AEROS POSTGAME REPORT
MARCH 19, 2011: HOU 5, SA 1

HOUSTON --- Carson McMillan scored twice, Patrick O’Sullivan and Robbie Earl extended goal streaks and netminder Matt Hackett turned aside 14 shots as the Houston Aeros beat the San Antonio Rampage 5-1 on Saturday night at Toyota Center in front of 11,273 fans, the largest crowd of the season.

Houston’s Justin Falk chipped in with a pair of assists as the Aeros pulled within a point of the first place Milwaukee Admirals with the victory, thanks in part to Milwaukee’s 3-2 loss versus Lake Erie. The win was Houston’s third in a row and extended the team’s point streak to four games (3-0-0-1).

O’Sullivan scored his 17th goal of the season just 1:05 into the middle stanza on a backhand shot past Rampage goaltender Joe Fallon to make it 1-0 Houston. Earl connected at 8:49 for his 19th goal of the season to stake the Aeros to a 2-0 lead.

McMillan scored a pair of goals just 19 seconds apart starting at 16:55 to put the Aeros up 4-0.

J.M. Daoust also scored for Houston while San Antonio’s Mathieu Beaudoin had the only goal for his club.

The Aeros and Rampage play the back end of a home-and-home set on Sunday at the AT&T Center at 3 p.m. The Aeros return home next Friday to start a three-game weekend against the Oklahoma City Barons.
 
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BOMB DROPPINGS
Defenseman Nate Prosser was recalled by Minnesota prior to the game... Defenseman Jeff Penner, who was acquired at the trade deadline from the Boston organization, made his Aeros debut… Colton Gillies returned to the lineup after sitting out the previous four games with an injury… Both Robbie Earl Patrick O’Sullivan ran their goal streaks to three games… Earl has the game-winner in three-straight… The Aeros scored the first goal for the 40th time this season and the first time since March 2, a span of six games…  The Aeros held a 21-9 shot advantage after two periods…  Matt Hackett made his fourth consecutive start… Sunday’s game at San Antonio will be televised on Fox Sports Southwest (Dish Network – 416; AT&T UVerse – 756; DirecTV – 655; Comcast - 37/637; Check listings for conflicts).

DECIDING GOAL
Earl (8:49, 2nd)

POWER PLAYS
HOU: 0/7
SA: 0/3

GOALIES
HOU: Hackett (14/15, W)
SA: Fallon (35/40, L

TEAM RECORDS
HOU: 40-25-1-5
SA: 37-27-3-1

AEROS STARTERS
F – Almond, DiSalvatore, O’Sullivan
D – Noreau, Bagnall
G - Hackett

AEROS SCRATCHES
Fraser, Prosser, Morency, Buck, Kassian, Cuma

NEXT GAME
March 20 at SA, 3p.m.