From: Robert Desimone, Communications Manager
(713) 361-7920
Palmer Hestley, Asst. Communications Manager
(713) 361-7930
December 20, 2009
NOREAU, MILROY, IRMEN REGISTER MULTI-POINT GAMES
HOUSTON - D Maxim Noreau scored twice, RW Duncan Milroy added a goal and an assist and RW Danny Irmen registered a season-high three assists as the Houston Aeros (16-13-2-1) used a three-goal second period to defeat the Grand Rapids Griffins (18-12-0-1) 5-3 Sunday in front of 4,486 at Toyota Center. G Wade Dubielewicz evened up his record at 7-7-0 stopping 24 of 27 shots on goal. G Daniel Larsson (11-6-1) took the loss stopping 15 shots on goal.
BOXSCORE
"We talked about having a better home record and better afternoon record, we won our last two afternoon games and we've won more than we've lost at home during this last stretch," said Head Coach Kevin Constantine. "We've taken a step forward in both winning at home and winning in afternoon games so that's good."
The Aeros again found themselves in a hole when Grand Rapids C Patrick Rissmiller beat Dubielewicz five-hole from the left circle 4:40 into the first period. Just over 10 minutes later the Aeros found the back of the net when Milroy and Noreau sped into the Griffins zone on a 2-on-1. Milroy dished to Noreau who slammed on the breaks and rip a snap shot past Larsson to knot the game up at the 14:46 mark.
Houston exploded for three goals in the middle session, the first coming off the stick of C Andy Hilbert off an Aeros 3-on-2 at 2:50. D Justin Falk forced a turnover in the neutral zone before giving way to RW J-M Daoust. Daoust centered to Hilbert who found the wide open net. At 6:49 Milroy found the twine when he cleaned up a D Brandon Rogers bid for his fourth of the year. The goal gives Milroy his second multi-point game of the season and the helper is the second in as many games for Rogers, his first point streak of the season. With 54 seconds remaining in the period Aeros captain RW Jon DiSalvatore notched his eighth of the year unassisted off the eventual game-winner to give Houston a 4-1 lead.
The Griffins started the third both with a new netminder in G Thomas McCollum and on the power play. Grand Rapids converted on the man advantage at 1:48 off the stick of D Logan Pyett then got to within one when C Evan McGrath scored an even-strength goal at 5:37. Both squads picked up the intensity as the final horn neared. McCollum skated to the bench in favor of the extra attacker inside the final minute and Noreau sealed the game at 19:37 with an empty-netter. The goal gives Noreau 11 points in his last 13 games after having a season-high seven-game point streak snappen against Texas Friday.
Grand Rapids outshot Houston 27-25 on the night and the Aeros failed to convert on their only man advantage. Aeros penalty killers stopped 1-of-2 Griffins power plays.
"We've put put ourselves in position to be competitive in the division and we've got to figure out a way now to have an even better second half," Constantine said. "We know a lot about each other right now and we're trying to figure out how to take what we know and turn it into something we can work with."
The Aeros return home Saturday, December 26, to take on Lone Star rival San Antonio. Puck drop with the Rampage is set for 7:35 PM and it’s Bikini Night at Toyota Center where the first 3,000 fans will receive an Aeros beach towel. For more information call 713.974. PUCK (7825). Watch the game on ahllive.com or listen on 1070 KNTH. Follow the in-game blog on zamchron.com.
JOE O'DONNELL'S CALLS OF THE GAME
Noreau game-tying goal
Hilbert goal
Milroy goal
DiSalvatore GWG
Noreau ENG
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