From: Patrick Armstrong, Director of Communications
713.361.7920 (Direct Line)
Scott Henninger, Communications Manager
713.361.7930 (Direct Line)
Saturday, March 15, 2008

HOUSTON DEFENSEMAN CARRY TEAM TO 3-2 WIN OVER ROCKFORD

HOUSTON, Texas – Houston Aeros defenseman Brandon Rogers netted a career-high two goals in a game en route to a 3-2 victory over the Rockford IceHogs in front of 6,566 fans at Toyota Center Saturday night. The Aeros’ (35-23-2-3) victory over the IceHogs (36-22-4-6) evened the season-series at three games apiece.

Box Score

Aeros’ goaltender Barry Brust stopped 25 of 27 shots in his 17th win of the season, tying injured Nolan Schaefer’s total for the team-high. Along with Rogers, C Marco Rosa and RW Joel Ward each recorded two points but on two assists each rather than goals. Rockford net-minder Wade Flaherty was chased from the net after allowing two goals on four shots in 4:09 of game time. Backup Mike Brodeur got the loss after stopping 19 of 20 shots.

After the Hanson Brother antics on the ice prior to the puck drop, the Aeros jumped out to an early two-goal lead. Just 30 seconds into the contest, Aeros defenseman Clayton Stoner found some space in the left circle and ripped a slapshot that snuck through the padding of  Brodeur. The goal marked Stoner’s third of the season on assists from Rosa and Ward.

Rogers notched his first of two goals on the game less than three minutes after the Stoner goal. He took a pass from Cal Clutterbuck and beat Brodeur stick side for a four-on-four goal at the 4:09 mark. Houston’s 2-0 lead didn’t last long as Rockford quickly answered on a power play goal by Justin Fletcher, his third of the season at 8:19. Rockford outshot the Aeros 8-6 in the period but went to the locker room for the first intermission trailing 2-1.

Rogers tallied the only goal in the second period to give the Aeros a 3-1 lead at the 13:53 mark and proved to be the game-winner. Houston was on the power play, and Rosa fed Rogers who blasted a shot from the right circle past Brodeur for his second goal of the game. The two-goal game for Rogers marked the second time this season an Aeros defenseman had two goals.

The third period was held scoreless until the 15:53 mark as the Aeros were faced with a delayed penalty and an extra attacker against. IceHog defenseman Tyson Marsh slapped a hard shot toward the center of the ice which deflected off an Aero defender and past Brust to bring Rockford within one. RW Petri Kontiola and RW Derek Nesbitt earned the assists. That wouldn’t be enough for the IceHogs as the Aeros avenged Thursday’s loss with a 3-1 victory Saturday night.

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Notes:
- Aeros are 7-2-0-1 when scoring two or more goals in the opening period.
- The game marked the first time this season that three goals were scored by defenseman. Houston has two-goal games from defenseman three times this season. Houston has won every game
- Brandon Rogers became the second defenseman this season to have a two goal game. It also marked a career-high in goals in a game and tied a career-high for points. Erik Reitz marked two goals on December 12, 2007 against Hartford in a 6-1 win.
- Houston’s two goals in the first period marked the first time the team had done so in 23 games. The last time they had more than one goal in the first period before Saturday’s contest was a three-goal effort against Manitoba on January 12 in a 4-1 win.
- The Aeros scored for the first time in four games against a divisional foe. Houston was shutout twice against the Iowa Stars on February 15 and 17, and again on Thursday night against Rockford.

-- HOUSTON AEROS --