ABBOTSFORD, British Columbia --- The Houston Aeros scored twice on the power play and goalie Matt Hackett turned away 31 shots in regulation, but it wasn't enough as the Abbotsford Heat overcame a late deficit to edge the Aeros 3-2 in a shootout Monday night at Abbotsford Entertainment & Sports Centre.
BOXSCORE
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Abbotsford's Carter Banks forced overtime, scoring with just 34 seconds left in regulation, after the Heat pulled goalie Leland Irving for an extra attacker.
The Aeros, who went 2-for-6 on the power play, opened a 2-0 lead on markers by Cody Almond (9:22, first period) and Jean-Michel Daoust (13:22, second period). Jon DiSalvatore and Marco Scandella assisted on each.
Greg Nemisz scored on the power play at 15:51 of the second to pull the Heat within a goal and then assisted on Banks’ tying goal.
Irving stopped 26 shots and all four Houston shootout attempts to help Abbotsford (8-6-0-1, 17 points) pull into a tie with Hamilton for first place in the North Division.
Hackett, seeing his first action since Oct. 29 at San Antonio, made 31 saves in three-plus periods of play and stopped two of four in the shootout session.
Houston is unbeaten in regulation in five games (4-0-0-1) and now sits one point behind third-place Milwaukee with a 6-5-1-1 record (14 points) in the West Division.
The Aeros and Heat square off in the second game of two-in-a-row Tuesday night at 9 p.m. CST. Follow the action on 1070 KNTH and online at AEROS.COM.
--AEROS--
PREGAME NOTES:
UPCOMING GAMES
Nov. 8 at Abbotsford, 9:00 p.m. CST
Nov. 9 at Abbotsford, 9:00 p.m. CST
Nov. 13 at Peoria, 7:05 p.m. CST
Nov. 14 at Peoria, 3:05 p.m. CST
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OVERVIEW
The Houston Aeros (Minnesota Wild) visit the Abbotsford Heat (Calgary Flames) for a pair of games, Monday and Tuesday, at Abbotsford Entertainment & Sports Centre. These are the first meetings between the teams this season. The Aeros have won a season-high four games including Saturday night’s 4-2 victory at Oklahoma City. Houston is tied with Chicago for the No. 4 spot in the West Division (13 points). Abbotsford is tied for third place in the North Division and are coming off a 4-1 win over San Antonio on Saturday.
AEROS AT A GLANCE
RECORD: 6-5-1-0
HOME: 2-3-1-0
ROAD: 4-2-0-0
STREAK: WON 4
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
BUSY KHUDOBIN --- Anton Khudobin has started the last four games and is 4-0-0 with a 1.71 GAA and .944 save percentage in those games.
KHUDOBIN AMONG LEAGUE LEADERS --- Anton Khudobin enters Monday’s game second in AHL save percentage (.938) and fourth in GAA (1.97).
STREAKS --- Robbie Earl has points in two straight (1-1-2) and in five of six (1-4-5)...Warren Peters has points in three straight (1-3-4) and assists in three straight...MaxiM Noreau has points in three of four (2-1-3).
POWER UP --- The Aeros scored power play goals in back-to-back games for the first time this season with Jarod Palmer’s man-advantage tally Nov. 6 at OKC. The Aeros went 1-for-6 vs. the Barons that night after going 1-for-6 vs. Toronto the night before.
MOVIN' ON UP --- The Aeros have already had four players called up to Minnesota (Gillies, Wellman, Kassian, Almond).
SCORE FIRST! --- The Aeros have scored the first goal in five straight games and are 4-1-0-0 is those contests... Houston is 6-1-0-0 when scoring first this season and 0-4-1-0 when allowing the first goal.
SCORE EARLY! --- The Aeros are 6-0-0-0 when leading after 20 minutes and 0-3-0-0 when trailing after the opening period.
HITTIN' THE ROAD --- The Aeros play five in a row away from Toyota Center (1 at OKC, 2 at ABB, 2 at PEO) from Nov. 5-14. Eight of the team's 10 games after Nov. 5 are on the road. After the first five away, the team plays at home Nov. 17 vs. CHI and then heads back out for games at GR and CHI.
SHOOTIN' --- The Aeros are 6-1-0-0 when being outshot and 0-3-1-0 when outshooting their opponents.
ROSTER MOVES --- C Cody Almond and LW Matt Kassian were reassigned to Houston from Minnesota on Nov. 7…C Rylan Kaip was reassigned to Bakersfield from Houston on Nov. 7…C Rylan Kaip was recalled from Bakersfield (ECHL) on Nov. 5... C Cody Almond was recalled by Minnesota on Nov. 4...LW Colton Gillies was assigned by Minnesota to Houston on Nov. 3...LW Matt Kassian was recalled by Minnesota on Nov. 3...The Aeros signed F Brock McBride to a PTO Oct. 29...F Casey Wellman was recalled by the Minnesota Wild on Oct. 28.
LAST GAME QUICK RECAP
Jarod Palmer posted three points (1-2-3) and scored the game-winner to help lead the Houston Aeros to their fourth consecutive win in a 4-2 victory over the Oklahoma City Barons Saturday night at Cox Convention Center. Anton Khudobin made 23 saves and won his fourth consecutive start in goal as the Aeros ended OKC's five-game-winning streak. The Aeros improved to 6-5-1-0 with the win.
BROADCAST INFO
Follow the Aeros all season long on News Talk 1070 KNTH and online at AEROS.COM with Joe O’Donnell providing the play-by-play call. Watch online at www.ahllive.com.
