AEROS SEASON ENDS WITH 3-1 GAME 6 LOSS

Monday, May 25, 2009

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 –