Robert Desimone, Communications Manager
(713) 361-7920
Palmer Hestley, Asst. Communications Manager
(713) 361-7930
February 21, 2010
HOUSTON LOOKS TO SALVAGE WIN IN ROAD 3-IN-3
The Houston Aeros conclude their three-game road trip at Peoria tonight, 5:00 PM from Carver Arena. They are 0-2-0-0 on the weekend trip after falling 7-1 last night to Chicago at Allstate Arena. The Aeros return home Thursday to host Manitoba, 7:05 PM from Toyota Center. Peoria is also playing its third game in as many days, coming off a 5-3 win last night at Grand Rapids. The Rivermen lost to Chicago Friday night 4-3 in Peoria after giving up two goals in the final 2:05 of regulation.
AEROS GAME NOTES
HEAD TO HEAD
Record - Aeros: 27-24-6-1 (12-13-3-1, Road),
Rivermen: 25-24-1-5 (14-11-1-2, Home)
Power Play - Aeros: 42-229, 16.2% (21st),
Rivermen: 54-249, 20.8% (2nd)
Penalty Kill - Aeros: 196-227, 86.3% (5th),
Rivermen: 201-246, 81.7% (18th)
Goals Scored - Aeros: 2.62 (23rd), Rivermen: 2.87 (15th)
Goals Allowed - Aeros: 2.72 (11th), Rivermen: 3.09 (22nd)
Penalty Minutes - Aeros: 16.10 PIM/gm (10th),
Rivermen: 18.45 PIM/gm (18th)
Scoring First - Aeros: 20-3-3-1, Rivermen: 18-6-1-5
AEROS NOTES
3-in-3 - Houston is finishing its fourth of seven 3-in-3s this season and second of three straight 3-in-3s. The
Aeros have just seven 3-in-3s this season after 15 last season. The team will play vs. Manitoba, at Texas and vs.Texas Feb. 25-27 in the next 3-in-3 next weekend. Houston is 5-10-0-1 in the first game of a back-to-backs,10-4-2-0 in the second game and 1-2-0-0 in the third game.
D Maxim Noreau scored his 15th goal of the season last night and fourth on the power-play (PP). Noreau leads the team with 15 PP assists and is second on the team with 19 PP points (4-15=19), trailing only RW Jon DiSalvatore who has posted 23 PP points (10-13=23). It was also Noreau's 42nd point of the season, tying him with RW J-M Daoust for the team lead. He is second in points among AHL defenseman, two behind Worcester's Danny Groulx (8-36=44).
Scoring Woes - Noreua's goal at 18:30 of the first period last night ended the Aeros scoreless streak at 138:30, the longest this season. Houston has three regulation goals in the last five games and one regulation goal in the last 253:34.
Special Teams - The Aeros currently rank 21st in the AHL on the power play at 16.2% (42-for-259). They went 9-for-14 (64.3%) in the first three games after the AHL All-Star Classic, but have just four PP goals since, going 4-for-51 (7.8%) in the last 11 games. Houston currently ranks fifth in the AHL on the penalty kill at 86.3%.
Playoff Push - The Aeros remain seven points out of the fourth and final playoff spot in the West Division after the loss to Chicago last night. At 61 points, the Aeros are seven points behind Milwaukee, eight behind Texas, 12 behind Rockford and 15 behind Chicago. Including tonight's contest, Houston plays 20 of its final 22 games within the division, including 12 against the four teams they are chasing in the playoff race (3-Chicago, 2-Rockford, 5-Texas, 2-Milwaukee).
Milestones - RW Danny Irmen is playing in his 286th game with the Aeros, tying him with Dan Cavanaugh for third on the Aeros all-time games played list. DiSalvatore played in his 500th AHL game and Noreau scored his 100th pro point last night in Chicago. RW Duncan Milroy is one point away from 250 pro points. D Jamie Fraser is two games away from his 450th pro game and three points from his 100th pro point.
The Aeros begin its third straight 3-in-3 Thursday, Feb. 25, with a 7:05 p.m. puck drop against the Manitoba Moose. A back-to-back home and home with the Texas Stars follows Friday at Cedar Park Center with a 7:30 p.m. game and Saturday at Toyota Center in a 7:35 p.m. tilt. Both games against the Stars will be televised live on Fox Sports Plus and the first 3,000 fans to Saturday's game receive an Aeros red dry fit shirt as the team encourages their fans to wear red to the game. Don't forget to check out the "Spring Fling" package on aeros.com.
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