AEROS DEFEAT LAKE ERIE MONSTERS 3-2 IN THIRD PERIOD COMEBACK

HOUSTON, Texas – The Houston Aeros tallied two goals in the third period to defeat the Lake Erie Monsters 3-2 in front of 5,129 fans at Toyota Center Friday night. Tonight's game against the Monsters (2-7-0-0) marks the second game that Houston (3-5-1-0) has out-scored its opponent in the third period, the first was a 4-3 overtime-loss at Iowa.

With two points a piece, Aeros’ RW Joel Ward (1-1=2), RW Aaron Voros (1-1=2) and D Erik Reitz (0-2=2) led Houston's scoring. RW Petr Kalus netted the game-winner for the Aeros for his second goal of the season. Monster’s C Cody McCormick and LW Eric Healey netted Lake Erie's only goals of the evening. Houston’s G Barry Brust stopped 19 of 21 shots for his second win of the season as Monsters’ G Tyler Weiman lost his fourth game this season stopping 28 of 31 shots on net. The Aeros finished 0-4 on the power-play and Lake Erie went 1-5 on the man-advantage.

Official Box Score

The Monsters struck early on a goal by McCormick just 37 seconds into the opening period. McCormick was assisted by LW Cody McCleod who batted the puck directly in front of Aeros’ Brust and McCormick stuffed into the back of the net. RW Mark Rycroft also assisted on the play.

Houston tied the game at one when Ward picked up a loose puck in front of the net and lifted above the glove of Monsters’ Weiman. It marked Ward’s first goal of the season, and Voros and Reitz picked up assists on the play.

The teams remained tied after one period although the Aeros outshot the Monsters 12-6 marking only the second time this season Houston has outshot their opponent in the first period. Houston finished 0-2 on the power play while Lake Erie was 0-1.

Houston came out firing in the second period, but a couple penalties were called on the Aeros giving the Monsters a five-on-three midway through the period. At the 9:45 mark, C T.J. Hensick fed Healey with a backdoor pass and Healy jammed it into the open net to give the Monsters a 2-1 lead. C Mark McCutcheon also assisted on the five-on-three goal.

Houston again outshot the Monsters in the period, 11-5, but Lake Erie held on to the 2-1 lead going into the second intermission.

The hard hitting continued into the third period as the Aeros had a goal to make up in the final session. Voros obliged by netting a hard slap shot from above the circle along the right-hand boards to tie the game at 2 a piece. Kalus picked up his second goal of the season at 14:03 for the go-ahead marker. LW Peter Olvecky received his first point of the season with the assist and D Brandon Rogers marked the second helper.

The teams face off one more time this weekend for the second Family Game of the season on Sunday in the 4:05 p.m. contest. Tickets are still available including the special Family Day packages. Please call 713.974.PUCK or visit www.aeros.com/tickets/special for more details.

Notes:
- D Erik Reitz is on a three-game scoring streak with six points (2-4=6) after contributing two assists tonight. The second assist marked his 100th assist in his professional career, all with the Aeros.
- LW Aaron Voros scored his 90th professional point (43-47=90) on his assist tonight. He has played 220 games, all in the American Hockey League.
- LW Peter Olvecky tallied his first point of the season, an assist on the game-winning goal.
- The 2-0 third-period in favor of the Aeros brings the season’s final-session-goals total to 9-13, still favoring the opponents.