Grand Rapids Storms Past Houston Aeros 7-2
February 13, 2010 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Houston Aeros News Release
HOUSTON - C Justin Abdelkader and LW Mattias Ritola each scored a goal and an assist and 15 different skaters recorded at least one point as the Grand Rapids Griffins (24-28-0-1) defeated the Houston Aeros (26-21-6-1) 7-2 in front of 6,036 at Toyota Center Friday night. G Barry Brust (4-2-0) had his four-game winning streak snapped saving 14 of 19 in 45:28 of ice time while LW Petr Kalus and LW Colton Gillies tallied the only markers for Houston. G Daniel Larsson (16-15-1) made 26 saves to earn the victory.
In a physical first period that saw 11 penalties including four fighting majors, three goals were scored between the two clubs. Grand Rapids tallied the first goal when RW Jamie Tardif broke into the Aeros' end on a short handed breakaway where he beat Brust glove side at 5:47. The goal is the sixth short handed marker given up by Houston this season. The Griffins took a 2-0 lead at 13:34 off the stick of LW Tomas Tatar when he deflected home C Evan McGrath's shot on net.
The Aeros cut the lead in half thanks to a power play goal from Kalus. RW Duncan Milroy gathered the puck just outside the crease and rang his shot off the post. The deflection found the tape of Kalus who banged it to the back of the net for his 11th of the season.
The Griffins extended their lead with two goals in the middle stanza. The first came 12:43 into the period when C Kris Newbury took a centering feed from RW Jeremy Williams and found a wide open net. Grand Rapids took a 4-1 lead at 16:16 off a left point snap shot from D Andy Delmore.
The Griffins continued to pile it on 5:34 into the third frame when F John Vigilante tallied his ninth goal of the season. Gillies celebrated his 21st birthday by netting his fourth of the campaign to inch the Aeros to within three at 6:26, but the Griffins tacked on a pair of late goals to seal it.
The seven goals allowed is the most given up by the Aeros since falling 7-3 to Worcester Mar. 31, 2007 at Toyota Center. Houston outshot the Griffins 28-22 and went 1-for-6 on the power play. Grand Rapids finished the night 2-for-3 on the man advantage. Aeros LW Peter Zingoni left the game midway through the first period and did not return after taking a hit by Abdelkader.
The Aeros and Griffins take the ice in the seseason series finale between the two clubs tomorrow night. Puck drop is set for 7:35 p.m. at Toyota Center and it's Texas Lottery Night as the first 2,700 fans get a chance to receive a free scratch off ticket. Also the first 3,000 fans receive an Aeros team poster. If you can't attend remember you can watch the game live on ahllive.com and listen to Joe O'Donnell's call on 1070 AM-KNTH. Follow the interactive in-game blog on aeros.com.
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