AEROS POSTGAME REPORT
MARCH 26, 2011: HOU 6, OKC 5 (SO)

HOUSTON --- Casey Wellman scored the deciding shootout tally and notched a goal and a helper in regulation as the Houston Aeros edged the Oklahoma City Barons 6-5 in front of 7,927 on Saturday night at Toyota Center.

The win moved the Aeros into a tie for first place with the Milwaukee Admirals in the AHL’s West Division playoff race. The Aeros have four more wins than the Admirals and have also played three more games.

Chad Rau notched a goal and assist for Houston while Maxim Noreau registered his 10th multiple assist game of the season with a pair of helpers.

Jed Ortmeyer gave Houston a 1-0 lead with 12 seconds left in the first period by slamming a back-door pass by Barons goaltender Bryan Pitton. The teams combined for six goals in the middle period, starting with Pascal Morency’s first goal as an Aero at 3:54 to make it a 2-0 Houston advantage. The Barons cut the lead to 2-1 with Bryan Helmer’s tally 1:20 later, but the Aeros responded in kind and regained the two-goal lead on Robbie Earl’s power play marker at 12:20. Colin McDonald answered with two power play goals in a little over three minutes to knot the score at 3-3 and then Milan Kytnar gave the Barons their first lead of the night with 1:02 left in the period.

Rau’s goal at 13:26 of the third gave Houston a 5-4 advantage but the Barons forced extra time with on Mark Arcobello’s extra-attacker goal with 34 seconds remaining in regulation.

The Aeros and Barons play the final game of three-straight at Toyota Center between the teams on Sunday 4:05 p.m.

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

BOMB DROPPINGS
The Aeros have won six of their last seven games… Josh Tordjman improved to 4-1-0 and is now 3-1-0 at home… Casey Wellman has the game-winning goal in two straight games… Houston improved to 32-18-1-1 versus West Division teams with an 18-8-1-0 record… The Aeros have won five-straight against the Barons and improved to 7-1-0-0 in the season series… Robbie Earl’s second period made him the second Aeros player to reach the 20-goal plateau this season. It also marked his first 20-goal season as a pro.

DECIDING GOAL
Wellman (2nd round, SO)

POWER PLAYS
HOU: 3/7
OKC: 3/8

GOALIES
HOU: Tordjman (33/38; 3/4 SO, W)
OKC: Pitton (30/35; 1/4 SO, L)

TEAM RECORDS
HOU: 43-26-1-5
OKC: 36-27-2-9

AEROS STARTERS
F – Gillies, Ortmeyer, Peters
D – Fredheim, Falk
G - Tordjman

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

NEXT GAME
March 27 vs. OKC, 4:05 p.m.