AEROS POSTGAME REPORT

AEROS FALL IN SHOOTOUT, STILL IN FIRST PLACE

MILWAUKEE --- Patrick O’Sullivan’s ninth goal of the season helped the Houston Aeros earn a standings point in a 2-1 shootout loss to the Milwaukee Admirals on Friday night at the Bradley Center.

The shootout win by the Admirals pulled them into a first place tie with the Aeros in the West Division race.

Gabriel Bourque’s seventh-round shootout goal was the difference-maker. Houston goaltender Matt Hackett made 19 saves and went 3-for-6 in the shootout.

After a scoreless first period, the teams exploded for two goals in the opening 64 seconds of the second. Mark Van Guilder broke a scoreless tie 29 seconds into the middle stanza to give the Admirals the lead. Houston’s Patrick O’Sullivan answered at 1:04 with his ninth goal in 14 games since joining the Aeros in mid-January.

Houston outshot the Admirals 35-20 through regulation and overtime including a 16-3 margin in the first period. Jeremy Smith turned aside 34 shots for the Admirals and went 2-for-6 in the shootout.

The Aeros visit Rockford on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. The team returns home on Tuesday, Feb. 22, against Milwaukee. Call 713-974-7825 (PUCK) for more information on Aeros tickets and other promotions.

DECIDING GOAL

Bourque (6^th round, shootout)

POWER PLAYS
HOU: 0/5

MIL: 0/4

GOALIES
HOU: Hackett (19/20; 3/6, SO; SOL)
MIL: Smith (34/35; 2/6 SO; W)

TEAM RECORDS
HOU: 32-21-1-4
MIL: 30-14-2-7

AEROS STARTERS
F: Gillies, Ortmeyer, Peters

D: Noreau, Bagnall

G: Hackett

AEROS SCRATCHES

Wellman, Kalus, Cuma, Daoust

NEXT GAME
Feb. 19 at Rockford, 7:05 p.m. CST

BOMB DROPPINGS
The Aeros allowed the first goal for the fourth time in five games… Casey Wellman missed his eighth-straight game with an upper body injury. He has lost 18 games to injury this season… Petr Kalus sat out his 20th consecutive game as a healthy scratch… Brandon Buck returned to the lineup for the first time since Jan. 23… J.M. Daoust was scratched for just the second time this season… Jon DiSalvatore continued his scoring streak at four games (1-3-4)... The Aeros spend the night in Milwaukee and bus to Rockford for Saturday’s game.