From: Patrick Armstrong, Director of Communications
713.361.7920 (Direct Line)
Scott Henninger, Communications Manager
713.361.7930 (Direct Line)
March 30, 2008

THE TWO TEAMS WILL MEET FOUR MORE TIMES THIS SEASON

 MILWAUKEE, Wisc.– In a battle for sole possession third place in the West Division, the Milwaukee Admirals defeated Houston Aeros 4-3 in a shootout Sunday evening at Bradley Center. Houston’s Ryan Hamilton led all scorers with a pair of goals, but Matt Ellison’s shootout winner gave the Admirals (41-27-3-2) the victory and a one point lead over Houston (40-26-2-4) and San Antonio for third place in the West.

Box Score

The Aeros continue their longest road trip of the season Wednesday night in Cleveland where they take on the Lake Erie Monsters at 7:00 p.m. Houston plays six more road games before coming home for a pair of games against the Admirals on April 12 and 13 at Toyota Center. Buy tickets.

In a game that had three lead changes, Milwaukee opened the scoring and Mike Santorelli netted the only goal in the first period at the 11:09 mark. His 19th goal of the season was assisted by Ellison and Nolan Yonkman. Milwaukee carried the play for much of the opening period and held a 7-4 shots advantage after one.

Houston answered in the second on Ross Carlson’s second goal of the season at the 8:12 mark of the period. Aeros’ newly acquired forward, Colton Gillies just missed on a shot attempt, the puck was corralled by Morten Madsen behind the net and he dished it to Carlson to tie the game at one. Houston dominated the play in the second outshooting Milwaukee 8-3 and the teams skated to the locker rooms tied at one.

Hamilton gave the Aeros their first lead of the game at the 3:39 mark of the period on a nice wrap around goal for his first of the game, but the Admirals answered. Antti Pihlstrom buried a goal at the 11:57 mark to tie the game at two but the team’s weren’t finished.

John Vigilante re-took the lead for Milwaukee with just 2:39 remaining in the game when his shot deflected off another skater and past Aeros’ netminder Anton Khudobin, but the Aeros did not lay down. Hamilton scored his second of the game and team leading 17th of the season just 31 seconds later to again tie the game.

The teams skated to the end of regulation and a scoreless overtime where the Admirals outshot the Aeros 3-1 but neither team succeeded the game winner forcing the shootout.

Shawn Belle scored twice for the Aeros in the shootout, but it wasn’t good enough as Jason Guerriero added two for Milwaukee and Ellison the shootout winner. Khudobin stopped four of seven in the shootout and his counterpart Dov Grumet-Morris stopped five of seven for the victory.

Neither team was able to capitalize on the power play with Houston going 0-for-3 and Milwaukee 0-for-4.

Houston and Milwaukee will meet for more times before the end of the season, twice more in Milwaukee and the final two games of the season in Houston. The teams will be battling each other and the San Antonio Rampage for the third spot in the West Division. Peoria only trails by five points with eight games remaining.

Notes:
- Houston’s record in the third game of a three game set went to 4-1-0-1 after the setback to the Admirals. The final two weekends of the season will see the Aeros play three games in three nights in each of those weekends.
- Left wing Ryan Hamilton had not recorded a two-goal game in his first 123 games as a pro with the Aeros. Sunday night was the second two-goal performance in his last four games. He recorded two goals against San Antonio in a 3-2 win on March 23.
- Houston’s next game is against the Lake Erie Monsters on Wednesday, that game and the following game against Grand Rapids on Friday, March 4 are the last two games against non-divisional opponents. Six of the last eight games are against divisional foes and four of those are against Milwaukee.
- The race in the West Division is as tight as it has been all season. Houston is tied with San Antonio for fourth place, each with 86 points, and they are just one point behind the Admirals for third place. Rockford sits in second with 90 points and Peoria is sixth with 81.


-- HOUSTON AEROS --