HOUSTON --- The Houston Aeros took a 2-1 lead into the third period but were edged 3-2 by the Lake Erie Monsters Sunday afternoon at Toyota Center.
Lake Erie's Matt Ford (1-1-2) bagged the game-winner 2:34 into the third, just 1:47 after Greg Mauldin tied the game at 2-2.
After falling behind on Ben Walter's goal 5:52 into the first, the Aeros clawed back on goals by Joel Broda at 18:20 of the first and Casey Wellman 11:22 into the second.
Broda snapped an Aeros scoreless drought that spanned 156:25 with his third of the season. Broda fought through traffic in front and got just enough of the puck at the top of the crease to beat Monsters goalie John Grahame (32 saves).
Wellman fired a one-timer past Grahame after Jarod Palmer drew the defense in deep and then found Wellman with a crisp pass to the slot. Robbie Earl also got a helper.
Anton Khudobin turned aside 30 shots for the Aeros, who drop to 2-4-1-0 with the loss.
Houston plays another three-in-three set, this time featuring a trio of Lone Star Faceoff series contests, beginning next Friday at San Antonio. The Aeros then visit the Texas Stars on Saturday before hosting the Stars Sunday at 4:05 p.m.
Get four tickets to Sunday's game at Toyota Center along with four Aeros gifts, $20 in Toyota Center Bucks and free parking for as low as $67. For more ticket information, visit AEROS.COM or call 713-974-PUCK (7825).
BOX SCORE
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RUNNING GAME NOTES
AEROS STARTERS: G - Anton Khudobin...C - Warren Peters, RW - Petr Kalus, RW JM Daoust...D - Maxim Noreau, D - Drew Bagnall
AEROS SCRATCHES: Peter Zingoni, Nate Prosser, Chad Rau, Brandon Rogers, Tyler Cuma
FIRST PERIOD NOTES: Lake Erie's Ben Walter slides a rebound past Anton Khudobin 5:52 into the first. Khudobin had made a good left pad save and a play that started with a shot by Ben Macias from the right point...Khudobin makes a great blocker save on Greg Mauldin, denying a shorthanded mini-breakway while the Aeros were on their second power play...Houston's second power play shows intensity but John Grahame, who looked stunned after making a mask save midway through the power play, and the Monsters close the door...Joel Broda finally snaps the Aeros scoreless drought at 18:20...That was 156:25 of scoreless hockey....For those of you wondering, Lake Erie plays in downtown Cleveland...
SECOND PERIOD: Both Khudobin and Grahame look sharp...Lake Erie has a 7-4 shot advantage with 10:39 left...The ice crew is out to make a quick repair to the glass in the right corner of Lake Erie's defensive zone...The Aeros take a 2-1 lead with 8:38 left on Casey Wellman's second goal of the season. Jarod Palmer set it up, drawing the defense in deep and then slipping it to the slot where Wellman one-timed past Grahame...Lake Erie outshot Houston 15-11 in the second...
THIRD PERIOD: Lake Erie's Greg Mauldin ties it at 2 with his third goal of the season just 47 seconds in. Mauldin jammed home a loose puck after a scramble in front of the net. Khudobin got caught to the side of the net and Jarod Spurgeon dove to block the shot but Mauldin was there to collect...The Monsters take a 3-2 lead at 2:34 on Matthew Ford's fourth goal of the season...Aeros lose 3-2.
PRE-GAME NOTES
The Houston Aeros (Minnesota Wild) close out their second three-in-three in a row at home against the Lake Erie Monsters (Colorado Avalanche). The Aeros are winless in four games and are coming off a 2-0 loss at San Antonio last night. Matt Hackett made 24 saves in the loss. Lake Erie is winless in five games (0-4-1-0) and last played on Friday in a 3-2 loss at Texas. Today's game closes out seven in a row on the road for the Monsters. The Aeros play their next two games on the road.
AEROS AT A GLANCE
RECORD: -- 2-3-1-0
HOME: -- 0-2-1-0
ROAD: -- 2-1-0-0
STREAK: -- WINLESS IN 4 (0-3-1-0)
