From: Patrick Armstrong, Director of Communications
713.361.7920 (Direct Line)
Scott Henninger, Communications Manager
713.361.7930 (Direct Line)
Tuesday, March 25, 2008

AEROS COME BACK FROM TWO GOAL DEFICIT TO DEFEAT PEORIA 3-2 IN SHOOTOUT

HOUSTON, Texas – The Houston Aeros completed a comeback from two goals down as Shawn Belle netted the only shootout goal for a 3-2 victory over the Peoria Rivermen in front of 3,346 fans at Toyota Center Tuesday night. Houston (39-25-2-3) moved into the third spot in the West Division, overtaking San Antonio by one point. Peoria (35-26-4-5) will head down the road to play San Antonio Thursday night before returning to Toyota Center this Friday. Tickets are still available for Friday’s contest and the first 3,000 fans inside will receive Aeros’ Mullet Hats! Call 713.974.PUCK to get your tickets.

Box Score

Peoria got the scoring started at 8:16 in the first period as LW Chris Porter netted a rebound off of Brust’s pads. Centerman Trent Whitfield put the puck in front of the net from the back boards as defenseman Jim Jackson put the initial shot on net, both earning assists. That began and ended the scoring for the first frame with Peoria outshooting the Aeros 8-6. The Rivermen recorded the only penalty in the period but the Aeros couldn’t convert on the power-play.

The Rivermen again recorded the only goal of the period as Whitfield tallied his second point of the evening on the goal coming at 2:51 in the second. Jackson earned his second assist of the game and D Alex Brooks marked the second assist on the goal. Peoria out-shot the Aeros 10-9 and also allowed one more man-advantage for Houston.

Houston finally got on the board when LW Ryan Hamilton netted a power-play goal at 1:48 in the third period. Jon Awe and Brandon Rogers earned the assists after Awe took the initial shot from the face-off circle on Bishop’s stick side.

With 1:54 remaining in the game Houston was put on the power-play for the rest of regulation. Houston pulled Brust from the net giving the club a 6-on-4 advantage and Joel Ward was able to tie the game with only 44 seconds left. Only three total shots were recorded in the extra session, two for Houston and one for the Rivermen but that wasn’t enough to decide the 2-2 contest.

The first five shots in the shootout were blocked before the Aeros’ Shawn Belle recorded the only goal as the club's third shooter. Brust blocked the remaining two shots for his second shootout win of the season improving his overall record to 20-13-3.

Don’t miss on your chance to see the Aeros, tickets are available by calling (713) 974-PUCK, click here for special packages. The Aeros need your support as they look for their 12th playoff berth in 14 seasons. There are only four games left at Toyota Center in the 2007-08 regular season including tonight.

-- HOUSTON AEROS --