HOUSTON TAKES 2-1 SERIES LEAD SATURDAY NIGHT

Saturday, April 18, 2009

HOUSTON, Texas – The Houston Aeros took a 2-1 series lead with a 2-1 win over the Peoria Rivermen in Game 3 of the West Division Semifinals series. Corey Locke netted both goals for the Aeros, in front of 4,092 Saturday night, as the club stopped all five short-handed situations. The teams stick in Houston for a Game 4 on Monday at 7:05 p.m. at Toyota Center. Call (713) 974-PUCK for tickets to Games 4 and 5 this Monday and Wednesday respectively.

Anton Khudobin knocked aside 23 of 24 shots faced for the Aeros in his second win in as many nights. Manny Legace blocked 22 of 24 shots on net in the Rivermen loss. Krys Kolanos joined Locke with two points, assists, to lead the Aeros for the night.

GAME SHEET

Houston was put in a hard spot early, but successfully killed off 1:14 of 5-on-3 and the ensuing 5-on-4. The Aeros came back from each penalty with odd-man rushes following each Aero’s return from the box. Jesse Schultz picked up the puck and raced down the ice shortly after serving his penalty and had his pass to Kolanos picked off in front of the Rivermen net. Clayton Stoner went on a similar rush with Schultz after finishing his two-minute penalty but also had his pass intercepted. The team’s finished a scoreless first period with Peoria leading in shots 9-5.

For the second time in two nights the Aeros got on the board first when Locke deflected a Kolanos shot from chest high for the 1-0 lead. The goal, coming at 9:13 in the second, was Locke’s first of two power-play goals in the night. Matt Beaudoin earned the second assist on the only goal of the second period. The Rivermen again outshot the Aeros 8-5 heading into the second intermission.

Two minutes into the third period the Rivermen had a good look to tie the contest but Khudobin sprawled out throwing his blocker up to make a dramatic save. At the 3:10 mark of the final frame Peoria was able to tie the contest when the Houston netminder was caught out from his net as the puck was tapped in by Chris Porter. The goal ended Khudobin’s shutout streak at 115:58 going back to the third period of Game One.

The Aeros were put on their third power play of the night with just over 10 minutes to play. Tony Hrkac won the ensuing faceoff sending it to Kolanos who wristed the puck just wide on Legace’s glove side. Locke was in position and deflected the puck off his midsection and behind Legace for the 2-1 lead and his second marker of the night just four seconds into the man advantage.

NOTES:
- Houston’s is 4-2 all time when leading a best-of-seven series two games to one.
- Corey Locke’s two goals tied a single-game high in the playoffs for the Aeros. This marked the 28th time an Aero has reached this mark.
- The Aeros improved to 47-14 all-time during the playoffs when scoring the first goal.

– HOUSTON AEROS: 15 Seasons, One Reason –