AEROS POSTGAME, DEC. 7: EARL SCORES BIG IN 4-3 SHOOTOUT WIN

OKLAHOMA CITY --- Robbie Earl scored twice in the third period and bagged the deciding shootout tally to help the Houston Aeros to a 4-3 win over the Oklahoma City Barons on Tuesday night at the Cox Convention Center.

Earl, who missed the Aeros last game on Saturday due to injury, led an Aeros comeback after trailing 3-1 through two periods. He pulled Houston within a goal at the 4:10 mark of the third and then tied the game on the power play at 14:07. Earl’s second goal moved him into a tie for the team lead with seven markers on the season.

The Aeros, who have won four of their last five outings and two in a row, are now within six points of the West Division-leading San Antonio Rampage.

BOXSCORE
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Matt Kassian staked the Aeros to the lead just 3:33 into the game with his second goal of the season.

The Barons scored twice in the middle stanza to take the lead on goals by Brad Moran at 13:45 on the power play and Jeff Petry at 19:02. Alexandre Giroux put the Barons up 3-1 at 3:30 of the third.

Anton Khudobin turned aside 11 third period shots including a pair of shorthanded breakaways on Liam Reddox, one with under a minute left in regulation. Khudobin closed the door on the three shots in overtime and then blanked the Barons on all five shootout attempts.

The Aeros return home Friday, Dec. 10, to face the San Antonio Rampage in the annual Teddy Bear Toss game. Bring a stuffed animal to throw on the ice to help support the KHOU 11 News Spirit of Texas Toy Drive and receive two free Aeros tickets. The first 1,500 fans through the turnstiles at Toyota Center will receive a custom knit Houston Aeros scarf. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Puck drop is set for 7:35 p.m.

Call 713-974-7825 (PUCK) for more information on Aeros tickets and other promotions.

DECIDING GOAL
Earl, 2nd round, shootout

POWER PLAYS
HOU: 1/5
OKC: 2/5

GOALIES
HOU: Khudobin (27/30; 5/5 SO, W)
OKC: Drouin-Deslauriers (35/38; 4/4 SO, SOL)

TEAM RECORDS
HOU: 14-10-1-2
OKC: 14-8-1-3

AEROS STARTERS
F: Gillies, Peters, McMillan
D: Prosser, Falk
G: Khudobin

AEROS SCRATCHES
Fraser, Zingoni, Palmer, Lampman, Kalus, Broda

NEXT GAME
Dec. 10, 2010, vs. San Antonio at Toyota Center, 7:35 p.m.

BOMB DROPPINGS
Earl is now third in team scoring (7-6-13) in just 17 games played…The Aeros have won four of five; all four wins have come in extra time. The Aeros beat Milwaukee 4-3 in a shootout on Nov. 27, Rockford 2-1 in a shootout last Thursday, and won 4-3 in overtime at Texas on Saturday…The last five games have all been decided by one goal; the lone loss was a 2-1 decision to Rockford last Friday…The Aeros are now 12-9-1-0 vs. West Division teams…The Aeros scored first for the 17th time in the last 20 games. They lead the AHL in first goals (19)...When scoring first Houston is now 14-3-0-2…When scoring at least four goals the Aeros are undefeated (9-0-0-0)… The win marked the second time in four games the Aeros came from behind to win after trailing entering the third period; they defeated Rockford 4-3 in a shootout on Dec. 2… The Aeros came back from a second period deficit for just the second time this season (2-9-0-0) and the first time on the road.