Houston Falls 5-3 to San Antonio Snapping Aeros Nine-Game Point Streak

Published on December 26, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Houston Aeros News Release


HOUSTON, Texas - The Houston Aeros entered the game with a 10-0-1-2 record against the West Division but lost 5-3 to the San Antonio Rampage Friday night, also snapping the team's nine-game point streak. Houston (15-11-1-5) remains in fourth place in the West, only three points behind a first-place tie between Milwaukee and Peoria. The Aeros hit the road tomorrow to take on the Quad City Flames in a 7:05 p.m. contest. Tune in to Joe O'Donnell on 1070-AM KNTH or watch the game live on AHL LIVE.

Houston opened the game recording the first four shots on goal in five minutes. The Aeros were unable to convert on a power play at the 2:44 mark and defenseman Tomas Mojzis was sent to the box for hooking at the 6:12 mark. San Antonio converted on the ensuing power play when David Spina banged home a rebound off a Joel Perrault shot. Two Aeros defensemen ran into each as they skated backwards into the zone giving Perrault an open lane towards Aeros' goaltender Barry Brust. Brust stopped the initial shot on Perrault, but Spina capitalized on the rebound.

The Rampage added their second goal just 30 seconds later on a goal by Garth Murray rebound and Brust was pulled in favor of Aeros' goaltender Nolan Schaefer. The Rampage outshot the Aeros 10-7 in the period, converted on one of their two power play opportunities and Houston was unable to convert on their only man advantage.

Corey Locke cut the Rampage lead in half at the 9:27 mark of the second period when he lifted a wrist shot over the shoulder of Rampage goaltender Josh Tordjman. The power play goal was assisted by John Lammers and Maxim Noreau and ended Lammers' nine-game scoreless drought. San Antonio capitalized on a double-minor high sticking penalty on Jesse Schultz quickly after the Locke goal. Steven Goertzen scored 44 seconds into the first penalty to make it a 3-1 lead and Wyatt Smith scored 20 seconds into the second power play to make it a three-goal lead for the visitors. Brust re-entered the game in net for Houston after San Antonio's fourth goal, but Goertzen wasn't finished he skated coast-to-coast, split the Aeros defense and lifted a goal over the glove of Brust at the 17:49 mark to give the Rampage a 5-1 lead after two periods.

Through the first three games of the season series against the Rampage, Houston has out-scored the team 6-2 and Friday night didn't buck the trend. Houston recorded the only two goals of the third period but wasn't enough for a comeback. Schultz tallied both goals, his fourth and fifth of the season, at 7:22 and 14:08 respectively. The first of his two goals came on a 5-on-4 power-play. The second of Schultz's two goals came shortly after San Antonio killed off a 5-on-3 situation when he was fed the puck on the far side of Tordjman and buried it in the wide-open half of the net.

The teams' combined power-plays were 5-for-13 with Houston scoring on 2-of-7 and the Rampage converting on three of their six chances. The 5-3 win for the Rampage was their first road win of the season as Tordjman blocked 22 of 25 Houston shots on net.

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American Hockey League Stories from December 26, 2008


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