From: Ryan Stanzel
Director of Communications
Sunday, February 11, 2007
713.361.7930 (Direct Line)

Admirals 4, Aeros 3
Official Box Score

MILWAUKEE, Wisc. – Budding Aeros-killer Nicolas Corbeil registered a hat trick and Chris Durno’s third-period goal went down as the game-winner, as the Milwaukee Admirals outlasted Houston 4-3 at Bradley Center. Pekka Rinne stopped 35 shots for Milwaukee (26-19-3-6), which moved within three points of second-place Omaha while earning its first regulation win against Houston this season. Corbeil, who made the Aeros’ opening night roster in 2005 but didn’t appear in a game, has five goals in his last two games against Houston.

Matt Foy, Erik Reitz and Roman Voloshenko scored a goal apiece for Houston (20-25-3-5), which played its franchise-record 10th straight one-goal game. The Aeros, who got 36 saves from Dieter Kochan, fell into a sixth-place tie with San Antonio, a 2-1 overtime winner over Peoria today. Houston’s eight-game road winless streak (0-5-2-1) is one shy of its franchise record.

Houston returns home Saturday to face Chicago at 7:35 p.m. It’s Boy Scout Night and Hockey Newcomer Night. The first 3,000 fans will receive a set of Thundersticks. Call 1.866.GO.AEROS or visit Aeros.com to buy tickets.

Rinne made a point blank save on Josh Olson’s left circle attempt four minutes into the game.

Milwaukee’s Mikko Lehtonen snapped a shot off the post with 12:30 left in the first period.

The Aeros had a 2-on-0 past the midway point, but Rinne stopped Jason Morgan’s shot off a feed from Danny Irmen.

Rinne then made an unbelievable save with Houston on the power play. Benoit Pouliot, low in the right circle, took a cross-crease feed from Foy, but Rinne went post-to-post to rob Pouliot.

Foy’s team-leading 22nd goal – ninth on the power play – put Houston on top 1-0 for the fifth tie in six games, just 52 seconds into the middle period. Mattias Weinhandl, at the top of the left circle, fired a shot well wide of the net. Foy, in the right circle, deflected the puck by a stunned Rinne.

Milwaukee got a power play a minute later, and Ads captain Sheldon Brookbank rang a shot off the post from the left point.

Corbeil’s first of the game evened the score at 4:11 of the second. Jason Guerriero picked off a clearing attempt along the right wing boards and shoveled a pass to Corbeil between the circles. Corbeil blistered a one-timer by Kochan.

Midway through the second, Kochan kept the game tied with a brilliant save on a cutting Alex Henry from the low left circle.

Reitz put Houston back on top with a shorthanded goal – his fifth of the tally – with 2:05 left in the second. Irmen fired from the right circle in transition. Rinne made the save, but tried to leave the rebound for Ville Koistinen. Irmen stole that pass and fed Reitz at the right point. The defenseman ripped a long shot under Rinne’s legs for his second goal of the season.

But the lead was short-lived, as Corbeil’s second of the game and fifth of the season tied the game with three seconds left in the middle period. Corbeil lifted a Rich Peverley feed over Kochan’s glove for his fourth goal against Houston.

Corbeil completed the hat trick with 8:01 gone in the third, giving the Ads their first lead of the night. Taking a pass from Koistinen, Corbeil stepped across the blueline on the right side and fired a long shot short side by Kochan.

Durno made it 4-2 with 9:34 remaining, finishing off a 2-on-1 from Cal O’Reilly for his seventh goal of the season.

Durno’s goal was huge, as Voloshenko’s 10th goal got Houston within 4-3 with 7:03 remaining. Rinne kicked out Curtis Murphy’s left point blast, but Voloshenko hopped on the rebound and slid it by Rinne.

Jesse Bennefield ran over Kochan with four minutes left, but no penalty was called.

The Aeros did get a penalty with 2:47 left after a hooking call to Lehtonen. Houston had the puck in the zone nearly the entire time, but didn’t get an official shot on Rinne.

Houston has not outscored its opponent in the third period in any of its last six games.

Houston finished 1-for-5 on the power play, while Milwaukee went 1-for-5.

Notes:

Not dressing for the Aeros were Peter Olvecky, Chris Ovington, Ben Thomson and Joey Tetarenko.

Milwaukee has registered 40 or more shots in each of its last three games against Houston.

Foy’s 41 points (22-19=41) are a new career-high, bettering the 40 (15-25=40) he had last season in 51 games. Tonight marked Foy’s 44th game this season.

The Aeros fell to 2-10-2-1 in games where goalie Josh Harding doesn’t play. Harding remains on recall to NHL Minnesota. Dating back to Harding’s first lengthy call-up to Minnesota last March, the Aeros are 7-18-4-2 in the last 31 games in which Harding doesn’t appear.

Houston is 8-11-3-5 in one-goal games, but just 2-8-3-1 in its last 14 such games. The Aeros have only two non shootout one-goal wins, the last coming 3-2 at Iowa on November 9.

Houston had played eighth straight one-goal games in its inaugural season, from February 28-March 17, 1995.

The Aeros fell to 18-9-1-4 when scoring three or more goals.

Houston has trailed in 14 of 15 games.

The Aeros’ eight-game road winless streak is their longest since an 0-6-1-1 mark from March 17-April 15, 2006. The Aeros’ franchise record is nine (0-7-2-0), set January 31-February 26, 2004.

The Aeros are winless (0-16-1-4) when allowing four goals or more.