HOUSTON - The Rampage were unable to fend off the Aeros falling to Houston 5-2 at Toyota Center Saturday night as former United States President George H.W. Bush was in attendance for Military Appreciation Night. The Rampage own a 6-6-2-1 record and are winless in their last seven games.

The Aeros jumped on the board first with a Peter Zingoni slap shot from the blue line, along the left boards, that made its way through traffic and deflected off the inside of the right post into the net at the 11:31 mark of the opening period. Maxim Noreau and former Rampage forward Jon DiSalvatore were credited with the assists on the Aeros fifth power-play goal of the season.

Zingoni's fourth goal of the 2009-10 campaign also marked the Aeros first power-play goal since Oct. 16 against the Rampage. Entering tonight's contest, the Aeros hold the worst power-play ranking in the league (6.1%), recording three of their five man-advantage goals against the Rampage.

The Aeros upheld their energy heading into the second frame scoring their first shorthanded goal of the season less than two minutes from the start of the second session. Aeros center Chad Rau registered his second goal of the season when he intercepted a pass from Danny Irmen, who was positioned in the center slot, and beat Rampage netminder Josh Tordjman short side to give the Aeros a 2-0 advantage.

About three minutes later, Clayton Stoner found Robbie Earl, who was stationed at the top of the crease, with a cross-ice pass in which Earl was there to tap in the puck high over Tordjman's left shoulder. Jaime Sifers was credited with the second assist on the Aeros third goal of the night.

The Rampage fought back late in the middle frame scoring back-to-back goals just 38 seconds apart. With 3:29 remaining in the period, Rampage defenseman Jeff May fired a wrist shot from the right faceoff circle that found its way through traffic into the upper left portion of the net past Aeros goalie Anton Khudobin. Rampage forwards Viktor Tikhonov and Kyle Turris were credited with the helpers on May's first goal of the season.

Left wing Brett MacLean followed up with a wrap-around goal over the left leg pad of Khudobin to bring the Rampage within one at the 17:17 mark, as Joel Perrault was credited with the assist on MacLean's sixth goal of the season.

The Aeros went on to seal their eighth victory of the season tacking on two more goals in the final frame. At the 12:56 mark, DiSalvatore's shot from the middle of the right faceoff circle trickled into the net for the Aeros fourth goal of the night. Two minutes later, Aeros forward Carson McMillan carried the puck in front of the Rampage net, in which Tordjman slid right to defend, but instead handed the puck off to Petr Kalus who circled around the back of the net and easily punched in the puck for the Aeros fifth goal.

The Aeros, who lead the league with an average 25 shots on goal per game entering tonight's contest, outshot the Rampage 28-26.

The Rampage currently sit in third place in the "Lone Star Faceoff" standings and hold a combined 1-4-2-0 record against the Aeros and the Texas Stars.

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