From: Patrick Armstrong, Director of Communications
713.361.7920 (Direct Line)
Scott Henninger, Communications Manager
713.361.7930 (Direct Line)
January 23, 2009
HOUSTON AEROS EXTEND WINNING STREAK TO FOUR GAMES
HOUSTON, Texas – The Houston Aeros recorded a convincing 5-2 win over the Peoria Rivermen at Toyota Center Friday night. The Aeros (21-17-1-7) won their fourth straight game marking the longest winning streak of the season since the team won their first four games. Peter Olvecky scored the game-winning goal, and Maxim Noreau and Corey Locke each recorded a goal and an assist for the Aeros. Houston is now tied for second place in the West Division with the Rockford IceHogs with 50 points on the season, ten points behind first place Milwaukee. The Rivermen and Aeros will face off again Saturday night at Toyota Center, for tickets call (713) 974-PUCK or visit AEROS.com.
GAMESHEET
The Aeros jumped out to the lead at the 15:11 mark with a Morten Madsen goal on the team’s first power play of the game. Madsen scored his first goal since October 28 on a blast from the point through a screen by Benoit Pouliot. Noreau and Locke added the assists on the play. Houston outshot the Rivermen 8-6 in the period and killed all three of Peoria’s power plays to take the 1-0 lead after one period.
Olvecky gave the Aeros a 2-0 lead just 1:39 into the second period when he corralled a rebound and stuffed it past Rivermen goaltender Ben Bishop. Olvecky was assisted by Paul Albers and Jesse Schultz, but the two-goal lead did not last long as T.J. Fast scored his first professional goal on a slap shot from the left point. The goal came at the 2:15 mark of the second and was unassisted.
Houston regained the two-goal lead nearly ten minutes after the Fast goal when Locke buried his sixth power play goal of the season and 16th overall. He was assisted by Matt Beaudoin and Pouliot marking Pouliot’s first point in an Aeros sweater this season. Just over a minute later, Noreau scored his tenth goal of the season on a nifty backhand through traffic. Noreau now leads all defensemen in the American Hockey League with 10 goals. Bishop was replaced by goaltender Chris Holt after the Aeros fourth goal. Houston took the three-goal lead into the third period outshooting the Rivermen 17-11 overall.
The Aeros continued to control the pace in the third period and finished by again outshooting Peoria 10-7 in the period and 27-18 for the game. Ryan Reaves scored for the Rivermen with 19 seconds remaining in the contest while Peoria had the extra attacker. The Aeros’ newly acquired left wing Robbie Earl gave the home team a 5-2 win as he scored on empty netter with two seconds remaining. Houston won their fourth straight game and the team improved their record to 13-3-1-2 against the West Division this season.
The teams will square off again Saturday night at Toyota Center at 7:35 p.m. For tickets call (713) 974-PUCK or visit AEROS.com.
Notes:
- Goaltender Nolan Schaefer recorded his fourth straight win to set a season high for Houston goaltenders.
- The win tied a season high of four straight victories which was initially set with four straight wins to start the season.
- Madsen’s first period goal was his first goal since October 28 a span of 28 games without a goal.
- Olvecky’s goal was his first goal since December 21 at Peoria and his 20th all-time point against the Rivermen in 26 games. The Aeros are 6-0-0-0 this season when Olvecky scores a goal.
- Locke’s first period assist extended his point streak to four games and he added to his total points with a second-period power-play goal. Locke has five points (2-3=5) during his current four-game streak.
- Jesse Schultz also has a four-game point streak with his assist on Olvecky's game winner. Schultz has four points (1-3=4) in the four games.
- Noreau also tallied two points in the contest with a goal and an assist. His second-period goal was his first since December 11, a scoreless drought of 17 games.
- Robbie Earl tallied his first goal as an Aero, an empty-net marker, with three seconds left on the clock in his first game with Houston.
-- HOUSTON AEROS: 15 Seasons, One Reason -- |
