AEROS POSTGAME, DEC. 18
AEROS SHUT OUT BY MOOSE, 1-0

WINNIPEG, Manitoba --- Anton Khudobin stopped 19 of 20 shots but the effort wasn’t enough to push the Houston Aeros over the top in a 1-0 loss to the Manitoba Moose on Saturday night at the MTS Centre.

Manitoba’s Sergei Shirokov broke a 0-0 deadlock 3:51 into the third period with his seventh goal of the season. Travis Ramsay and Shawn Weller earned helpers on the goal.

The Aeros finished their five-game road trip with a 1-4-0-0 record but are still in the thick of the West Division race. Fifth place Oklahoma City sits a mere one point ahead of Houston while second place Peoria is just six points ahead.

BOXSCORE
GAMEDAY AUDIO CLIPS

The Aeros had a chance to tie late in the game when Moose defenseman Garth Murray was dispatched to the penalty box for boarding with 33 seconds
left in the third. The Moose and goalie Eddie Lack erased the 6-on-4 power play opportunity as the Aeros pulled Khudobin in favor of an extra attacker. Lack stopped all 20 shots he faced for the win.

Houston returns home Dec. 21, against Hamilton at 7:05 p.m. Fans who bring a toy to help support the Bay Star Ambulance/MD Anderson Cancer Center Toy Drive will receive two tickets to the Aeros game on New Year’s Day.

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

DECIDING GOAL
Shirokov (3:51, 3rd)

POWER PLAYS
HOU: 0/3
MAN: 0/1

GOALIES
HOU: Khudobin (19/20, L)
MAN: Lack (20/20, W)

TEAM RECORDS
HOU: 16-14-1-2
MAN: 15-10-0-4

AEROS STARTERS
F: Gillies, Kalus, Peters
D: Scandella, Noreau
G: Khudobin

AEROS SCRATCHES
Lampman, Fredheim, Buck

NEXT GAME
Dec. 21 vs. Hamilton, 7:05 p.m. CST

BOMB DROPPINGS
Tonight marked the third time this season the Aeros and an opponent played scoreless hockey through the first 40 minutes. The last time it happened was Nov. 27 in a 2-1 shootout win over Milwaukee…One night after the Aeros allowed Manitoba three power play goals, tying an opponent season high, Houston held the Moose scoreless on one opportunity...The Aeros have been shut out four times this season; three of those shutouts have come on the road. The last time was Nov. 13 at Peoria. The Aeros rebounded from that by winning three-in-a-row and four of the next five.