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AEROS ESCAPE WITH 2-1 WIN OVER ADS IN GAME ONE

04/30/2009 9:08 PM

From: Patrick Armstrong, Director of Communications
713.361.7920 (Direct Line)
Scott Henninger, Communications Manager
713.361.7930 (Direct Line)
Thursday, April 30, 2009

KHUDOBIN STOPS 27 OF 28 SHOTS TO TAKE GAME ONE

MILWAUKEE, Wisc. – The Houston Aeros defeated the Milwaukee Admirals 2-1 Thursday night in Game One of the West Division Finals in front of 2,578 fans at Bradley Center. Anton Khudobin stopped 27 of 28 shots for his fifth victory of the post-season and second straight win. Tomas Mojzis and Krys Kolanos provided the offense for Houston who led for all but 2:58 of the game. Andreas Thuresson scored the lone goal for the Admirals who lost their first game of the playoffs.

The Aeros will look to take a 2-0 lead in Game Two of the West Division Finals on Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. at Bradley Center. Tune into Joe O’Donnell live on KNTH 1070-AM or join other Aeros’ fans at Maple Leaf Pub to watch the game live on AHLLIVE.com.

GAME SHEET

The Aeros earned a full two-minute, five-on-three power play just 1:29 into the opening period when tempers flared and a total of four players went to the penalty box. Kelsey Wilson and Nolan Yonkman each earned extra two-minute penalties for roughing and instigating respectively as the teams were trying to set the tone.

Tomas Mojzis gave the Aeros a 1-0 lead with 31 seconds remaining in the two-man advantage when he took a shot from the top of the left circle that stayed low to the ice and went between the wickets of Admirals’ goaltender Drew MacIntyre. Aeros’ defenseman Maxim Noreau and playoff-leading scorer Corey Locke assisted on the play. The goal marked the first time in the post-season that the Admirals trailed in a game. The top seed in the West Division didn’t trail in their opening round sweep over the Rockford IceHogs.

Milwaukee bounced back in the opening frame and put pressure on Khudobin, but the Aeros’ netminder and team defense kept the home team off the board for the first 20 minutes. Milwaukee outshot Houston 12-10 in the period, but the visitors led 1-0.

Houston only allowed four shots the entire second period, while putting 11 shots on MacIntyre. The Aeros took a two-goal lead at the 16:36 mark of the second period when Krys Kolanos tallied his third goal of the post-season. Kolanos took a feed from Tony Hrkac, and went behind the net, he then shoved the puck between MacIntyre’s skate and the post and it just cleared the goal line. Clayton Stoner earned the second assist and the Aeros took the 2-0 lead into the second intermission.

Houston held on for 17:14 of the third period until Andreas Thuresson tallied his second of the post-season on a blast from the top of the left circle that Khudobin never saw. Mark Matheson and Cody Franson assisted on the play that cut the Aeros’ lead in half, but the Admirals couldn’t score the equalizer in the final 2:46.

The 2-1 win marked Houston’s first Game One victory in a playoff series since the 2006 Calder Cup playoffs when the team swept the Peoria Rivermen.

After Game Two at Bradley Center, the Aeros will return home for Games 3, 4 and 5 (if necessary). Call (713) 974-PUCK or visit AEROS.com for special ticket packages.

-- HOUSTON AEROS: The Calder Cup, Our Reason --

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