Aeros Lose in Shootout to Rivermen 4-3

Published on December 21, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Houston Aeros News Release


HOUSTON, Texas - The Houston Aeros scored three unanswered goals to comeback from a three-goal deficit before losing in a shootout 4-3 to the Peoria Rivermen Sunday evening. Corey Locke tallied the game-tying goal with just 29 seconds remaining to force the overtime and ensure a point for the Aeros. Houston extended their point streak to nine games with the shootout loss (5-0-0-4) and sits all alone in fourth place in the West Division with a record of 15-10-1-5, just two points from first place Chicago.

The Aeros have four days off before returning to Toyota Center on December 26 where they take on the San Antonio Rampage and host their annual bikini contest. Special ticket packages are available by calling the Aeros front office at (713) 974-PUCK or visiting AEROS.com.

Josh Soares took a backdoor feed from Chris Conner and buried it to give the Rivermen a 1-0 lead at the 12:52 mark of the first period. Soares eighth goal of the season was also assisted by Jonas Junland. Houston pressured for the remainder of the period but was unable to tie the game. The Aeros finished outshooting Peoria 7-6 in the period.

After the first five minutes of the second period, the Rivermen extended their lead to 3-0. Steve Wagner scored his third of the season, an unassisted goal, just 1:28 into the period, and Steve Regier added a shorthanded goal giving Peoria the three-goal lead. Houston bounced back in the second half of the period with a pair of goals. Marco Rosa made it a 3-1 game with a power play goal at the 13:12 mark on assists from Jesse Schultz and Peter Olvecky. At the 18:24 mark of the period, Tomas Mojzis let a slapshot go from the point that bounced off a Rivermen defenseman and into the back of the net for Mojzis' third of the season. Peoria led 3-2 after two periods although the Aeros had the advantage in shots at 16-11.

Late in the third period the Aeros were forced to kill two separate five-on-three penalties. The second kill lasted 1:53, but Houston was able to kill all four penalties and get back to even strength. In the final minute, Houston pulled their goaltender and had a face off in the Peoria zone. Peoria won the face off, but the puck came back to the point where Aeros' defenseman Brandon Rogers threw the puck on net. The puck bounced around and found Locke on the doorstep where he backhanded it into the net to tie the game with just 29 seconds remaining.

Houston extended their point streak to nine games with the Locke goal and after a five-minute overtime period, the teams went to a shootout. Aeros' goaltender Nolan Schaefer stopped just one of the four shots he faced and Houston was only able to score one goal on four chances giving the Rivermen the victory. Both teams finished with fiver power plays in the game with Houston scoring once and not allowing the Rivermen to tally a goal with the man advantage.

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American Hockey League Stories from December 21, 2008


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