MANITOBA 5, HOUSTON 3
Manitoba rallied for four goals in the third period to turn a 3-1 deficit into a 5-3 victory over Houston on Tuesday at the Toyota Center in the opener of a four-game road swing to Texas.
Rookie Mark Derlago netted the game-winning goal for the Moose, and fellow first-year pro Mario Bliznak chipped in with a pair of goals in the third period.
Jason Krog scored on the power play and put the Moose on top 1-0 at 2:14 of the second period, after the teams had played a scoreless opening stanza.
The Aeros then received goals from Krys Kolanos, Maxim Noreau, and Jesse Schultz in a 9:58 span to take a 3-1 lead into the second intermission.
Bliznak pulled the Moose within a goal at 6:43 of the third, and Mark Cullen tallied the equalizer on the power play at 9:49.
Derlago put Manitoba on top to stay just 1:04 later with an unassisted tally, and Bliznak sealed the victory with an empty-net marker at 18:43.
Goaltender Karl Goehring earned the victory with 26 saves for the North Division-leading Moose, who improved to 7-1-0-0 in their last eight games and 16-4-0-0 overall (32 points).
Manitoba, which is 3-0-0-0 against the Aeros this season, will return to the Toyota Center ice for a rematch on Thursday as the teams conclude their season series.
