AEROS POSTGAME, JAN. 15
AEROS JUMP TO FOURTH PLACE IN 4-3 SHOOTOUT WIN

CHICAGO --- Jon DiSalvatore scored in regulation and added the shootout winner while goalie Josh Tordjman turned aside 19 shots plus five more in the extra-extra as the Houston Aeros edged the Chicago Wolves 4-3 Friday night at Allstate Arena.

The win pushed the Aeros into fourth place, one point ahead of both Oklahoma City and Texas, in the AHL’s West Division race. Houston (23-18-1-2, 49 points) has won three-in-a-row as they return home for a pair of games against Grand Rapids on Saturday and Sunday at Toyota Center.

DiSalvatore scored the only goal of the shootout and collected his third shootout-winner of the season. In his first Aeros start, Tordjman earned his first win in an Aeros sweater.

Chad Rau’s third period tally, with 8:45 left in the game, knotted the score and forced extra time after an early final stanza goal by Chicago’s Nigel Dawes. Dawes’ AHL-leading 21st goal, 2:24 into the third period, followed up Jason Krog’s 10th marker midway through the second period.

Houston’s Max Noreau registered a pair of assists while Robbie Earl extended his scoring streak to six straight games (2-5-7).  Rau now has points in five of his last six games (4-1-5). Carson McMillan had Houston’s other goal, his seventh, which briefly gave the Aeros a 2-1 lead in the middle period.

Krog posted a goal and an assist for Chicago while Andre Deveaux also chipped in with a goal.

The Aeros continue a run of four games in five nights starting with a pair of games against Grand Rapids on Saturday (7:35 p.m.) and Sunday (4:05 p.m.).

The first 1,500 fans on Saturday receive an official Aeros 2010-11 Team Photo. On Sunday, the Aeros celebrate Team Mascot Chilly’s 15th birthday with Chillypalooza. Mascots from around the Houston area will be on hand to take part in the festivities including an intermission broomball game against the Sugarland Mites (4-8 years old) hockey team. Sunday’s Family Day ticket packs start at $67 and include four tickets, free parking, Aeros souvenirs and $20 in Toyota Center Bucks.

Call 713-974-7825 (PUCK) for more information on Aeros tickets and other promotions.

DECIDING GOAL
DiSalvatore (shootout, 5th round)

POWER PLAYS
HOU: 0/5
CHI: 1/3

GOALIES
HOU: Tordjman (27/29; 5/5 SO; W)
CHI: Mannino (24/27; 4/5 SO; L)

TEAM RECORDS
HOU: 23-18-1-2
CHI 21-19-2-2

AEROS STARTERS
F: Almond, DiSalvatore, Buck
D: Noreau, Bagnall
G: Tordjman

AEROS SCRATCHES
Fraser, Wellman, Kalus, Broda

NEXT GAME
Jan. 15 vs. Grand Rapids, 7:35 p.m. CST

BOMB DROPPINGS
Houston has a 2-1 lead in the season series…Casey Wellman missed his 10th straight game with a lower body injury…Houston leads the AHL in first goals (27) and is 19-6-0-2 when scoring first…When scoring four or more goals the Aeros are 14-0-0-0…The Aeros dressed goalie David Brown of the CHL’s Quad City Mallards as Tordjman’s backup after Matt Hackett was recalled to Minnesota…Cody Almond and Carson McMillan each played in their 100th pro games…The win improved the Aeros to 5-1-0-0 in January…The Aeros are now 11-5-1-2 in games decided by one goal and 5-2 in shootouts…Houston has won five straight shootouts…DiSalvatore has three shootout goals, all game-winners.