WINNIPEG, Manitoba – The Houston Aeros allowed two third-period goals to end their season with a 3-1 loss to the Manitoba Moose in Game 6 of the Western Conference finals. The regular-season champions advance to their first Calder Cup finals in team history as they send the Aeros packing after a total of 20 playoff contests for Houston.

Corey Locke, the league leader with 23 points and 12 goals, recorded the Aeros only tally in the game. Matt Climie started in net for Houston for the second time stopping 33-of-36 shots on net. Corey Schneider knocked aside 16-of-17 shots for the Moose as three separate players netted goals with only one assist on each for the home team.

GAME SHEET

The first period started with a fast pace and it continued throughout the period. The Moose earned the first power play of the game when Locke went to the box for boarding, but the home team was unable to capitalize. Houston took advantage of their second power play of the game when Locke scored his AHL-leading 12th goal of the playoffs. Krys Kolanos picked up the puck at the top of the left circle, skated toward the net, and fed Locke who was on the back post before he buried it into the open net.

Manitoba quickly answered to tie the game at one on a goal by Matt Pope. The Moose forward found the puck in the left corner, skated to the circle and wristed a shot far corner that beat Aeros’ netminder Matt Climie. Pope was assisted by Jason Jaffray on the play as the Moose evened the score.

Houston was outshot by the Moose 13-5 in the period, but the teams left for the first intermission tied 1-1.

There was no scoring in the second period and the Aeros were whistled for the only two penalties. Houston was outshot 15-9 and 28-14 through two periods.

Michael Grabner unlocked the 1-1 tie at the 9:46 mark of the third period on the power play. Grabner took a feed from Nolan Baumgartner and blasted a shot from the right point that went through traffic and found the back of the net.

Mark Fistric gave the home team a 3-1 lead with 7:53 remaining in the contest with a wrist shot that deflected off Robbie Earl and over Climie’s blocker. Cody Hodgson assist on the final goal of the contest that sent the Moose to the Calder Cup finals for the first time in team history.

Notes
- The Aeros would like to wish all their fans a happy Memorial Day.
- Game 6 of the Western Conference finals is the furthest Houston has gone into the playoffs since their 2003 Calder Cup Championship.
- During this post-season run, Houston became just the third team in AHL history to win two road-Game 7s in the Calder Cup Playoffs. The two other teams included the 2003 Houston Aeros.
- Corey Locke led the Aeros in the regular season with 79 points (25 goals, 54 assists) and, through the conference finals, led the league with 23 points and 12 goals.
- Anton Khudobin led the Aeros in net during the post season with an 8-8 record a 2.70 goals against average and a .900 save percentage.
- AEROS SEASON SUMMARY WILL BE POSTED TO AEROS.COM LATER THIS WEEK.

– HOUSTON AEROS: The Calder Cup, Our Reason –

Friday, May 22, 2009

HOUSTON, Texas – For the second straight game the contest had to be decided in overtime, this time in double overtime when Tony Hrkac netted the game-winning goal giving the Houston Aeros a 4-3 victory over the Manitoba Moose. The Game 5 win sends the series back to Winnipeg for Game 6 Monday night. A total of 91 shots were put on net in 84:19 of game time before a winner was decided. Manitoba leads the series 3-2 as the series heads north.

Matt Climie started in net for the Aeros stopping 45 of 48 shots faced in the contest. Corey Schneider started the contest for the Moose allowing three goals in the first 40 minutes of play stopping 16 shots. Curtis Sanford replaced Schneider stopping 22 of 23 shots in 42:56 of time on ice. Hrkac netted two goals to lead the Aeros with Robbie Earl, Benoit Pouliot and Corey Locke each adding two assists in the contest.

GAME SHEET

The Aeros quickly got on the board with a power-play goal at 2:56 into the first period. Manitoba attempted to clear the puck but it couldn’t get past Locke who passed the disc to Maxim Noreau. The defenseman wristed a shot from the point through minimal traffic and just nicked the inside of Schnedier’s pads on the way into the back of the net.

Just 1:26 later in the opening frame Tony Hrkac gave the Aeros a 2-0 lead with an even-strength goal. Benoit Pouliot set the play up when he passed the puck to Robbie Earl who wristed a shot from the right-wing faceoff circle. The shot rebounded up the middle and Hrkac chipped the puck over Schneider as he tried to get back in position after the initial shot at the 4:22 mark.

Just three shots were taken within the first six minutes of the middle period, all by Manitoba but each team finished with nine in the frame. Over 11 minutes of the second period went by without a whistle until Matt Beaudoin gave Houston a 3-0 lead at 17:34. John Lammers and Locke set Beaudoin up to slip the puck under Schneider’s arm as he slid right to left in the crease. Houston’s lead would stand as the team’s faced no whistles in the remaining 2:26 before heading to the locker room for the second intermission.

Sanford replaced Schneider in the Moose net for the third period in an effort to change things up for the visitors. Manitoba only took 2:29 into the third period to change things up by netting a power-play goal to chip into Houston’s lead. Shaun Heshka passed the puck to Michael Grabner as he sped through the neutral zone. Grabner weaved through two defenders before wristing a hard shot over Climie’s right shoulder. Just two seconds remained on Stoner’s penalty when the lamp was lit.

The middle of the period was evenly matched until Houston’s Krys Kolanos was called for hooking with 1:25 remaining in the game. Shortly after the ensuing faceoff, Sanford left the Moose net in favor of the extra attacker giving Manitoba a 6-on-4 advantage. After a number of shots Jason Krog was able to reel in the puck and snapped it past Climie to bring the visitors within one with just 21 seconds remaining.

Sanford returned to the net for the faceoff and quickly returned to the bench for the 6-on-5 advantage. With little time to spare the Moose came at the Aeros net rapidly with a flury of shots and with two seconds remaining Mark Cullen fired the puck five-hole between Climie’s pads to send the contest into overtime.

The first overtime period saw a total of 31 shots, 17 for Manitoba and 14 for Houston. The extra 20 minutes of play wasn’t enough but the Aeros needed less than five in the second overtime. Hrkac took in a pass from Earl and hit the Moose netminder in the shoulder with his shot and flipped over and across the goal line for the 4-3 victory.

– HOUSTON AEROS: The Calder Cup, Our Reason –

HOUSTON, Texas – The Houston Aeros trail the Manitoba Moose 3-1 in the Western Conference finals as they attempt to stave off elimination in Game 5 on home ice. The 7:35 p.m. game at Toyota Center will be the fourth Houston has faced elimination in this post season having won Game 7 in both of the previous series and Wednesday’s Game 4 in overtime.

KHOU-Channel 11’s weekend sports anchor, Butch Alsandor, will be on hand to drop the ceremonial first puck. Tickets are still available by calling the Aeros front office at (713) 974-PUCK, online at AEROS.com or at the Toyota Center Box Office prior to the game. The first 2,000 fans inside Toyota Center will receive Birraporetti’s gift certificates as an added bonus.

GAME NOTES

Fans are encouraged to visit the AEROS.com multimedia section to go “Inside the Calder Cup” and get updated audio, video, blogs and news about the team and game previews posted on each game day. Come cheer on the Aeros as they attempt to take the series back to Manitoba for a great way to kick off Memorial Day weekend!

– HOUSTON AEROS: The Calder Cup, Our Reason –

HOUSTON, Texas – The Houston Aeros’ Matt Beaudoin posted four points on two goals and two assists including the game-winning goal en route to a 5-4 overtime victory over the Manitoba Moose. The Aeros avoided the sweep and forced a Game 5, set for Friday night at 7:35 p.m. The win snapped Manitoba’s 10-game winning streak and Houston’s three-game losing streak. Tickets for Game 5 are available at 9 a.m. Thursday by calling (713) 974-PUCK, online at AEROS.com or at the Toyota Center Box Office.

Anton Khudobin played all of regulation for the Aeros stopping 18-of-22 shots faced, helping to force overtime. Netminder Nolan Schaefer played the 2:01 of overtime for the win, facing no shots in the extra session. Moose goalie Corey Schneider stopped 25-of-30 shots faced in just his third loss of the post season. Houston’s Corey Locke followed Beaudoin’s four points with three of his own with the opening goal and two assists, including on the game winner.

Game Sheet

Houston took control early in the first period when they sent the puck deep into their offensive zone and held it there. A blocked cross-ice pass sent the puck to Beaudoin near the top of the faceoff circle where he wristed a shot on net. The rebound was put back at Schneider by John Lammers and Locke was able to finish the play with a back hand shot that went over the netminder’s glove hand at 1:26 into the game.

Manitoba was able tied the contest at the 7:10 mark when Mike Keane recorded his first of the night after a scrum near the front of the net. Jason Krog and Maxime Fortunus got the puck down low by the Aeros’ net before Keane stuffed it under Khudobin’s pads. The visitors took a 2-1 lead not two minutes later while short handed. Keane stole the puck near center ice as the Aeros began another rush nearly halfway into their power play and banged home his own rebound.

The Aeros evened the score with the only second period goal coming at 13:58 into the middle frame. Locke brought the puck into the zone along the right wing boards and passed it cross ice to Lammers. The puck was quickly centered to Robbie Earl who tipped it in the far side of the net past Schneider.

Just 25 seconds into the third period Manitoba took a 3-2 lead as Krog wristed the puck past Khudobin from the left wing faceoff dot into the top corner of the net. Assists went to Shaun Heshka and Jason Jaffray on the even strength marker.

The Aeros tied the contest at three apiece on Houston’s first of two goals in the third period. J.P. Testwuide carried the puck into the zone near center ice and slid it to Benoit Pouliot to his left. Pouliot then sent the puck across the ice to a wide open Beaudoin as he skated into the zone after just coming off the bench and wristed the puck from near the top of the faceoff circle past Schneider at 13:34.

Houston took a 4-3 third period lead with 5:31 left in regulation. Tony Hrkac initiated the play when he slapped the puck on net and Schneider gave up a big rebound directly in front of him. Beaudoin tried the flip the rebound in but sent it behind the net. He followed the puck and passed it blindly to the side of the net where Hrkac shoved it past the goal line.

Manitoba tied the contest again with 2:39 left in the period. A small flurry led to Khudobin getting stuck away from his net with traffic around him. The puck came out below the goal line and Mario Bliznak swung it behind the net and shoved the disc across the goal line just as Khudobin got back into the crease.

The teams rode out the remainder of the contest to force overtime for the second time in the Aeros playoff run. Through regulation, Houston posted 28 shots to Manitoba’s 22 with neither team tallying a power-play goal on a total of five tries.

The home team was able to avoid the sweep by controlling the puck for most of the extra session and didn’t allow a shot on net for the Moose. Just 2:01 into the extra session Beaudoin tallied his second goal of the night, the overtime game winner. The play was set up when Locke’s shot from the right-wing faceoff circle was tipped and trickled to Lammers in front of the crease. Lammers quickly passed the puck across the crease to Beaudoin who buried it, forcing Game 5 Friday night.

Notes:
- Tonight’s game marked Houston’s 100th game of the season including pre-season, regular season and the playoffs.
- Prior to the game Manitoba had trailed for just 75 seconds in the previous six games. Houston held a lead over the Moose for 5:44 in the first period before Mike Keane tied the game.
- Houston improved their record when scoring the first goal to 8-2 and snapped the trend of losing all eight games when trailing after the first period, prior to tonight.
- Corey Locke extended his league lead in points (20) and goals (11) and Matt Beaudoin moved into second with seven goals and a tie for second with 16 points.
- Houston recorded two third-period goals for a total of 23 during the current playoff run. The Aeros have posted a total of 24 goals in the first, second and overtime periods combined.
- Since Game 4 of the 2003 Calder Cup finals Houston has won their last seven playoff overtime games, including two this post season. The Aeros are 15-10 in playoff sudden-death overtime games in team history.
- Matt Beaudoin’s four points tied an Aeros’ all-time playoff record that happened twice before in team history. His two goals  in the contest also tied a club record which is the 31st time in history, fourth time this post season.

– HOUSTON AEROS: The Calder Cup, Our Reason –

HOUSTON, Texas – The Houston Aeros couldn’t hold on to their comeback effort after falling behind two goals as the Manitoba Moose took a 4-3 decision at Toyota Center Monday night. The loss put Houston at a 3-0 deficit in the Western Conference Finals as the Aeros face elimination in Game 4 Wednesday night. Tickets for the contest are still available by calling (713) 974-PUCK or online at AEROS.com.

Houston goaltender Nolan Schaefer got his first start of the playoffs and stopped 15-of-19 shots faced. Moose netminder Corey Schneider knocked aside 21-of-24 shots, including 12-of-14 faced in the third period as the Aeros attempted their comeback.

GAMESHEET

Houston again came out and took the momentum from the opening faceoff, but the home team didn’t sustain the momentum. At the 7:30 mark of the period, Krys Kolanos went to the box for holding to give Manitoba their first power play opportunity of the game. Houston killed the penalty, but it was Moose captain Mike Keane that unlocked the scoreless tie. Keane came in on a two-on-two rush and batted a Mario Bliznak pass out of mid-air to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. The goal came at the 13:47 mark of the period and Guillaume Desbiens earned the second assist.

Houston earned a penalty at the 15:36 mark of the first period when Raymond Sawada went to the box for unsportsmanlike conduct. The Aeros had a lot of time in the Manitoba’s zone during the power play, but the home team was unable to convert and score the equalizer. Houston entered the first intermission trailing 1-0 and being outshot 9-7.

Moose defenseman Nathan McIver went to the penalty box early into the second period giving the Aeros a chance to tie the score. It was the Moose that took a 2-0 lead on a shorthanded goal by Alexandre Bolduc at the 2:33 mark. Bolduc picked up the puck at his own blue line and skated in on a two-on-one. The passing lane was taken away by Aeros’ defenseman Maxim Noreau, so Bolduc wristed a shot five-hole past Schaefer.

Matt Beaudoin cut the lead in half for Houston on his fifth goal of the post-season. Kolanos took a slap shot from the top of the left circle and Beaudoin tipped it under the glove of Schneider to make it 2-1. Manitoba quickly responded and Michael Grabner tallied his third goal in the past two games to regain the two-goal lead for the Moose. Jason Jaffray made a nice pass across the slot to Grabner on the backdoor and he buried the puck into the open net.

Only a total of seven shots were recorded in the second period, four for Manitoba who scored on two of the shots. The Aeros scored one on three shots to give Manitoba a 3-1 lead heading into the second intermission.

Houston got off to a quick start in the third period bringing the game within one at 1:11 into the frame. Corey Locke added another goal to his league lead – his tenth of the playoffs – with Marco Rosa and Clayton Stoner earning the assists. Just about five minutes later into the final frame Benoit Pouliot was called for roughing, putting the Moose on a power play. Shortly after the ensuing faceoff the puck was dumped into the Manitoba defensive zone and Danny Irmen was able to stuff the puck in net at 6:30 in the final period. The goal, just 16 seconds into the Moose power play, was assisted by Rosa for the Aeros second short-handed goal of the playoffs and tied the contest at three apiece.

The contest remained tied for nearly 10 minutes until Grabner finished a tic-tac-toe play with Jaffray and Mark Fistric for the eventual game-winning goal with 3:49 remaining in the contest. Houston would get one last push when Bolduc earned a two-minute penalty for cross checking with 2:33 left on the clock. Schaefer was pulled in favor of an extra attacked with 1:10 remaining, giving Houston a 6-on-4 advantage for 43 seconds of the power play but it wasn’t enough to force overtime.

Houston finished with 24 shots on net compared to Manitoba’s 19. The Aeros converted on one of five power-play chances and killed off all three Moose man advantages as the Aeros slipped to a 3-0 deficit in the Western Conference Finals.

Notes:
- Aeros goaltender Nolan Schaefer started his first game of the playoffs. Anton Khudobin had started all 16 games of the playoffs before tonight. Dating back to the regular season, Khudobin had started 18 straight games for Houston.
- Houston slipped to a record of 0-8 in the playoffs when trailing after the first period as the club was down 1-0 after the first 20 minutes of play.
- The 3-0 series deficit is just the second time the club has been in such a position in a best-of-seven series. The only other time Houston trailed 3-0 in a series was when the club was eventually swept by the Milwaukee Admirals in 2006.

– HOUSTON AEROS: The Calder Cup, Our Reason –