HOUSTON --- The Houston Aeros scored a pair of 5-on-3 power play goals and added a late even-strength tally to close the gap but fell 5-3 to the San Antonio Rampage Friday night in front of 4,405 fans at Toyota Center.

The Rampage, now winners of seven in a row,  took a 3-2 lead into the third period and got the eventual game-winner 5:23 into the final stanza on Brett MacLean’s power play goal. The Aeros pressed and got within a goal on Brock McBride’s third marker of the season with 4:15 left but couldn’t grasp the equalizer. Jed Ortmeyer extinguished Houston’s hope to tie with an empty-netter at 19:46.

BOXSCORE

Casey Wellman and Maxim Noreau turned in multiple-point efforts for the Aeros, each with a goal and a helper. Jared Spurgeon collected two assist for Houston, who are winless in three outings vs. the Rampage this season. Matt Hackett made 21 saves in the losing effort.

The West Division-leading Rampage, who also lead the AHL with 31 points, went 2-for-4 on the power play and had goal scoring spread amongst five different plays. Tim Stapleton and Maclean each collected a goal and assist each while goalie Al Montoya turned aside 22 shots in the victory. Oliver Ekman Larsson had three assists.

The Aeros (10-9-1-2) return home Saturday night to face the Milwaukee Admirals (10-6-1-3) at 7:35 p.m. Get Center Ice seats, normally $38, for just $25 for each home game. On Saturday the first 2500 fans get Aeros cowbells. Call 713-974-7825 for more ticket information.

Follow the Aeros all season long on 1070 KNTH, online at AEROS.COM or watch live games by visiting AHLLIVE.COM.

AEROS STARTERS: Wellman, Palmer, Peters, Noreau, Bagnall, Hackett

AEROS SCRATCHES: Zingoni, Rau, Lampman, Broda, Cuma

BOMB DROPPINGS: Casey Wellman, in his second game since rejoining Houston after a stint with Minnesota, scored for the first time since Oct. 24. vs. Lake Erie…Matt Hackett made his third appearance vs. San Antonio this season…Houston’s first and second goals came via the 5-on-3 power play, the team’s second and third two-man advantage goals of the season (the only other was at Grand Rapids on Nov. 19)…Tonight was Mike Yeo’s 502nd game behind the bench in an AHL coaching capacity…Noreau’s goal was his seventh of the season and fifth on the power play…JM Daoust played in his 100th game as an Aero…Houston is 6-4-0-2 in November…The Aeros, who scored the first goal, are now 10-2-0-2 when scoring first…Both first-goal regulation losses have been against the Rampage...Houston’s two-goal power play effort runs their streak to five games with a power play marker.

AEROS HEAD COACH MIKE YEO:
(on tonight's game)
"I was very disapointed in the game. I'm very disapointed in the way we started and the lack of urgency in our play. We talked about this morning what a great opportunity it was, a great challenge playing against a first place team and I thought from the very start we were making soft plays, there was no desperation in our game and ultimately we got what we deserved tonight."

AEROS DEFENSEMAN MAXIM NOREAU:
(on tonight's game)
"It was a slow start. Our team has been really good about our starts. We've been jumping on teams and getting a lot of wins lately by letting teams know that it's going to be a long night and that definitely wasn't in our game tonight. A sense of desperation tomorrow night is going to be key for us to get at least one win out of this weekend."