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 Updated: Dec. 16, 2006 at 10:11 PM CST
Aeros gun down the Moose 3-1


By Travis Kondratuk
www.moosehockey.com

Josh Harding turned in a brilliant performance for the Houston Aeros as he stopped 38 of 39 shots enroute to a 3-1 victory. The loss snapped the four-game winning streak for the Moose and leaves them 2-1 on their current road trip. The Moose will look to get back on track as they end their four-game Texas trip in San Antonio tomorrow afternoon. Game time is 5:00PM CDT at the AT&T Center tomorrow.

>> Click here to see official scorer's sheet




First Period

Josh Olson scored his fifth goal of the season at 3:28 of the period to put the home team up 1-0 early. Erik Reitz fired a shot from the right point that MacIntyre stopped initially, but the rebound bounced to the right corner. Olsen whacked home the rebound from a bad-angle in the right corner to give the Aeros the lead over the visiting Moose.

With the Moose on their third powerplay of the game, the Houston Aeros jumped out to a 2-0 lead, scoring shorthanded against the Moose. After Drew MacIntyre had just stopped Ryan Hamilton on a shorthanded breakaway, the Moose re-established possession in the Aeros' zone. Unfortunately for the Moose, the Aeros stole the puck again and broke in 2-on-1 this time. Mattias Weinhandl carried the puck across the Moose blueline and waited before feeding a pass to Bryan Lundbohm who was breaking to the Moose net. Lundbohm outskated the Moose backchecker and beat MacIntyre for his third goal of the season. The shorthanded marker was the 10th shorty the Moose have surrendered already this season.

Even though the Moose outshot the Aeros 11-10 and enjoyed a 3-1 advantage in powerplay chances, Manitoba still trailed 2-0 after one period of play in Houston.


Second Period

J.J. Hunter nearly got the Moose on the board with a shorthanded marker of his own, as Josh Harding came out of the net to play the puck but Hunter intercepted his clearing attempt. Harding had to come sliding back into the net to keep Hunter from jamming the puck in on the short side. Harding has been the big difference for the Aeros as he has made several good saves to keep the Moose off the scoreboard.

As the Aeros came across the Moose blueline, John Scott fired a shot toward the Moose net but it missed and ricocheted off the end boards into Drew MacIntyre's crease. As Drew fell to the ice to try and smother the puck he lost the handle on it and Houston winger Peter Olvecky stuffed in the loose puck to put the Aeros up 3-0.

Just over a minute later Brandon Reid scored to give the Moose some life and cut the Houston lead to 3-1. Nathan Smith and Brad Moran assisted on the Moose goal at 14:07 of the second period.

Reid's goal appeared to inspire the Moose a little as the team put some pressure on in the Houston zone. As Moose forwards Adam Keefe and Mike Keane were attempting to jam a puck past Josh Harding who had the puck covered in the crease, chaos ensued. Keefe, who had been trying to get anyone to dance with him all night, finally found a suitor as he dropped the gloves with Clayton Stoner. Matt Foy tried to jump in and grab Keefe, so captain Mike Keane grabbed Foy and started chucking the knuckles with him. A 2-for-1 bonus as both Moose forwards gained the upper hand on their opponents. None of the combatants landed any devastating blows however, although both Keane and Keefe landed on top in their bouts.

The Moose hold a slight edge in the shots department 22-20 but they still trail by two goals at the end of two periods.


Third Period

Josh Harding stoned Lee Goren as the Moose looked as though they had their second goal of the night. Brad Moran coming down the left wing fired a shot on the Aeros goal. The rebound came straight out to Goren who looked to have an open cage until Harding made a diving save with his paddle to steal a certain goal from the Moose and maintain the two-goal Houston lead.

Mike Brown and Erik Reitz got into a scrap with 2:42 left in the third period. Both players got some shots in, and as the linesman stepped in to break it up Reitz snuck in a couple of extra shots on Brown.

Try as they might, the Moose could not get another one past Josh Harding. Harding did to the Moose tonight what Drew MacIntyre did to the Aeros on Wednesday as he delivered a stellar performance in the 3-1 victory, making 38 saves along the way. The loss snaps Manitoba's four-game winning streak and leaves them 2-1 on their current road trip.
Game Summary

SCORING 1 2 3 T
Manitoba 0 1 0 1
Houston 2 1 0 3

Dec 16, 2006 - Toyota Center

FIRST PERIOD:

1. Houston, J. Olson (5) (E. Reitz, B. Lundbohm) 3:28  
2. Houston, B. Lundbohm (3) (M. Weinhandl, E. Reitz) 15:21 SH

Penalties - A. Leavitt Hou (tripping) 4:24, P. Olvecky Hou (tripping) 10:03, A. Leavitt Hou (tripping) 13:49, M. Fortunus Mtb (slashing) 16:02, C. Murphy Hou (misconduct - abuse of officials 40.4) 16:56


SECOND PERIOD:

3. Houston, P. Olvecky (1) (J. Scott, B. Thomson) 13:00  
4. Manitoba, B. Reid (7) (N. Smith, B. Moran) 14:07  

Penalties - J. Jaffray Mtb (boarding) 0:47, N. Smith Mtb (hooking) 3:03, B. Moran Mtb (holding) 8:31, M. Keane Mtb (fighting) 15:29, A. Keefe Mtb (fighting) 15:29, M. Foy Hou (fighting) 15:29, C. Stoner Hou (fighting) 15:29


THIRD PERIOD:

No Scoring

Penalties - L. Goren Mtb (goaltender interference) 4:45, E. Reitz Hou (hooking) 6:34, M. Brown Mtb (fighting) 17:18, E. Reitz Hou (fighting) 17:18

SHOTS 1 2 3 T
Manitoba 11 11 17 39
Houston 10 10 4 24


POWER PLAYS:

Manitoba Moose 0-4. Houston Aeros 0-5.

GOALTENDERS:

Manitoba Moose
MacIntyre 24-12-2
Start: 1st 0:00 Min: 60:00 SV: 21 GA: 3 [L]


Houston Aeros
Harding 17-16-4
Start: 1st 0:00 Min: 60:00 SV: 38 GA: 1 [W]



Attendance:
5541

Three Stars
  1. HOU - #37 Josh Harding
  2. HOU - #15 Bryan Lundbohm
  3. HOU - #16 Peter Olvecky
What's Next

  • The Moose finish their tour of Texas tomorrow afternoon in San Antonio, before returning to Winnipeg to battle the Hamilton Bulldogs for second place in the North Division standings. The Moose host Hamilton on Wednesday, December 20th and Thursday, December 21st before getting a few days rest for the Holiday Season.

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