Aeros 3, Rampage 2



SUGAR LAND, Texas – Pierre-Marc Bouchard assisted on a pair of power play goals, including Marius Holtet’s (pictured) go-ahead tally early in the third period, as the Houston Aeros rallied for a 3-2 victory over the San Antonio Rampage in front of a capacity crowd at the Sugar Land Aerodrome.



Josh Harding made 22 saves and Matt Foy and Kyle Wanvig also scored for the Aeros (2-1-0-0), who finish their pre-season slate tomorrow night in San Antonio.



Lou Dickenson and Kamil Kreps scored and Travis Scott stopped 28 shots for the Rampage.



Dickenson made it 1-0 with a shorthanded tally with 6:01 left in the first. The rookie broke in alone on Harding after a turnover and slipped the puck into the net on San Antonio’s third shot.



Houston equaled the score with 1:24 remaining in the opening period, with Foy’s first goal of the pre-season. Mikko Koivu fed Foy at the blueline, and the winger powered around a defender and slid the puck under Scott’s pads.



Kreps put the Rampage back on top 6:38 into the second, when he turned and fired from the left circle through traffic and past Harding.



Wanvig got Houston even again on the power play at 11:52 of the second. Bouchard, at the top of the right circle, fired a shot that went of Wanvig’s body in front of the net and past a screened Scott. The tally gives Wanvig three points in the pre-season.



Holtet’s first goal in an Aeros uniform, 4:12 into the third on the power play, put Houston on top for the first time. Erik Reitz headmanned a pass for Bouchard along the right wing. Bouchard held the puck, drew two defenders and slid a perfect pass 50 feet across the ice to a waiting Holtet on the left wing. The highest drafted Norwegian player in history ripped one past Scott.



San Antonio nearly got the equalizer with 2:02 left, but Harding stoned Jay Bouwmeester’s shot from the left point, and then covered up Dickenson’s rebound attempt on his back.



Houston finished 2-for-8 on the power play, while San Antonio went 0-for-3.