Aero’s Still Winless: Lose 3-2 to Rampage

It’s still extremely early in the 2012-13 American Hockey League season so there is no need to panic for you Minnesota Wild fans who might be tuning in to watch the affiliate Houston Aeros play.  The Aeros fell to 0-2 on the young season with a tough 3-2 loss to the San Antonio Rampage on Sunday afternoon and it was a game the Aeros most certainly could have won.

Despite a slow start to the game that saw the Rampage out shoot the Aeros 15-8 in the first period, Houston managed to escape with a 1-1 tie after twenty minutes.  I don’t know what was said during the first intermission, but I’d like to have that script as the Aeros would control the shot clock from there on out, including a 14-6 lopsided third period.

But the shot clock doesn’t tell the story, the scoreboard does and in the end it was a valiant effort but not enough on that afternoon.

Houston opened the scoring on the power play when Charlie Coyle notched his first of the season just under four minutes into the game.  Five minutes later San Antonio would tie it with a power play marker of their own from Jean-Francois Jacques.

Greg Rallo gave the Rampage the lead in the second with his first of the year before the young Jason Zucker picked up his first of many this season I’m sure, knotting the game at deuces.  Zucker’s goal was another power-play goal as the Aeros would finish the game 2-for-9 with the man advantage.

Matt Hackett couldn’t hold the tie in the third when he allowed a Colby Robak shot to elude him in what turned out to be the game winner.  Despite numerous scoring chances, the Aeros could not beat Jakob Markstrom for the equalizer and as a result are still left searching for their first win on the season.

Zucker and Coyle each had a two point night and the Aeros were well disciplined, limiting the Rampage to just two power plays.

The Aeros next action is this Friday when they play host to the Texas Stars in the first of a two game, home and home series.