Houston Aeros Weekly

Published on January 19, 2009 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Houston Aeros News Release


THIS WEEK'S GAMES

The Houston Aeros are on a three-game winning streak, their longest since starting the season with four straight wins, moving the club into second place in the West Division. Houston's record of 20-17-1-7 and 48 points trails division-leading Milwaukee by 10 points but Iowa, Chicago, Rockford and Peoria are all within two points of the Aeros. The Peoria Rivermen, who are two points back, will visit Houston for back-to-back games this Friday and Saturday. The games begin a stretch with 33 of Houston's remaining 35 games against the West Division.

Friday's 7:35 p.m. game will be the Rivermen's first in Houston this season after playing the first two contests in Peoria. Both of those games were decided in a shootout with each team prevailing once in 4-3 decisions.

Corey Locke scored a goal in each of those contests. Goaltender Nolan Schaefer stopped 15 of 18 shots in the first contest, eventually losing in the shootout on December 21. Schaefer stepped to win the shootout on December 28 with Barry Brust knocking aside 28 of 31 shots prior to the shootout.

Saturday's contest is also slated for 7:35 p.m. for the second puck drop of the weekend against Peoria. Houston holds a 16-11-1-2 all-time record against the Rivermen and a 9-4-0-1 record playing the club in Houston. Last season the Aeros posted a 6-2-0-0 record while splitting the four games in Houston 2-2 and winning all four on the road.

WEEK IN REVIEW

Goaltender Nolan Schaefer started both games for the Aeros this past week helping the club earn all four points with the back-to-back wins. Schaefer stopped 35 of 37 shots faced and knocked aside all three shootout attempts in Friday's 3-2 shootout win over the Toronto Marlies.

The second-year Aeros' netminder stopped 12 of 13 shots faced Sunday in a 2-1 victory over the Lake Erie Monsters for his third straight, including his 4-1 win in Chicago on January 11. The three straight wins ties the longest win streak for Houston goalies this season and is the longest streak for the team since it won four straight to begin the season. In the three contests, Schaefer has stopped 71 of 75 shots for a .947 save percentage.

Houston faced a 2-1 deficit heading into the third period but came back and won the contest 3-2 in a shootout Friday night. Matt Beaudoin's first period goal extended his goal scoring streak to three games. He has one goal in each of those games and they are his first three goals in his AHL career. Morten Madsen's assist on the Beaudoin goal marked his third assist in as many games and fourth in the past five games since returning from injury. Houston recorded three successful attempts in the shootout, the most in any of the ten shootout appearances this season.

Jason Ryznar tallied his second goal of the season for the Aeros Sunday night with just under three minutes remaining to give Houston the 2-1 victory over the Lake Erie Monsters. Houston now owns a 6-1 all-time record over the Monsters. Jesse Schultz and Corey Locke each extended their respective points streaks on the Aeros first period goal. Schultz's streak is now at three games with two goals and three assists. Locke's streak is now at three games with a goal and two assists. Brandon Rogers also extended his assist streak to three games with three assist when he helped on the game winner.

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American Hockey League Stories from January 19, 2009


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