Aeros Top Rampage in OT to Take Fourth Straight Win, First Place
March 20, 2011 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Houston Aeros News Release
HOUSTON --- Chad Rau scored the deciding shootout goal, Jon DiSalvatore bagged his career-best 23rd goal of the season and the Houston Aeros skated to their fourth consecutive win in a 3-2 shootout victory over the San Antonio Rampage on Sunday at the AT&T Center.
The win gave the Aeros sole possession of first place in the West Division and Western Conference. Houston, with 88 points, leads the Milwaukee Admirals by one point in the standings and by four wins. Milwaukee has three games in-hand on the Aeros.
Patrick O'Sullivan extended his scoring streak to four games (4-3-7) with a pair of assists while DiSalvatore (1-1-2) registered his 13th multi-point games of the season. Aeros goaltender Matt Hackett made 37 saves in regulation and overtime and then stopped three of five in the shootout.
After a scoreless first period, the teams traded three goals in a span of 3:31 in the middle stanza. San Antonio's Randy Robitaille broke through at 5:25, only to see Houston's DiSalvatore answer back 35 seconds later to knot the score at 1-1. Mathieu Beaudoin regained a one-goal lead for San Antonio at 8:56 that held up until Cody Almond forced extra time with his 14th goal of the season at 7:08 of the third.
The Aeros visit the Texas Stars on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and return home on Friday to start a three-game weekend against the Oklahoma City Barons at 7:35 p.m.
Call 713-974-7825 (PUCK) for more information on Aeros tickets and other promotions.
BOMB DROPPINGS Defenseman Jeff Penner collected his first point as an Aero with an assist on DiSalvatore's goal... Matt Hackett is riding a personal season-high four game win streak... Houston wrapped up the season series with the Rampage with a 6-4-0-0 record... The Aeros improved to 6-17-0-1 when trailing after two periods... All 41 wins by the Aeros have occurred when the team allows three or fewer goals... DiSalvatore cracked the 22-goal mark, which he has hit four other times in his pro career, with a first period tally... Houston has seven games remaining in the regular season and leads the West Division with 41 wins. They will finish Sunday with a wins lead of at least three... The Aeros have earned at least a point in five straight games (4-0-0-1).
DECIDING GOAL Rau (SO, 5th round)
POWER PLAYS HOU: 0/5 SA: 0/3
GOALIES HOU: Hackett (37/39; 3/5 SO, W) SA: Climie (25/27; 2/5 SO, SOL)
TEAM RECORDS HOU: 41-25-1-5 SA: 37-27-3-2
AEROS STARTERS F - Almond, DiSalvatore, O'Sullivan D - Noreau, Bagnall G - Hackett
AEROS SCRATCHES Fraser, Palmer, Buck, Kassian, Cuma
NEXT GAME March 22 at TEX, 7:30 p.m.
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American Hockey League Stories from March 20, 2011
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