Houston Aeros Score Three In Third To Defeat Texas Stars 5-2

December 16, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Houston Aeros News Release


CEDAR PARK, TX - C Chad Rau recorded his first career multi-goal game and RW J-M Daoust added a goal and an assist as the Houston Aeros (14-12-2-1) defeated the West Division leading Texas Stars (19-8-2-2) 5-2 in front of 4,570 at the Cedar Park Center. Forwards Duncan Milroy and Jon DiSalvatore also scored while G Wade Dubielewicz (5-7-0) stopped 10 of 12 shots to notch his third win in as many starts. D Maxime Fortunus and LW Francis Walthier scored for Texas and former Aero G Matt Climie tallied 11 saves in the loss.

Neither club forced many scoring opportunities in the first period, but it was the Stars who managed to light the lamp at the 12:54 mark to take a 1-0 lead to intermission. Fortunus let one fly from the right circle to beat Dubielewicz top shelf. It was the first time Texas posted a first period marker against the Aeros this season. Houston outshot the Stars 4-3 and killed one Stars power play.

Texas came into the game having outscored Houston 9-1 in the second period. The Aeros looked to put a stop to that trend on their first man advantage of the night. D Maxim Noreau threw the puck into a crowd, LW Colton Gillies initially tipped it on net and Milroy finished off the rebound with his third of the season. The goal, scored at the 8:25 mark, was Milroy's first marker in 22 games (10/16 vs. SA). Noreau's helper gives him a team season-high six-game point streak (2-4=6).

The Stars would retake the lead 4:32 later when an Aeros turnover in their own end resulted in a Walthier's goal from the top of the right circle. Houston would have an answer, though, and it was off a rocket from Rau. Daoust found an open Rau at the left point and his shot deflected straight down off the crossbar and across the goal line to knot the game up 2-2.

Houston entered the game 12-2-2-1 when tied or leading after two periods and took charge in the final period off a trio of goals. DiSalvatore put the Aeros on top for good when he sent a backhander on net that beat Climie upstairs at 10:51. The goal gives DiSalvatore a two-game goal streak, his first goal streak with the Aeros. Daoust made it a multi-point game when he sent a rebound bid into a wide open net off a shot from C Andy Hilbert. Finally, Rau sealed the game off a short handed empty-netter with 44 seconds left on the clock for his first career multi-goal game.

The Aeros converted on both power play opportunities on the night while holding Texas scoreless on a pair of power plays. Houston outshot the Stars 17-12 in their first victory at the Cedar Park Center this season. The game-winning-goal was DiSalvatore's second in as many games and he is tied with Daoust and RW Danny Irmen for the team lead with two game-winning-goals this season. Aeros D Ryan Lannon played in his 300th AHL game.

The Aeros return to Toyota Center tomorrow night to take on the San Antonio Rampage. Puck drop for the Lone Star Faeoff matchup is set for 7:05 p.m. Catch the game live on 1070 AM-KNTH and ahllive.com. Follow the in-game blog on zamchron.com.



American Hockey League Stories from December 16, 2009


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