SAN ANTONIO --- Cody Almond and Maxim Noreau scored their first goals of the season for the Houston Aeros in a 5-2 loss to the San Antonio Rampage Friday night at the AT&T Center.
BOXSCORE
The teams traded four goals in the opening period, starting with the Aeros taking a 1-0 lead 27 seconds into the first on Almond's first tally of the season. The Rampage answered at 11:49 with Tim Stapleton's fourth goal of the year, but the Aeros regained the lead 1:19 later with Noreau's power play marker.
San Antonio tied the game with 13 seconds left in the first period on Micheal Stone's power play goal and pulled away with a pair of goals in the second and one more in the third.
Viktor Tikhonov bagged the game-winner 7:35 into the second with a shorthanded goal. Alexandre Picard and Brett MacLean added goals to give the Rampage their sixth win in seven games.
Houston's Matt Hackett turned aside 29 shots in the loss while Matt Climie made 41 saves in the win for the Rampage.
The Aeros visit the Texas Stars on Saturday before hosting the Stars Sunday at 4:05 p.m.
Get four tickets to Sunday's game at Toyota Center along with four Aeros gifts, $20 in Toyota Center Bucks and free parking for as low as $67. For more ticket information, visit AEROS.COM or call 713-974-PUCK (7825).
---AEROS.COM---
PREGAME NOTES: The Houston Aeros (Minnesota Wild) begin their third consecutive three-in-three weekend beginning at San Antonio (Phoenix Coyotes). The Aeros are winless in five games dating back to a 2-1 overtime win Oct.15 at Oklahoma City. Houston is coming off a 3-2 loss Sunday at home vs. Lake Erie. The Rampage are unbeaten in six games (5-0-1-0) and last played to a 4-1 win over Peoria on Sunday.
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SCORE FIRST! --- Houston is 2-0-0-0 when scoring first this season and 0-4-1-0 when allowing the first goal.
SCORE EARLY! --- The Aeros are 2-0-0-0 when leading after 20 minutes and 0-3-0-0 when trailing after the opening period.
PK IN TOP 5 --- The Aeros penaty kill is operating at 88.9%, good for fifth in the AHL entering the weekend.
BACK-TO-BACK SHUTOUTS --- The Aeros were shut out in two straight games (1-0 Oct. 22 vs. OKC. and 2-0 Oct. 23 at SAN). That last time that the team was held scoreless in two straight games was during the 2009-10 season in losses to Chicago (3-0, Feb. 14, 2010) and at Milwaukee (2-0, Feb. 19, 2010). The loss at Milwaukee capped three straight shutout games; the Aeros won the first game of the set 1-0 at home vs. Grand Rapids on Feb. 13, 2010.
SCORELESS STREAK SNAPPED --- Joel Broda snapped an Aeros scoreless drought of 158:50 with a goal 18:20 into the first period of Sunday's game vs. Lake Erie. Houston's longest scoreless streak was 185:29; that occured March 19-24, 1995.
ALMOST A SHUTOUT --- Anton Khudobin made 28 saves in regulation last Friday and another three in overtime. The last time the Aeros lost a 1-0 game was Oct. 21, 2009, vs. Lake Erie in regulation.
ALMOST A SHUTOUT, PART 2 --- The last time the Aeros and an opponent went into overtime tied 0-0 was Feb. 13, 2010, vs. Grand Rapids. JM Daoust scored 55 seconds into OT to give the Aeros the win.
THREE-IN-THREE'S --- The Aeros play three three-in-three's in a row. Overall there are 13 three-in-three's this season.
POWER PLAY --- The Aeros power play is 0-for-28 in the last six games after going 2-for-7 in the season-opener.
LOOKING FOR FIRST HOME WIN--- The Aeros have dropped their first three home games. The last time that happened was the start of the 2007-08 campaign. That season's club snapped the drought with a 4-1 win over San Antonio on Oct. 27, 2007.
WELLMAN, GILLIES SKATE FOR WILD --- Casey Wellman and Colton Gillies played in Minnesota's 2-1 win over Washington Thursday night.
AEROS ADD MCBRIDE --- The Aeros added F Brock McBride from Elmira of the ECHL on Oct. 29. McBridde, a Cornwall, Ontario, native has posted a goal and seven assists (1-7-8) in five games for the Jackals.
ROSTER MOVES --- The Aeros signed F Brock McBride from Elmira (ECHL) to a PTO on Oct. 29...F Casey Wellman was recalled by the Minnesota Wild on Oct. 28... D Brandon Rogers was released from his PTO on Oct. 27...LW Colton Gillies was recalled by the Minnesota Wild on Oct. 19.
