5:01 in the first frame. Adrian Foster and Joel Ward earned the assists. The lead only lasted 6:05 when IceHogs right wing Kris Versteeg tied the game at one apiece. Troy Brouwer and Tyson Marsh tallied the assists on the goal coming at 11:06 in the opening frame. The goals marked the first time either team has scored in the first period this series.
The IceHogs out-shot the Aeros 8-5 in the first frame and the gap only widened in the second with Rockford recording 14 more to Aeros four. However, the score remained knotted up at 1-1 as the teams headed to the locker rooms. Neither team recorded goals on their two power plays through the first two periods but the IceHogs started the third period with 46 seconds remaining on a Serge Payer high-sticking penalty.
The game looked as if it would be another overtime contest as it was tied 1-1 with three minutes left to play. However, Rockford gained control of the puck in their defensive zone. Martin St. Pierre skated down the ice along the boards and centered the puck to Derek Nesbitt who put the puck on net but was blocked by Brust. Nesbitt recovered the puck behind the net and deflected it off of Brust's skates and in for the game winning goal at 17:14 in the third period.
Rockford outshot the Aeros 34-16 in the contest and took a 2-1 lead in the series that will stay in Houston for games four and five. Neither team still has not been able to tally a power play goal through the first three games of the series with the IceHogs going 0-10 and Houston finishing 0-11.
Notes: - The Aeros are 2-3 all-time in the playoffs when trailing a series two games to one. - Houston has scored just three goals in the first three games of the series. - The game only marked the 14th loss in 58 games for Houston when scoring the first goal. They are now 44-14 all-time in the playoffs when scoring the first goal.
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