From: Ryan Stanzel
Director of Communications
Friday, December 3, 2004
713.361.7930 (Direct Line)

AMERICANS 3, AEROS 2

Official Box Score


HOUSTON, Texas – Nathan Horton’s second goal of the game, 46 seconds into overtime, helped the San Antonio Rampage rally for a 2-1 win over the Houston Aeros at Toyota Center. Travis Scott made 42 saves for San Antonio, which won for only the second time in seven games (2-3-0-2).



Mike Smith made 28 saves and Stephane Veilleux scored a power play goal for his third goal in two games for Houston, which fell to 10-2-0-1 all-time at home versus the Rampage. The Aeros are 1-3-1-0 in their last five games.



The Aeros don’t play again until hosting Norfolk on December 16 at 7:05 p.m.



Just 46 seconds into overtime, Stephen Weiss’ attempt was kicked out by Smith, but Horton pushed the puck past smith for his second of the game and fourth of the season.



Houston opened the scoring on its red-hot power play 9:34 in, with Weiss off for boarding. Kirby Law fed Zbynek Michalek at the center point, and the blueliner wound up and faked a shot while sliding a perfect pass to Veilleux in the bottom of the left circle. Veilleux blasted a one-timer high short side by Scott for his team-best ninth of the season and third in two nights.



After a chippy first period that saw a combined 48 penalty minutes, the second frame was snappy and scoreless.



San Antonio had the two best chances of the period – both times when Smith ventured out of his net to play the puck – but the netminder recovered both times, most impressively stopping Gregory Campbell from point-blank range five minutes in.



The Rampage got even 7:36 into the third on Horton’s third goal of the season. Joel Kwiatkowski slapped a puck just about to clear the blue line towards the net. Smith made the save, but Horton was camped out at the doorstep and walked right to left across the crease and slid the puck past the prone goalie.



Scott, who made 20 saves in the third period alone, helped the Rampage stay even with Houston on the power play and 8:54 left in regulation. John Erskine’s shot from the left point went off a skate in front, and the puck came to Veilleux in the left circle, exactly where he scored from earlier. But Scott recovered in time to make the save.



Smith made his save of the night with Horton bidding for his second goal with 6:22 left. Horton walked through traffic into the mid slot and ripped a shot that Smith snagged out of mid air.



Houston finished 1-for-4 on the power play, while San Antonio went 0-for-3.



Notes:

Veilleux moved to 102 career points, tied with teammate Mark Cullen and Michael Maurice for 15th on the team’s all-time list. Cam Stewart is 14th with 108. Veilleux and Cullen are also tied for the team lead in scoring this season with 17 points apiece.

Dignitaries at Toyota Center included NHL Vice President Colin Campbell, Florida Panthers general manager Mike Keenan, Dallas Stars coach Dave Tippett and Stewart.

Houston scratched Chris Heid, Ray Giroux, Maxime Fortunus, Kyle Wanvig and Pierre-Marc Bouchard.

Michalek (1-2=3) and Law (0-3=3) each have three points in their last four games.