From: Patrick Armstrong, Director of Communications
713.361.7920 (Direct Line)
Scott Henninger, Communications Manager
713.361.7930 (Direct Line)
December 31, 2008

AEROS END 2008 WITH 2-1 WIN

HOUSTON, Texas – Nolan Schaefer stopped 40 of 41 shots in the Houston Aeros 2-1 win over the Worcester Sharks at DCU Center in the final game of 2008. Tomas Mojzis and Danny Irmen scored for Houston (17-13-1-5) who started their eight-game road trip with a win. The Aeros will take to the ice again on Friday, January 2 in against the Binghamton Senators.

GAMESHEET

Aeros’ defenseman Tomas Mojzis scored the first goal of the game and third straight goal for the Aeros at the 7:37 mark of the first period. The Aeros earned a five-on-three power play and Mojzis blasted a shot from just inside the left circle and beat Sharks’ goaltender Taylor Dakers stick side for his sixth goal of the season. Mojzis was assisted by Corey Locke and Jesse Schultz who extended his point streak to six games (3-4=7). The Aeros held on to the 1-0 lead for the remainder of the opening period, and each time finished with eight shots on goal.

Worcester tilted the ice in their favor early on in the second frame and had nine shots on Aeros’ goaltender Nolan Schaefer before Houston registered a shot. Schaefer continued to stand tall in the period and ultimately was forced to kill a five-on-three late in the period. Houston was outshot 22-6 in the period allowing the most shots on goal in a period this season, but the score remained 1-0.

Schaefer continued his outstanding play in the third period. Worcester pressured the Aeros’ defensive zone for much of the period, but Schaefer and the defense held on. In the final minute, Danny Irmen scored an empty net goal at the 19:09 mark to make the score 2-0 in favor of Houston, but just seven seconds later Mike Moore scored on a rush for the Sharks. The score remained 2-1 when the final horn sounded. Schaefer stopped 10 of 11 in the third period and 40 of 41 overall to earn first star honors and start the Aeros’ eight-game road trip off on the right foot.

Notes:
- The Aeros had not scored the first goal of the game in their previous five games before tonight. Houston is 9-3-1-2 this season when scoring the first goal.
- Schaefer’s 40 saves tied Barry Brust’s season high for saves. Brust stopped 40 against the Syracuse Crunch on December 6.
- Irmen’s empty net goal was his first goal since Halloween night against the Providence Bruins.

-- HOUSTON AEROS: 15 Seasons, One Reason --