Maxim Noreau Leads Houston Aeros Past San Antonio Rampage 2-1 In Overtime

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


HOUSTON - D Maxim Noreau scored the game-winner with 36 seconds remaining in overtime as the Houston Aeros (15-12-2-1) defeated the San Antonio Rampage (9-14-3-1) 2-1 in front of 2,538 at Toyota Center Wednesday night. LW Colton Gillies scored in regulation for the Aeros and G Wade Dubielewicz (6-7-0) earned his fourth win in as many starts making 26 saves on the night. F Mikkel Boedker scored for San Antonio while G Josh Tordjman (4-8-0) tallied 36 saves in the overtime loss.

After an uneventful opening frame the Aeros finally lit the lamp at the 9:34 mark of the second period. C Nathan Smith slid a forehand pass across the crease to Gillies who stuffed it home into a wide open net; D Justin Falk was also credited with an assist, his second of the year. The goal for Gillies was his first since the season opener in Manitoba (10/2).

In six previous games this season, the Aeros out-scored San Antonio 10-3 in third period, but it was the Rampage who managed to find the scoreboard in the final frame on Wednesday. Boedker pounced on a lose puck in front of the net and sent a wrister past Dubielewicz to tie the game 1-1 at the 10:01 mark. Neither team was able to find the board again in regulation to send the game to overtime.

Both clubs struggled to maintain puck possession throughout the extra session, until Noreau took a corner bid from C Chad Rau, charged the net and beat Tordjman glove side for the game winner with 36 seconds left. The goal extended Noreau's season-high point streak to seven games (3-4=7). Rau also extended his point streak to three games (2-2=4).

"We looked like a team that has played four games in six nights," said head coach Kevin Constantine. "We were tired but the good part about the team is that they regrouped. We had a good second which set the stage to win."

The Aeros outshot San Antonio 38-27 while both teams went 0-for-1 on the man advantage. Houston moves to 3-2 in overtime games this season in a game in which both teams only registered two PIM.

"In some ways when you're tired it might help [to not have a lot of penalties]." Constantine said. "When you have a lot of special teams, there are people that sit or there are people that play a lot and when you're tired, you'd kind of like to use your whole bench so no body gets extended too much."

The Aeros host the division leading Texas Stars (19-8-2-2) on Friday. Puck drop for the Lone Star Faceoff matchup is scheduled for 7:35 p.m at Toyota Center. The game can be heard 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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