From: Patrick Armstrong, Director of Communications
713.361.7920 (Direct Line)
Scott Henninger, Communications Manager
713.361.7930 (Direct Line)
Saturday, October 18, 2008
HOUSTON AEROS TOP RAMPAGE 8-6 IN SCORING FRENZY
HOUSTON, Texas – The Houston Aeros remain a perfect 3-0 on the season with an 8-6 win over the San Antonio Rampage Saturday night in front of 5,304 fans at Toyota Center. Houston's Corey Locke recorded a team-record four points in the third period to lift the Aeros over San Antonio. Houston travels to San Antonio (1-2-0-0) tomorrow for a 5 p.m. contest so tune in to 1070-AM KNTH to listen to Joe O'Donnell call the games all season long.
A total of five power-play goals and one short-handed marker was scored between the two clubs. Houston went 2-for-7 on the man-advantage with Morten Madsen netting the short-handed goal in the second period. The Rampage recorded two power-play goals on seven chances. Houston’s Nolan Schaefer replaced Barry Brust in net after 8:27 of ice-time. Schaefer finished with 18 saves on 22 shots and Brust knocked away three of five shots on net.
BOX SCORE
The first period seemed a bit like the first matchup last season between the clubs with six combined goals scored in the period, one more than last season’s. The Rampage got on the board first with an even strength marker only 1:21 into the contest. It marked the first even strength goal against the Aeros this season. Aero Matt Kassian and Rampage right wing Francis Lessard had a rematch of a pre-season bout, dropping the gloves shortly after the opening goal with an extra ten-minute misconduct handed to Lessard. Houston came out inspired and tied the game with Marco Rosa wrapping around behind the net and stuffing the puck in at 1:52 in the first period.
Houston took a one goal lead when Jason Deitsch - who joined the club only hours before the puck dropped – scored on a breakaway as he faked forehand and flipped a backhand past Rampage netminder Josh Tordjman. Garth Murray answered for the Rampage just two minutes later to tie the game at two on an unassisted power play goal at the 5:27 mark of the period.
Before the buzzer rang on the first period, each team added a power-play goal to tie it at three. Peter Olvecky scored for the Aeros as he batted a rebound out of mid-air into the back of the net and Greg Classen added a power play goal to tie it at 13:22. In all, six goals were scored in the first 13:22 of the game.
The second period started just as the first left off. San Antonio took a 4-3 lead on Murray’s second goal of the game, another power play goal just 4:26 into the period. Houston answered when Madsen stole the puck short-handed, came in on a breakaway and snuck the puck in, five-hole on Tordjman. It marked the Aeros first short-handed goal of the season and tied the game at four. The seesaw battle continued as the Rampage regained the lead on an even-strength goal at the 9:44 mark when Lessard shot the puck just inside the far post giving the Rampage a 5-4 lead to finish the second frame.
The third period accounted for five of the total goals with four in favor of the Aeros. Houston started the final period scoring with two goals separated by 2:30 of game time. Clayton Stoner scored at 6:48 when his hard shot from the left-wing face-off circle deflected off a Rampage defender’s skate and in. Ryan Hamilton followed by netting his second goal of the season at 9:18 to put the Aeros up 6-5. San Antonio tied the game at 12:43. After tallying assists on the first two goals in the period, Locke put the nail in the coffin with the power-play game-winner scored at 18:12 in the final period followed by an empty-net marker by Locke with 25 seconds remaining for the 8-6 final.
GAME NOTES:
- Houston’s eight goals tied the most scored by the team in club history.
- The 14 combined goals marked the highest goal total in Aeros’ history.
- Corey Locke’s four-point third period set an Aeros' record for points in a period. The last player to record a three point period was Matt Foy on 11/24/06 also vs. San Antonio; all three points were goals.
- Locke’s four-point night was the first an Aero has recorded since Serge Payer put up four points on January 6, 2008. Both recorded two goals and two assists.
- The Aeros’ 3-0 start continues to be the best start since Houston went 8-0 to begin the 2002-03 season.
-- HOUSTON AEROS: 15 Seasons, One Reason -- |
