From: Patrick Armstrong, Director of Communications
713.361.7920 (Direct Line)
Scott Henninger, Communications Manager
713.361.7930 (Direct Line)
Saturday, December 15, 2007

HOUSTON AEROS LOSE 4-2 TO WORCESTER SHARKS ENDING SIX-GAME POINT STREAK

WORCESTER, Mass. – The Worcester Sharks exacted revenge from the first meeting this season in a 4-2 win over the Houston Aeros in front of 3,422 fans in DCU Center Saturday night. Houston (13-11-1-2) will play Providence tomorrow afternoon in their third game in as many days as the Sharks (10-10-1-2) head to Manchester tomorrow.

Box Score

Houston's Barry Brust stopped stopped 28 of 31 shots in 58:14 of game time in the loss. The Sharks' net-minder Thomas Greiss 20 of 22 Aeros shots on net in the victory. The Aeros failed to capitalize on three power-play opportunities as Worcester scored on one of their two chances.

Worcester got on the board first as center Tomas Plihal took advantage of the game’s first power-play opportunity. Defensemen Patrick Traverse and Dan Spang recorded the assists on the opening goal. Aeros’ center Marco Rosa tied the game back up less than four minutes later at the 9:12 mark on his third goal this season. Left wing Benoit Pouliot and right wing Danny Irmen marked the assists and took the 1-1 tie into the first intermission.

The second period was held scoreless as the Aeros tied a season low three shots-on-goal and were out-shot as the Sharks recorded 11. Each team had one man-advantage opportunity, both on hooking penalties.

Sharks’ left wing Luka Kaspar revived Worcester’s one-goal lead at 2:15 into the third period. Plihal and right wing Graham Mink marked the helpers for the 2-1 lead. Mink followed up with an insurance goal at 14:14 in the final session. The goal proved to be needed as it eventually became the game-winner. Traverse marked the lone assist. The Aeros’s Adrian Foster netted the team’s second goal of the night at 18:33 after Brust was pulled for the extra attacker. Defenseman Clayton Stoner and center Steve Kelly recorded the assists to bring the Aeros back within one goal. Worcester’s Kaspar netted an empty-net goal with five seconds remaining in the game for the 4-2 final.

The Aeros play three games in three nights: Springfield tonight, Worcester on Saturday and Providence on Sunday. The Aeros return home on December 22, 2007 when they host the Springfield Falcons. For a limited time, and while supplies last, get center ice/club seats for only $20 (regularly $30) and corner seats for only $15 (regularly $22) each. The Holiday Ticket Special is also available for the December 26 game against I-10 rival, the San Antonio Rampage. The Aeros’ Holiday Stuffer promotion begins at just $44. Lower end zone “Stuffers” are $64, corners are $84 and center ice “Stuffers” are just $116. The Holiday Stuffer can only be purchased through the Aeros front office by calling (713) 974-PUCK.

Notes:
- The opening Worcester goal marks the first time since Friday, December 7 that the Aeros have allowed the first goal. The Aeros tallied the first goal in the last three games.
- The Aeros six-game point-streak is their longest such streak this season year. The last was a seven-game win-streak from 2/15-3/2/06 of the 2005-06 season.

-- HOUSTON AEROS --