From: Patrick Armstrong, Director of Communications
713.361.7920 (Direct Line)
Scott Henninger, Communications Manager
713.361.7930 (Direct Line)
December 21, 2007

AEROS DOWN STARS 3-1 TO END ROAD TRIP

DES MOINES, Iowa – The Houston Aeros ended their seven-game road trip Friday night with a 3-1 win over the Iowa Stars at Wells Fargo Arena. Houston finished the road trip with a 4-2-0-1 record after beginning the trip just 2-6-1-0 on the road. Center Steve Kelly earned the game-winning goal for the third straight time when the Aeros win in regulation. Defenseman Erik Reitz added two assists and goaltender Nolan Schaefer won for the seventh time in his last nine starts by saving 33 of 34 shots.

Box Score

Left wing Benoit Pouliot scored his third goal of the season at the 2:47 mark of the opening period as the Aeros jumped out to an early 1-0 lead. Pouliot was assisted by Reitz who continues to pace the Aeros in scoring.

Reitz earned his second assist of the game on a power play goal by center Steve Kelly at the 8:29 mark of the second period. It marked the Aeros first power play goal in 14 tries against the Stars this season. Left wing Peter Olvecky also assisted on the play for his fifth assist of the season.

Houston took a 3-0 lead at 16:09 mark of the second on a nice pass by Serge Payer from behind the net. Payer hit center Adrian Foster as he was crashing the net and Foster stuffed the puck under the padding of Stars’ goaltender Tobias Stephan.

Right wing Junior Lessard ended Schaefer’s bid for a shutout 8:16 into the third period on the Stars’ 26 shot of the game. It was a power play goal for Lessard on assists from center Perttu Linggren and defenseman Jussi Timonen. That ended the scoring in the game as each team finished 1-4 on the power play and the Aeros earned their first win of the season over Iowa.

The Aeros finally return home tomorrow night in a game against the Springfield Falcons at Toyota Center at 7:35 p.m. CST. The first 3,000 fans will receive the first of a series of three pucks commemorating Houston hockey. This first puck will feature the Sam Houston Coliseum. The Holiday Ticket Special and Holiday Stuffer promotion are still available for both Saturday’s game against the Falcons and the Wednesday, December 26th game against the San Antonio Rampage. Call (713) 974-PUCK to purchase tickets.

Notes:
- The Aeros improved their record to 11-0-1-1 when scoring three or more goals.
- Houston managed just one shot in the third period tying the team record for lowest shots in a period. The last time the Aeros had just one shot in a period was 2/23/05 in a 3-0 win over Utah.
- G Nolan Schaefer has won seven of his last nine starts and is 7-1-0.
- C Steve Kelly has the Aeros last three game-winning goals in regulation.
- Houston returns to the Toyota Center Saturday night in their first home game since December 1. The 21 days in between home games is the longest such stretch this season.

-- HOUSTON AEROS --