AEROS POSTGAME REPORT
MARCH 4, 2011: HOU 3, SYR 1

HOUSTON --- Jarod Palmer scored twice, Chad Rau had a goal and an assist while Robbie Earl collected two assists as the Houston Aeros won their second consecutive game in a 3-1 decision over the Syracuse Crunch on Friday night at Toyota Center.

Aeros goaltender Josh Tordjman turned aside 22 shots for his third win of the season.

Rau put the Aeros up 2-1 with a 5-on-3 power play goal at 13:51 of the middle stanza. Patrick O’Sullivan earned the primary assist, feeding Rau with a saucer pass from the right circle. O’Sullivan extended his scoring streak to eight games on the play and tied a team season-high in the process.

Palmer jammed home a stick-side rebound past the right-hand catching Syracuse goaltender J.P. Levasseur at 8:45 of the first period to tie the game after Syracuse took a 1-0 lead on Josh Green’s power play goal at 2:45.

Palmer added his second goal of the night at 14:28 of the third, collecting his own rebound and snapping it high past Levasseur. Earl and Rau notched the assists.

The Aeros continue a three-in-three weekend on Saturday with a game at Texas against the Stars. Fans can watch the game for free at the official Aeros Away Game Watch Party Headquarters, the Maple Leaf Pub (Smith at Elgin in Houston). Face off is 7 p.m. The Aeros return home on Sunday at 5:05 p.m. against the Abbotsford Heat.

Aeros Family Packs are available for as low as $67 for Sunday’s game. Call 713-974-7825 (PUCK) for more information on Aeros tickets and other promotions.

BOMB DROPPINGS
Jarod Palmer’s first period goal, his sixth of the season, was his first in exactly month. He last scored in a 4-1 Aeros win over Texas on Feb. 4… Josh Tordjman made his first Aeros start since a 2-1 win over Grand Rapids on Jan. 15. He made 28 saves that night… The Aeros improved to 19-6-0-2 since Jan. 1… Patrick O’Sullivan, the February AHL/Reebok Player of the Month, tied Jon DiSalvatore’s season-high eight game scoring streak. He has 15 points (5-10-15) during the streak... Houston has won four of their last five games.
                                                                                                                                                    
DECIDING GOAL
Rau (13:51, 2nd)

POWER PLAYS
HOU: 1/5
SYR: 1/4

GOALIES
HOU: Tordjman (22/23, W)
SYR: Levasseur (28/31, L)

TEAM RECORDS
HOU: 37-23-1-4
SYR: 20-33-3-4

AEROS STARTERS
F –Gillies, Ortmeyer, McMillan
D – Scandella, Noreau
G - Tordjman

AEROS SCRATCHES
Fraser, Penner, Almond, Bagnall, Kassian, Cuma

NEXT GAME
March 5 at Texas, 7 p.m.