A dismal First, Better Second, Average Third and Aeros still lost to Stars 2-1

Yes, the boring to bad First period - seemingly an Aeros speciality - has returned at this game tonight. Letting the Stars start out with 13 sogs, while OURs only managed a measly 5!!!!

Hackett on the Prowl

It was almost entirely due to Hackett (earning him 3rd *) stopping all but 2 sog's which the Stars threw at him, IMO, the team would have lost even more, because ..  just asking:
Where, really, was the defense, or better yet where was the offense?
Where was the power play by the Aeros who are listed up to this game as 5th in the division?

Genoway Goal

They did have 6 opportunities, but only Genoway with Zucker and Granlund scored in the Second ... and it was THE lonely goal tonight!

The power of  black pads threatening:-)!

Aeros DID skate up to better snuff (not perfect, but better) in the  2nd with 9 and even better - 12 during the 3rd - albeit to NO avail.
Nilstorp stopped all but the Genoway one and was named Nr. 1 *, Benn the number 2*.  Patrik Nemeth of the Stars-usually a more 'mild' player, caught the ref's eye with high-sticking... twice!

The victorious Three plus Vincour-Goal 2 Stars!

On the other hand ONLY 2 penalties were called on Aeros (Granlund for holding) and the second for Interference on McMillan; and yet the Stars (14th in pp!!) scored one PP by the Victorious Three: Alex Chiasson, Eakin, Smith, while Jordie Benn and Glennie put the Stars on the board in the First Period!

Several players kinda stuck out, in my eyes at least, tonight:

A Stars player skate keeps Larsson's stick away from the puck

Coyle, Phillips battle for the puck with Fortunus, Baldwin

for speed and super effort: Phillips and Palmieri;
for rather good passing and some good plays: Granlund, and - surprise - Couture!

Larsson gives his all -Phillips and others look for ?

Couture and Cuma in defense of the Net :-)!

for trying hard: Larsson, Zucker and  Petersen.

Hackett in fine fettle

Sceviour surrounded!

Belated Christmas Present for Aeros fans Aeros 4-Stars 3

The winning goal by Medvec!

Granlund and Nilstorp duel for the puck :-)

With Matt Hackett in the net the Aeros managed to overcome attacks by Texas Stars to win the game in OT 4-3. 

Zucker seems always ready...

Being Guns and Hoses night, TC brimmed over with close to 11000 

very loud fans animated by

Hackett- the warrior

FACES                       

                                   Nilstorp of the Stars

Busy, busy  Hackett

Saved

Granlund at face off

Goal by Coyle in the 2nd. 

Aeros score first (Granlund, Coyle, Zucker), but Stars (Fraser, Sceviour, Benn) bounce back within 5 minutes. The rest of the first was a bit blah.
In the second Aeros scored first again (Palmieri, Fontaine, Connelly). Although the Stars managed to get a PP goal (Eakin, Chiasson, Smith) while Bagnall sits,  the Aeros also got a PP goal (Coyle, Granlund, Zucker) during the only penalty of a Stars player (Eakin).
Then came the third and it was a busy time for the Stars with 13 SOG and one goal by Roussell, Nemeth, Dillon to even the score to 3:3.

And so we went to OT. When a bit over 2 minutes into it Kyle Medvec with the help of Palmieri and Cuma scored the game winner! Now that WAS a surprise to us after having been less then overwhelmed with his performance with the Solar Bears in early December.

Amazingly, there were only 3 penalties called and both teams managed to convert one each!
Hackett gets the win with 27 saved of 30 SOG

Loosing is hard LEM 5 Aeros 4

Zucker after his goal heading to the bench

especially after a fast and furious game in which the Aeros showed some gumption against a strong and aggressive Lake Erie Monsters. Now it would be so easy to blame this or that Aeros player as many 'expert' fans are wont to do.
I disagree.
Yes, the game was lost in a SO against Hackett (some fans undoubtedly disappointed that Kuemper sat this one out again). And, yes, some Aeros action on the ice was not exactly wunderbar!
BUT what made me sit up at the edge of my seat was the 'Energizer Bunny" effect by the same team that played soso hockey last night. That game was boring.
This game was, to say the least, exciting and to watch, at least to me. 
Of course hockey experts will disagree, especially since "OUR" team lost.
Although loosing in either OT or SO, still gains a point!

Another safe by Aittokalloi

Some personal thoughts on tonight's game: The presence of a healthy Scandella was a boon. I liked Larsson. Palmieri (except for his sin bin presence which allowed the PP for LEM ;-). Zucker looks to become quite a scorer. Fontaine, too.
Rau was, again, visible although he only scored once in the 3. He is not a flashy player, but a reliable one.
Palmieri got an unassisted goal in the 1. After Pock and Sgarbossa put the Monsters ahead on the scoreboard.
In the second period Fontaine evened the score, but Agozzino placed Lake Erie ahead again.
The 3. period showed some more mettle with Rau's goal. Sgarbossa (again) scored on a PP, whilst a wild Palmieri sat for high sticking. Zucker then brought the score to 4:4 and the game went OT. No scores there for either team.

I got that one chest high!

Lots of action at the Aeros net, poor Hackett was buried, literally, under a slew of bodies. He did look (but then he doesn't show much on his face) a bit bemused.

I am padded but. all those bodies piled on me..ouch I say

BUT tonight there was neither break nor toss of his stick! :-)

Connolly and Connelly joined at the hip :-)

Pock 22

As an Austrian born I saw with red-white-red pride (lol) Thomas Pock not only carry an A on his red Nr. 22 LEM jersey, but also score a goal (the first one) and an assist later. Maybe being from Klagenfurt with its monster (Lindwurm) made him an ideal LEM member :-).

A respectable crowd of over 7.000 cheered,
and groaned, as well.

Lookee the Puck stops there :-)

LEM Goalie, the Finn Aittokalio stopped 26 of 30, while Hackett did the honors  for the home team with 27 of 31.

Alas, the SO went against him,  as Sgarbossa (bossy aint he?) and Lerg scored, while all 4 Aeros shooters did not!

Coyle's Try...stopped by Aittokallio