Jean-Michel Daoust, Chad Rau and Colton Gillies scored in the final three rounds as Houston rallied from a 2-0 deficit in the shootout to pull out a 4-3 victory over Hamilton at the Toyota Center on Tuesday night.
The Bulldogs scored on their first two attempts but Wade Dubielewicz held his ground and helped the Aeros run their winning streak to three games.
Despite the shootout loss, Hamilton (6-0-1-2) remains the only team in the AHL without a regulation loss this season.
The game was tied at 1-1 past the midway point of the third period before the teams combined for four goals in a span of five minutes and 28 seconds.
Tom Pyatt’s shot from the left-wing circle with 9:06 left in regulation beat Dubielewicz and gave the Bulldogs a short-lived lead. Just 47 seconds later, Robbie Earl banked the puck off the back of the leg of Cedrick Desjardins from below the goal line to pull Houston back even.
Hamilton’s Ryan White popped home a loose puck with 5:39 to go, but Jon DiSalvatore tied the score again with 3:38 remaining, burying a shot just moments after Desjardins robbed an attempt by Rau.
Houston’s Nathan Smith and Hamilton’s Yannick Weber traded goals in the first period.
The Bulldogs return home to face Abbotsford on Friday night. The Aeros hit the road to face Grand Rapids on Thursday and Friday.
