AEROS POSTGAME, DEC. 14
AEROS 3, BULLDOGS 1

HAMILTON, ONTARIO --- Robbie Earl extended his team-high scoring streak to seven games, Brandon Buck bagged his first goal of the season and Matt Hackett made 24 saves as the Houston Aeros upended the Hamilton Bulldogs 3-1 Tuesday night at Copps Coliseum.

Buck’s goal just 17 seconds into the third period, the quickest goal from the start of a period for the Aeros this season, held up as the game-winner.

Warren Peters added an empty-net goal with eight seconds left in the third period to provide insurance for the Aeros, who are now 1-1-0-0 on their current five-game road trip.

BOXSCORE

GAMEDAY AUDIO CLIPS

Earl knotted the score at 1-1, answering Hamilton’s Alexander Avtsin’s marker just 35 seconds earlier at the 8:48 mark of the middle stanza. Earl slammed home a feed from Casey Wellman who was tripped after carrying the puck through center, only to regain possession and find Earl open at the post. Wellman, who scored four times in Friday’s 5-2 win over San Antonio, has points in seven of 10 games since being reassigned to Houston from Minnesota in late November.

The win bumped Houston (16-11-1-2) five games over the .500 mark for the second time this season. Hamilton, which entered the game tied for the second-fewest losses in the AHL, saw a two-game winning streak vanquished with the loss.

The Aeros continue their five-game road trip Wednesday when they face the Grand Rapids Griffins at 6 p.m. CST.

The team returns home Dec. 21, against Hamilton at 7:05 p.m. Fans who bring a toy to help support the Bay Star Ambulance/MD Anderson Cancer Center Toy Drive will receive two tickets to the Aeros game on New Year’s Day.

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

DECIDING GOAL
Buck (:17, 3rd)

POWER PLAYS
HOU: 0/2
HAM: 0/3

GOALIES
HOU: Hackett (24/25, W)
HAM: Sanford (21/23, L)

TEAM RECORDS
HOU: 16-11-1-2
HAM: 16-7-1-3

AEROS STARTERS
F: Almond, DiSalvatore, Buck
D: Scandella, Noreau
G: Hackett

AEROS SCRATCHES
Palmer, McBride, Lampman, Bagnall

NEXT GAME
Dec. 15 at Grand Rapids, 6 p.m. CST

BOMB DROPPINGS
The Aeros allowed the first goal for just the ninth time this season and won for the first time when doing so…The Aeros lead the AHL in first goals (21) and had scored first in the previous eight consecutive games (Nov. 26-Dec. 12, 5-3-0-0)…The Aeros scored first in seven straight games from Oct. 29-Nov. 9, 4-1-0-2)…Houston’s response to Hamilton’s goal, a difference of just 35 seconds, was the fastest time between opposing goals this season…Earl’s scoring streak, at seven straight games, has produced 10 points (5-5-10)…Tonight’s game marked the seventh time Houston has held an opponent to one goal or less (6-0-1-0) and the fifth time on the road (5-0-0-0)…Warren Peters has points in four straight (2-2-4)…Hackett snapped a personal three-game losing skid.