Aeros Ground Marlies in Houston

January 16, 2010

Toronto Drops Sixth Straight Game On Road Trip

(HOUSTON, TX) - There is a marathon in Houston tomorrow morning, but for the Marlies, their road trip is already feeling like one.

Nathan Smith had a pair of goals for the Aeros as Toronto dropped it's sixth straight game with a 5-2 loss in Houston on Saturday night.

Jean-Michel Daoust, Matt Kassian and J.P. Testwuide had the other Houston goals. Greg Scott and Kyle Calder netted the Marlies goals, both in the third period.

Daoust put the Aeros out front late in the first period on the power play beating Joey MacDonald with a chip shot in fron the net, that flipped over the goaltender off the crossbar and in for a 1-0 lead.

Houston opened up the game early in the second period when Kassian beat MacDonald through the legs from the wing on a 2-on-1 rush two minutes into the period. Smith then scored three minutes later to make it 3-0 at the five minute mark. Andrew Engelage came in to replace MacDonald, who finished with 7 saves on the night. Just over two minutes later, Smith pounced on a rebound off the pad of Engelage and slipped the puck under his arm to make it 4-0.

Scott put Toronto on the board 32 seconds into the third period when his shot from the left boards, went off the arm of Wade Dubielewicz and rolled over the goal line. Toronto cut the lead in half with five minutes to go as Andre Deveaux took the puck into the Houston zone and went around behind the goal and centered the pass for Calder, who tapped home his second goal as a Marlie.

The Marlies had a chance on the power play with three minutes left in the third, but Danny Irmen led a shorthanded 2 on 1 rush, and fed Testwuide for the goal to make it 5-2.

Toronto finished 0 for 6 on the power play, while holding Houston to just one goal on 10 power play opportunities.

The Marlies play their final game ahead of the All-Star break in San Antonio on Sunday afternoon at 4pm ET.


SOURCE: torontomarlies.com