Houston Aeros Fly By Texas Stars 5-1

Texas fell to the Houston Aeros by a 4-1 mark in their first of twelve meetings on the season. Texas was down 2-0 at the first intermission on goals from dynamic rookie Charlie Coyle and veteran captain Drew Bagnall. The Stars managed to cut the deficit to 2-1 with Alex Chiasson's first of the year. Rookie mistakes from Jamie Oleksiak and Patrik Nemeth made the lead insurmountable as two goals were scored against that line in the third period to make it 4-1. Houston added a fifth with a power play goal in the final minute. Cristopher Nilstorp had 25 saves on 30 shots against.

Houston's two goal first period started with Charlie Coyle's second goal of the season. Drew Bagnall, Houston's captain, had the initial shot, and Coyle picked up the rebound to beat Cristopher Nilstorp just under five minutes into the game. To that point, Houston had an 8-1 shots advantage.

Texas alternate captain Jordie Benn took one the few penalties in the game toward the end of the first, allowing Marco Scandella to score his first of the year on ensuing man-advantage. The goal light came on but referee Jeff Smith called it a no-goal on the ice. The goal went up for review, a season first for the Stars. Smith decided the puck had crossed the line, putting Houston up two goals. Texas was outshot in the period 14-8.

The second period was a scoreless affair, but Texas managed to establish some momentum by killing a four-minute high-sticking minor on Antoine Roussel at the fourteen minute mark of the period. Texas outshot Houston 8-6 in the period despite the extended PK, thanks to several shorthanded chances.

Early in the third period, Alex Chiasson cut the deficit to just a single goal with assists from Francis Wathier and Jamie Oleksiak. Just a few minutes later, Oleksiak and rookie defensive partner Patrik Nemeth would let Jarod Palmer and David McIntyre in alone behind them for an easy 2-on-0 goal by McIntyre.

Oleksiak had a give away with five minutes left in the third to set the score at 4-1 Houston. Zack Phillips broke in alone for his first professional goal. With a combined four AHL games between Oleksiak and Nemeth before tonight, it may be a better play to set them on different lines until they mature just a bit more.

Alex Chiasson took a penalty in the final minute of the period and Houston took advantage immediately off the faceoff to make it a 5-1 final.

Tonight's lines:
R.Smith-Eakin-Vincour
Fraser-Morin-Hedden
Wathier-Petersen-Chiasson
Gazdic-Roussel-A. Smith

Barker-Fortunus
Dillon-Benn
Nemeth-Oleksiak

Nilstorp

Injuries, scratches, and notes:
Tousignant, Glennie, Vause, Coyle, Sloan (scratch)
Sceviour (injury)

Tonight's attendance was 5,738.

AHL Gamesheet - Texas at Houston - October 19 2012

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