From: Patrick Armstrong, Director of Communications
713.361.7920 (Direct Line)
Scott Henninger, Communications Manager
713.361.7930 (Direct Line)
Saturday, March 29, 2008

HOUSTON FENDS OFF LATE COMEBACK
TO HOLD 4-3 VICTORY OVER CHICAGO WOLVES

HOUSTON, Texas – The Houston Aeros came out strong reaching a four-goal lead before a late rally brought the Chicago Wolves within one goal but Houston was able to hold on for a 4-3 victory Saturday night at Allstate Arena in front of 9,636 fans. Houston (40-26-2-3) travels to play Milwaukee Sunday night as Chicago (47-19-2-3) stays home to host Grand Rapids. Tune in to Jason Shaver on AM 1070-KNTH to keep up with all the play-by-play action as the Aeros begin their first of five games against Milwaukee in the final nine games. Milwaukee is currently tied with the Aeros for the fourth spot in the West Division, you don’t want to miss out!

Box Score

The Aeros started the game off fast with Danny Irmen scoring the first goal only 66 seconds after the opening puck drop. Serge Payer earned the loan assist on the early goal marking the first time this season the Aeros scored in the first frame against Chicago. Irmen followed up with his second goal of the game at 7:42 in the period, his first multi-goal game of the season. Cal Clutterbuck earned the lone assist to round out the first period scoring.

Clutterbuck put Houston up 3-0 with his second short-handed goal of the season, tying a club-high with Joel Ward. The unassisted goal came at 3:18 in the second period. The Aeros improved to a 4-0 lead at 4:45 in the frame with Payer netting his 11th goal of the season. Rookie Colton Gillies earned his first professional point in his second game in Houston with an assist on the marker. Chicago recorded their first goal by Joey Crabb at 10:13 in the frame bringing the club within three goals. Derran Haydar and Jordan LaVallee earned the assists on the play.

The Wolves were able to keep the Aeros out of the net in the third period and recorded a pair of their own to bring the game within one goal. Steve Martins recorded Chicago’s second goal of the night at 14:35, a short-handed marker during a five-on-three situation in favor of Houston. After pulling replacement net-minder Robert Gherson in favor of an extra attacker, Haydar was able to stuff home a goal with 21 ticks left on the clock. The Wolves couldn’t score with the time remaining on the clock, closing out the Aeros third victory in as many games with Chicago.

The Aeros finished with 36 shots on net compare to Chicago’s 20. Neither team was able to convert on their power-play opportunities as Houston had nine and the Wolves had three chances. The clubs’ totaled 34 infractions for 144 penalty minutes, the most this season for and against the Aeros this season. Aeros Barry Brust earned the win stopping 16 of 19 shots. Chicago net-minder Ondrej Pavelec stopped 12 of 16 shots before being pulled after 24:42 of ice time in the loss. Gherson knocked aside all 20 shots faced in relief.

Game Notes:
- The Aeros won the last three games of the season-series against Chicago to finish with a 3-3 record. After the first three games against the Wolves this season Houston was on a five-game losing streak dating back to last season but finished the 2007-08 campaign on a three game win-streak against the club.
- The win also improved the Aeros season-high six game road-winning streak which began February 22 with a shootout win at Syracuse, the first of the season-high seven game overall winning stretch.
- Cal Clutterbuck’s short-handed goal in the second period was the first since such goal since he recorded the last one for the Aeros on February 23 in a 2-1 overtime win at Hamilton.
- The 66 penalty minutes recorded on the Aeros and 78 against the opponent tonight were both season-records. Houston set the season-high with 49 PIMs against the night before against Peoria but surpassed that mark in Chicago on Saturday.

-- HOUSTON AEROS --