From: Patrick Armstrong, Director of Communications
713.361.7920 (Direct Line)
Scott Henninger, Communications Manager
713.361.7930 (Direct Line)
November 25, 2007

AEROS SHOT DOWN BY MILWAUKEE IN 3-2 SHOOTOUT LOSS

HOUSTON, Texas – The Houston Aeros grabbed two leads in the game against the Milwaukee Admirals but let both leads slide, losing the game 3-2 in the shootout. The Admirals netted two goals in the shootout to Houston’s one in front of 8,103 fans at Toyota Center Sunday night.

Box Score

Houston’s RW Joel Ward and LW Ryan Hamilton marked the team’s two goals, Ward’s was an unassisted shorthand marker. Admiral’s C Mike Santorelli netted the shootout-winning goal in the fifth and final try. Houston’s goalie Barry Brust stopped 27 of 29 shots on net and allowed two of five in the shootout. Admiral’s goalie Pekka Rinne stopped 21 of 23 shots on net including four of five during the shootout.

The Aeros got the scoring started at 5:57 in the first period when LW Ryan Hamilton pushed the puck through a bunch of skates in front of the Admirals crease. The power-play marker was assisted by C Milan Gajic and D Brandon Rogers. Not wanting to give the Aeros a 3-0 lead like Friday night, the Admirals’ D Alex Henry netted an even strength marker at 11:44 in the first period with RW Rich Peverley and LW John Vigilante added the assists for a 1-1 tie at the break.

Both teams were held scoreless in the second period, only seven other times this year have both teams been scoreless in a period. The last time a scoreless period occurred was during the second on November 17 in Chicago. Milwaukee out-shot the Aeros 8-6 in the session. The Admirals were 0-for-1 on the power-play and Houston was 0-for-2 on the man-advantage.

As the Aeros were in a short-handed situation RW Joel Ward pressured Milwaukee’s net-minder who was playing the puck high along the boards. Ward snagged the up-ice pass and quickly snuck the puck underneath the retreating goalie’s pads for the short-handed marker, his first such goal of the season, at 5:07 in the third period. Milwaukee answered back with a power-play marker at 8:34 from LW Antti Pihlstrom to tie the game at 2. C Cal O’Reilly was awarded the assist as the teams took the contest into the extra session.

Houston came into the game having lost only one overtime-game, 4-3 on October 12 in Iowa. The Aeros marked two shots on net in the extra session and Milwaukee took three shots. The Aeros enter the game with a 2-0 shootout record. In the shootout Houston’s C Steve Kelly got the scoring started with a backhanded shot going under the glove of Rinne. Milwaukee answered right back with the next shooter, RW Matt Ellison, scoring high on Brust’s stick side. The Admirals’ Santorelli deked and left Brust laying on the ice just outside the crease and easily slid the puck in. LW Peter Olvecky had the last try for the Aeros but his hard shot bounced off the post allowing the Admirals the 3-2 win.

Game Notes
• The Aeros are now 2-3-0-1, including a shootout win, when taking a 1-1 tie into the third period.
• The last time Houston had a 1-1 tie starting the third, the Aeros marked 4 third-period goals against Worcester on November 10.
• Tonight's shootout loss marks the first of such games in three shootout contests this season.
• Houston had a five-game winning-streak at Toyota Center coming into tonight. The last time the team had a five-game or more winning-streak at home was in the 2005-06 season when they won seven in a row (11/30-12/28/05).

The Aeros take to the road playing in Iowa Tuesday night at 7:07 p.m. and in Rockford Wednesday night in a 7:05 p.m. game. Both games can be heard on AM 1070 or online at www.aeros.com, Jason Shaver has the play-by-play. Houston will return home to Toyota Center Friday night against Peoria in a 7:35 p.m. contest.

The Houston Aeros Charities Toy Drive collection will take place on November 30 and December 1st and 22nd, at the Charities table, will benefit the Houston Aeros Power Playroom at Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital. Don't miss out on opportunity to help out those in need!

-- HOUSTON AEROS --