By:
From: Patrick Armstrong, Director of Communications
713.361.7920 (Direct Line)
Scott Henninger, Communications Manager
713.361.7930 (Direct Line)
February 15, 2009
HOUSTON EXTENDS WIN STREAK TO SEASON-HIGH FOUR GAMES WITH 4-2 WIN OVER CHICAGO
HOUSTON, Texas – The Houston Aeros won their fourth straight game 4-2 over the Chicago Wolves Sunday night. The win put the Aeros alone in third place in the division and the win streak is tied for Houston’s longest such streak of the season. Four different Aeros scored goals and Barry Brust stopped 30 of 32 shots for his ninth win of the season. Spencer Machacek had a goal and an assist for the Wolves who fell to fourth place in the division. Houston will square off with the Iowa Chops on Thursday, February 19th at Toyota Center. For tickets call (713) 974-PUCK or visit AEROS.com.
GAMESHEET
Houston jumped out in the first period and pressured the Wolves throughout the period. Eight minutes into the contest, Mitch Love tallied his second goal of the season when a rebound off a Jason Ryznar shot bounced off Love and into the back of the net. Houston’s 1-0 lead only lasted 55 seconds as the team connected again when Jesse Schultz extended his goal scoring streak to four games when he banged in his own rebound. He was assisted by Clayton Stoner and Benoit Pouliot who extended his assist streak to three games. The Aeros outshot the Wolves 16-6 in the period and took the 2-0 lead into the first intermission.
Machacek cut the Aeros lead in half at the 4:07 mark of the second period when he buried a rebound on the power play. His 15th goal of the season was assisted by Joey Crabb and Brett Skinner. Nearly nine minutes later, at the 13:04 mark, the Aeros answered with a power play goal of their own. Corey Locke took a feed from Kurtis Foster along the right wing half wall and skated straight to the open ice at the top of the slot and buried a wrist shot for his team-leading 20th goal of the season. The Aeros again outshot the Wolves 12-10 in the period 28-16 through two periods.
Only 56 seconds into the final period, Matt Anderson scored on a rebound to cut the Aeros lead to 3-2. Houston had problems clearing the puck for the better part of the opening minute and Anderson scored on assists from Riley Holzapfel and Machacek. Chicago’s Joe Motzko was called for holding at 17:17 in the period giving Houston their sixth power-play of the night. After cycling the puck around the outside of the offensive zone Maxim Noreau took a wrist shot from the point and got through traffic in front of the net and past Pavelec for the 4-2 lead with 1:58 remaining. Chicago pulled their netminder in favor of an extra attacker for the remainder of the contest in an effort to come back but Houston was able to fend off the late attempts.
Notes:
- The Aeros are now 4-1-0-0 against the Wolves this season. Houston has only recorded three wins against Chicago in the past two seasons with records of 3-3-0-0 in 2007-08 and 3-5-0-0 in 2006-07. Houston went 5-3-0-0 in 2005-06 which tied the most wins against the Wolves in a single season since joining the AHL.
- All-Star goaltender Barry Brust made his first start in eight games for Houston and it was only his second start in 15 games. He stopped 30 of 32 shots for his ninth win of the season, and first win since December 20 at Rockford.
- Houston has scored the first goal in each of their last three games. The Aeros are 16-4-1-3 when scoring the first goal this season compared to 10-17-0-5 when allowing the first goal.
- Right wing Jesse Schultz extended his goal scoring streak to four games with his first period goal. He now has five goals in the last four games and the streak tied his career high set in November of 2005 when he was with the Manitoba Moose. It also tied the Aeros season high for goals in consecutive games with Krys Kolanos who had five goals in his first four games of the season. He missed two games during a call-up to Minnesota amid his four-game streak.
- Corey Locke’s second period goal was his 20th of the season. He is the first player on the Aeros roster to record 20 goals this season. Houston’s leading goal scorer last year was Joel Ward who had 21 goals.
-- HOUSTON AEROS: 15 Seasons, One Reason -- |
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