From: Patrick Armstrong, Director of Communications
713.361.7920 (Direct Line)
Scott Henninger, Communications Manager
713.361.7930 (Direct Line)
December 12, 2007

AEROS WIN FIFTH STRAIGHT OVER HARTFORD

HARTFORD, Conn. – Nolan Schaefer stopped 32 of 33 shots in net for the Houston Aeros in a 6-1 rout over the Hartford Wolf Pack Wednesday night. The Aeros’ goaltender also added two assists and defenseman Erik Reitz had two goals and an assist in the Aeros (13-10-1-1) fifth straight victory. Houston’s six goals came in a span of 18:03 and they tied their season high with four goals in the third period. Four of the Aeros’ six goals were on special teams, three power play goals and one shorthanded. The three power play goals tied a season high.

Box Score

Houston continues their seven-game road trip Friday night in Springfield against the Falcons. They will play three games in three nights in Springfield on Friday, Worcester on Saturday and Providence on Sunday. The Aeros return home on December 22, 2007 when they host the Springfield Falcons. For a limited time, and while supplies last, get center ice/club seats for only $20 (regularly $30) and corner seats for only $15 (regularly $22) each. The Holiday Ticket Special is also available for the December 26 game against I-10 rival, the San Antonio Rampage. The Aeros’ Holiday Stuffer promotion begins at just $44. Lower end zone “Stuffers” are $64, corners are $84 and center ice “Stuffers” are just $116. The Holiday Stuffer can only be purchased through the Aeros front office by calling (713) 974-PUCK.

Neither team was able to light the lamp in the first period, and there were only a couple scoring chances for either team in the first 20 minutes. Schaefer stopped six shots in the first period and G Al Montoya saved all 11 of the Aeros’ shots.

Reitz started the scoring at the 15:05 mark of the second period on a power play goal when his shot deflected of a Wolf Pack defenseman and into the back of the net. He was assisted by C Steve Kelly and the goaltender Nolan Schaefer. It took the Aeros just 1:35 to make it 2-0 when Kelly tipped in a Reitz shot. D Paul Albers also assisted on the play and the Aeros are now 6-0 in games that Albers’ has an assist.

The Wolf Pack outshot the Aeros 20-11 in the period, but Houston went into the locker room with a 2-0 lead. Schaefer stopped all 20 shots he faced in the period tying the Aeros’ season high for saves in a period. G Barry Brust stopped 20 shots in the third period of the Aeros 3-1 win over Peoria on November 16th.

Houston continued their torrid pace in the third period with a power play goal by Ryan Hamilton at the 2:01 mark. He tipped in a shot by D Jon Awe and C Serge Payer earned his first of two assists on the play. At the 5:22 mark, RW Cal Clutterbuck scored his fourth goal of the season in transition on assists from Awe and Payer. The Aeros weren’t finished and they made it a 5-0 game when Reitz took the puck from Schaefer and skated the length of the ice, split the defense and backhanded a shot past Montoya. It was the Aeros third power play goal of the game tying their season high. Finally, at the 13:07 mark, RW Troy Riddle picked up a loose puck while shorthanded, skated down the right wing boards past the defense and lift the puck over the glove hand of Montoya for his third goal of the season.

RW Greg Moore ended Schaefer’s bid for a perfect game with just 3:02 remaining in the final period. Moore skated around the Aeros’ defense and scored his 15th goal of the season, a shorthanded goal, and ended Schaefer’s shutout. Final score: Aeros 6 – Wolf Pack 1.

Schaefer finished with 32 saves on 33 shots and improved his record to 8-4-0. He has won six straight games backstopping the Aeros’ defense. Houston continues their seven-game road trip Friday night in Springfield against the Falcons. They will play three games in three nights in Springfield on Friday, Worcester on Saturday and Providence on Sunday.

Notes:
- The Aeros five game win streak is their longest such streak in over a year. The Aeros won five straight in November of 2006.
- Steve Kelly has three goals in the last two games.
- Houston is 6-0 this season when D Paul Albers records an assist.
- Houston scored six goals in regulation for the first time this season. All six goals were scored in a span of 18:03.

-- HOUSTON AEROS --