Aeros Slip Past Stars in Shootout, 4-3

Here's tonight's press release:

The Texas Stars (18-11-2-2, 40 points) were defeated by the Houston Aeros (17-15-1-2, 37 points) 4-3 in a shootout on Sunday afternoon in front of 7,513 fans at the Toyota Center. The Aeros outlasted the Stars in a seven-round shootout to take the win. Stars left wing Francis Wathier scored with 19 seconds left in regulation, tying the game 3-3 and forcing the eventual overtime and shootout. Houston right wing Jon DiSalvatore scored twice, as the Aeros ended a four-game slide. Texas goalie Richard Bachman (11-5-2) made 30 saves in the shootout loss, as the Stars dropped to 7-5-0-1 on the road this year. Houston goalie Matt Hackett (6-8-1) stopped 22 of 25 shots in the shootout win. Texas right wing Colton Sceviour scored a goal and added an assist as the Stars fell to 1-4-0-1 against Houston this year.

Texas travels to Oklahoma City to face the Barons at 7:05 PM on Tuesday night.

The Aeros jumped out to a quick lead, scoring the game’s opening goal 30 seconds into the first period. Former Texas Star Warren Peters poked in a rebound in the Texas crease, scoring his sixth goal of the year and giving the Aeros a 1-0 lead. The Stars countered with a power-play goal at 6:42, Captain Brad Lukowich sent a one-timer past Houston goalie Matt Hackett, tying the game 1-1. Lukowich’s first goal of the year was set up by defenseman Maxime Fortunus and right wing Colton Sceviour. The Stars claimed a 2-1 lead at 11:40 of the first period off a wrist shot by Sceviour. Forward Ray Sawada and defenseman Trevor Ludwig set up Sceviour’s sixth goal of the year.

After nearly a scoreless second period of action the Aeros tied the game 2-2 with one minute remaining in the middle frame. Right wing Jon DiSalvatore beat Stars goalie Richard Bachman with a wrist shot for a power-play goal, his sixth marker of the season. The Aeros outshot the Stars 14-4 in the middle frame.

DiSalvatore scored his second power-play goal of the night, helping the Aeros push in front 3-2 with a four-on-three power play goal at 8:56 of the third period. The Stars pulled goalie Richard Bachman for the extra skater in the last minute. Texas tied the game 3-3 after left wing Francis Wathier tipped a Dan Spang point shot with 19 seconds left in regulation, sending the game to overtime. Defenseman Philip Larsen picked up the second assist on Wathier’s 12th goal of the year.

After a scoreless overtime, the teams skated to a shootout. Aeros Robbie Earl, Chad Rau and Cody Almond scored in the shootout. Stars Dan Spang and Aaron Gagnon netted shootout goals for Texas. The Aeros edged the Stars 3-2 in the seven-round shootout. Texas goalie Richard Bachman stopped four of seven, while Aeros goalie Matt Hackett stopped five of seven for the win.

Injuries, scratches, and notes:
Blindenbacher, Vincour, McCulloch, King, Stephenson (scratched)
Krahn (lower body)

Tonight's attendance was 7,513.

AHL Gamesheet - Texas at Houston - December 26 2010