2.15.13

Game Summary - HERE

AEROS WIN FOURTH STRAIGHT, HAND AMERICANS 3-1 LOSS
Houston Continues Lengthy Road Trip in Hamilton on Feb 16. at 6 p.m.

Rochester, NY - The Houston Aeros (26-18-4-3, 59 points) defeated the Rochester Americans (26-17-2-1, 55 points) 3-1 on Friday night in front of 8,173 fans at the Blue Cross Arena. Center Carson McMillan scored twice, tying the game midway through the first period and clinching the club’s fourth straight win with an empty-net goal in the final minute. Goalie Matt Hackett (16-16-3) made 29 saves, helping the Aeros improve to 13-10-2-1 on the road. Forward Justin Fontaine also scored, as Houston improved to 4-1-0-0 on its eight-game road trip. Rochester goalie David Leggio (25-13-1) stopped 30 of 32 in the defeat. Houston will head to Hamilton, to meet the Bulldogs, on Saturday at 6 p.m. CT at Copps Coliseum.

With its first power-play of the night, Rochester opened the scoring at 3:42 for the 1-0 lead. Left wing Mark Mancari rifled a shot to the net from the left point and forward Nick Tarnasky tipped the shot to beat goalie Matt Hackett. The goal was Tarnasky’s 11th of the season.  Houston tied the game 1-1 less than six minutes later at 9:23. Center Carson McMillan found a rebound off the pads of Rochester goalie David Leggio, scoring his third goal in the last four games. Forward Stephane Veilleux had the lone assist on Houston’s first goal.

Houston scored the only goal of the second period, striking for the 2-1 lead at 7:26. Off a faceoff, David McIntyre won the puck to Justin Fontaine, who blasted a shot past Leggio for his 12th goal of the season.

Rochester pulled Leggio late in the third period for the extra-skater on the power-play. Houston made them pay, as McMIllan broke up the play in the neutral zone. A quick give-and-go with Jake Dowell sprung McMillan for the empty-net goal, his third shorthanded goal of the year. McMillan’s sixth overall goal on the season gave Houston the 3-1 final.

Houston continues on an eight-game road trip on Saturday, Feb. 16 in Hamilton at 6 p.m. CT. The Aeros return home on Saturday, Feb. 23 at 7:05 p.m. as Houston hosts Oklahoma City at Toyota Center. The team will celebrate Boy Scout Night by handing out 2012-13 team posters to the first 2,000 fans.