Plenty of awesome games tonight in the Stanley Cup playoffs, but the Calder Cup playoffs began as well, and your Houston Aeros took a 1-0 series lead over Peoria.

Here's the game report from Houston PR

AEROS POSTGAME REPORT
APRIL 13, 2011: HOU 4, PEO 1

HOUSTON --- Jed Ortmeyer had a goal and an assist as the Houston Aeros scored four unanswered goals en route to a 4-1 victory over the Peoria Rivermen in Game 1 of the American Hockey League's West Division Semifinals on Wednesday at Toyota Center.

Nine different players recorded a point for the Aeros, who outshot the Rivermen 31-18. Aeros goaltender Matt Hackett made 17 saves for his first professional playoff victory.

Peoria's Adam Cracknell scored an unassisted goal just 1:16 into the game, but the Aeros responded on goals by Warren Peters at 7:46 and Robbie Earl at 16:39 to take a 2-1 lead into the locker room after one period of play. Earl's goal came via the power play after Peoria's Graham Mink was whistled for slashing.

Jed Ortmeyer gave Houston a 3-1 lead with a highlight-reel goal at 16:39 of the middle stanza, beating Peoria goaltender Jake Allen as he fell to the ice after being tripped. Patrick O'Sullivan added a goal 22 seconds into the third period and the Aeros shut Peoria down the rest of the way, holding their opponents to just four shots in the final 20 minutes.

The Aeros and Rivermen square off in Game 2 on Friday at Toyota Center with a 7:35 p.m. puck drop. Call 713-974-7825 (PUCK) for more information on Aeros tickets and other promotions.

BOMB DROPPINGS
The Aeros improved to 17-10 in Game 1 playoff contests… Houston is now 9-3 overall against the Rivermen in the postseason with a 5-1 home ice record… The Aeros are 12-4 all-time in the playoffs when they win the first game of the series… After winning the first game of a series, the Aeros are 6-10 in Game 2.

AEROS STARTERS
F – Gillies, Ortmeyer, Peters
D – Prosser, Falk
G - Hackett

AEROS SCRATCHES
Fraser, Scandella, Lofquist, Foucault, Campbell, Fredheim, Morency, Buck, Broda, Cuma, Daoust

NEXT GAME
West Division Semifinal Game B
April 15 vs. Peoria, 7:35 p.m.

DECIDING GOAL
Earl (16:39, 2nd)

POWER PLAYS
HOU: 1/8
PEO: 0/3

GOALIES
HOU: Hackett (17/18, W)
PEO: Allen (27/31, L)

SERIES
HOU leads 1-0 (Best-of-7)