AEROS POSTGAME REPORT
MARCH 25, 2011: HOU 4, OKC 1

HOUSTON --- Jon DiSalvatore scored twice, Casey Wellman had a goal and two assists while Chad Rau and Kris Fredheim each notched a pair of helpers as the Houston Aeros won for the fifth time in the last six games with a 4-1 victory over the Oklahoma City Barons in front of 6,313 fans on Friday night at Toyota Center.

The win helped the Aeros keep pace with the first place Milwaukee Admirals in the AHL’s West Division playoff race. The Aeros remain one point behind the Admirals, who defeated Chicago 4-2.

The Barons opened the scoring at 3:34 of first period on Alexandre Giroux’s power play goal at 3:34. Giroux, who entered the game second in AHL scoring, notched his 30th goal of the season.

The Aeros stormed back with a pair of power play tallies starting 1:10 later on Jon DiSalvatore’s 24th goal of the season. Casey Wellman followed up at 8:47 and Warren Peters made it a 3-1 Aeros lead with an even-strength goal at 15:36.

Matt Hackett made 26 saves to improve to 20-14-4 on the season.

Houston's third goal chased Barons starting goaltender Jeff Droiun-Deslauriers (14/17), who was replaced by Bryan Pitton (15/16) at the start of the second period.

DiSalvatore added a power play goal in the third period to close out the scoring for his sixth double-goal game of the season.

Houston went 3-for-5 on the power play while the penalty kill held the Barons to one goal on six chances.

The Aeros return home on Saturday to continue a three-game weekend against the Oklahoma City Barons at 7:35 p.m.

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

BOMB DROPPINGS
The Aeros have won five of their last six games… Matt Hackett improved to 11-4-2 at home and has won four in a row at Toyota Center… Warren Peters had a goal in his return to the lineup after missing 13 games while on recall to the Minnesota Wild… Jon DiSalvatore has scored at least a goal in five of his last nine games… Houston improved to 21-18-1-1 versus West Division teams with a 17-8-1-0 record at home… The Aeros have won four-straight against the Barons and improved to 6-1-0-0 in the season series… The three-goal first period by the Aeros matched a season-high in the opening period set three other times, most recently March 2 versus Rockford.

DECIDING GOAL
Wellman (8:47, 1st)

POWER PLAYS
HOU: 3/7
TEX: 1/6

GOALIES
HOU: Hackett (26/27, W)
TEX: Deslauriers (14/17, L)

TEAM RECORDS
HOU: 42-26-1-5
OKC: 36-27-2-8

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

AEROS SCRATCHES
Fraser, Campbell, Buck, Kassian, Cuma, Daoust

NEXT GAME
March 26 vs. OKC, 7:35 p.m.