Rockford jumped out to 2-0 lead in the first seven minutes of the game and didn't look back. Jack Skille notched his 15th goal of the season when he put in a rebound off a Jim Fahey shot as he was falling to the ice. That goal came at the 4:50, and the IceHogs added to it with a power play goal just 2:07 later. Derek Nesbitt scored his 13th of the year on a one-timer and the Aeros pulled goaltender Barry Brust in favor of Anton Khudobin.
The power play goal for the IceHogs marked the first power play goal that Houston had given up in 47 straight penalty kills. Houston hadn't given up a power play goal for one month, they gave up two goals to Chicago on Feb. 13 and hadn't given up a power play goal in 10 games until Nesbitt's marker.
Martin St. Pierre scored his 19th of the season on a partial breakaway as he snapped a shot past Khudobin with a defender bearing down on him to give Rockford a 3-0 lead at 11:26. Troy Brouwer gave the IceHogs a four-goal lead with his team-leading 30th goal of the season, a power play goal at the 18:30 of the second period.
Rockford allowed nine Aeros' shots in the final period but Flaherty was up to the task and recorded his second shutout of the season as he stopped all 23 shots faced. The Aeros failed to convert on six power-play chances as Rockford netted goals in two of their three man-advantages.
Notes: The Aeros have allowed four or more goals in only three of their last 20 games dating back to February 13, a 6-1 loss at Chicago. The other game, besides Thursday's contest, was a 5-4 shootout win at Syracuse ... The two power-play goals allowed Thursday night were the first of such goals allowed in 11 games. The last power-play goal was allowed on Feb. 13 in a 6-1 loss at Chicago. Houston killed off 46 short handed situations in that 11 game span ... Rockford has shut out the Aeros twice this season, the last coming on Nov. 28 in the teams' second match-up ... The Hanson Brothers of the acclaimed 1977 classic hockey movie "Slap Shot" will be at Toyota Center on Saturday.
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