With the win, Lake Erie improved to 13-11-2-4 overall and 8-4-2-2 on home ice. The Monsters are a perfect 2-0-0-0 against Houston this season.

The Aeros converted on their first two shots of the game to take an early 2-0 lead. Chad Rau took a pass from Robbie Earl and buried a wraparound just 1:58 into the contest. Fifty eight seconds later, Carson McMillan took an outlet pass from Rau and went in on a breakaway to score a shorthanded tally. Justin Falk also assisted.

The Monsters used a power play to cut their deficit in half at 3:51 of the period. From the left circle, Luke Walker placed a wrist shot into the left side of the net for his second goal in as many games. The goal marks his first back-to-back goals and second back-to-back points of the season. Walker was assisted by defenseman Kevin Montgomery.

The opening period ended with Houston leading 2-1, as the Aeros outshot the Monsters by a 13-8 count in the frame.

In the second period, the Monsters tied the game at 2-2 with a goal by Ryan Stoa. From below the goal line, Stoa banked a shot off Houston goaltender Anton Khudobin’s backside and into the net. Julian Talbot assisted for his third point in two games (2G, 1A) and Ben Walter also picked up an assist.

Lake Erie took its first lead of the game when Travis Gawryletz made the score 3-2 at the 5:32 mark. From the top of the right circle, Gawryletz scored on a slap shot for his first goal of the season. With an assist last night, Gawryletz has two points in his last two outings. Walter assisted for his second straight two-assist game and fifth multi-point game of the season, while Montgomery assisted for his second multi-point outing of the season.

Following Lake Erie’s third goal of the night, Houston replaced Khudobin with Matt Hackett.

At 17:07 of the second period, the Monsters took a 4-2 lead off Tom Zanoski’s second goal of the season. Gawryletz assisted for his second multi-point outing of the campaign, while Cameron Gaunce also assisted.

Lake Erie maintained its 4-2 lead for the remainder of the period and they outshot Houston 8-6 in the middle 20 minutes. Going into Sunday’s game, the Monsters were 5-0-2-0 when leading after two periods on home ice.

In a hard-hitting third period, the Monsters held Houston off the score sheet and finalized a 5-2 game with Stoa’s empty-net goal at 18:31. Stoa’s goal came as his ninth of the season and third point (2G, 1A) in two games, as well as his third multi-goal and fourth multi-point game of the season.

Goaltender Jason Bacashihua made 25 saves in his third consecutive start for Lake Erie. At the other end, Khudobin turned aside eight shots for the Aeros, before Matt Hackett stopped seven more in relief.

The Monsters will be idle until Friday, December 17th, when they kick off a three-in-three weekend in Milwaukee with an 8:00 p.m. tilt with the Admirals.

Three Stars: 1. LE Gawryletz (GW goal, 1 assist); 2. LE Stoa (2 goals); 3. LE Bacashihua (25 saves)