AEROS POSTGAME REPORT
AEROS JUMP TO SECOND PLACE WITH 3-1 VICTORY OVER TEXAS

HOUSTON --- Jon DiSalvatore and Casey Wellman registered a goal and an assist each while Matt Hackett made 30 saves as the Houston Aeros skated to a 3-1 win over the Texas Stars before 6,309 Friday night at Toyota Center.

The win, which was Houston’s sixth in seven games vs. the Stars, moved the Aeros into a second place tie with Oklahoma City Barons in the West Division race.

The Stars drew first blood at 9:51 when Michael Neal slammed the puck under Aeros goalie Matt Hackett’s left pad on the power play. Houston’s Casey Wellman evened things up at 15:46, finishing off a feed from behind the net by Patrick O’Sullivan.

Robbie Earl gave Houston a 2-1 lead with a power play tally at 5:05 of the second period. His team-leading 13th goal of the year, on the power, was a blast from the right circle off a rebound past Stars goalie Richard Bachman.

DiSalvatore added an empty-net goal in the third to secure the win.

The Aeros embark on a three-game road trip starting Saturday at Lake Erie with a 6:30 p.m. CST game. From there, the Aeros visit Toronto on Sunday (4 p.m. CST) and Syracuse on Wednesday before returning home vs. Abbotsford on Friday (7:35 p.m.). Call 713-974-7825 (PUCK) for more information on Aeros tickets and other promotions.

DECIDING GOAL
Earl (5:05, 3rd)

POWER PLAYS
HOU: 1/3
TEX: 1/2

GOALIES
HOU: Hackett (30/31, W)
TEX: Bachman (28/30, L)

TEAM RECORDS
HOU: 25-18-1-3
TEX: 23-15-3-2

AEROS STARTERS
F: Gillies, Ortmeyer, Peters
D: Prosser, Falk
G: Hackett

AEROS SCRATCHES
Fraser, Kalus, Buck

NEXT GAME
Jan. 22 at Lake Erie, 6:3 p.m. CST

BOMB DROPPINGS
Gordie Howe was at the game as part of a Houston Aeros Charities event. He dropped the ceremonial first puck prior to the game…The Stars scored the first goal for just the second time in the season series...Jon DiSalvatore and Max Noreau ran their scoring streaks to four games each, both personal season highs…Aeros General Manager Jim Mill was in attendance, as was Texas Stars GM Scott White…Matt Hackett is unbeaten in regulation at home in six-straight dating back to Dec. 26.