CHICAGO 5, HOUSTON 3
Jared Ross (pictured) returned from a nine-game absence to record three points (1-2-3), and Andre Deveaux scored twice and added a helper as Chicago took over fourth place in the West Division with a 5-3 road win over Houston on Thursday at the Toyota Center.
At 38-28-3-6 (85 points) with five games remaining, Chicago now sits two points clear of Peoria and Oklahoma City, and three points up on San Antonio. Only the top four teams in the West are guaranteed a berth in the Calder Cup Playoffs.
Deveaux scored twice on the power play for his 19th and 20th goals of the season, marking the first time in his seven-year career that he’s reached the 20-goal plateau. Deveaux’s strike at 11:26 of the third period proved to be the game-winner.
Ross nabbed a first-period goal and assisted on tallies by Spencer Machacek – also his 20th of the campaign – and Riley Holzapel, registering his first three-point effort since a three-assist performance on Jan. 22 at Grand Rapids.
Fredrik Pettersson and Second Team AHL All-Star Darren Haydar each chipped in two assists for the Wolves, and goaltender Peter Mannino secured the victory with 17 saves on 20 shots between the pipes.
Robbie Earl scored twice and Chad Rau once for the Aeros, whose three-game winning streak came to an end.
Houston, which has already clinched a playoff spot, has just three games left on its regular-season schedule. The Aeros visit Milwaukee on Friday, battle the Wolves again in suburban Chicago on Saturday, and are then off until hosting Oklahoma City on Apr. 10.
