DEC. 26, 2010: AEROS VS. STARS
PREVIEW
The Houston Aeros (16-15-1-2) play host to the Texas Stars (18-11-2-1) in the sixth of 12 meetings this season. The Aeros are coming off a 5-0 defeat on Tuesday at home vs. Hamilton and have lost four-in-a-row. The Aeros were held scoreless for the fifth time this season in the loss. Despite the recent slide, the team finds itself within reach of the West Division lead. First place San Antonio is 10 points ahead of the Aeros, while third place Milwaukee is just five points ahead. The Stars, who hold the No. 4 spot in the West, have a four point lead over the Aeros and have points in three straight (2-0-1-0). The Aeros have taken four of the five meetings this season against the Stars, including a 4-3 overtime victory in the last meeting on Dec. 4. They’ve also outscored the Stars 18-13 overall.
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CLICK HERE FOR AEROS GAME NOTES
CLICK HERE FOR AHL STATS
UPCOMING GAMES
Dec. 26 vs. Texas, 4:05 p.m. CST
Dec. 27 at San Antonio, 7:00 p.m. CST
Dec. 29 at Milwaukee, 7:00 p.m. CST
BROADCAST INFO
Follow the Aeros on News Talk 1070 KNTH and online at AEROS.COM with Joe O’Donnell providing the play-by-play call. Watch every game, in its entirety, online at www.ahllive.com.
AEROS AT A GLANCE
RECORD: 16-15-1-2, 35 pts., 7th, West Division
HOME: 7-6-1-0
ROAD: 9-9-0-2
STREAK: LOST 4
NHL AFFILIATES
Houston Aeros (Minnesota Wild)
Texas Stars (Dallas Stars)
SPECIAL TEAMS
PP: 16.1% (23rd)
PK: 84.4% (10th)
LEADERS:
POINTS: Noreau (7-12-19)
GOALS: Earl/Almond (8)
ASSISTS: DiSalvatore (13)
PIM: Kassian (80)
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
WATCH FOR THIS --- HOU’S Max Noreau is tied for the AHL lead among defensemen with five power play goals…The TEX penalty kill is ranked 27th (78.6%)…Texas goalie Richard Bachman is 2nd in the AHL with three shutouts…Aaron Gagnon has goals in two straight (2-0-2)…Francis Wathier has points in four straight (2-3-5).
TRENDING --- The Aeros have allowed the first goal in four of the last five games after scoring first in eight straight…Houston has been held scoreless since a first period goal by Brandon Buck scored 1:17 into the second period at Manitoba on Dec.17, a total of 158:43. The season-long scoreless drought is 158:50
SCORE FIRST! --- The Aeros had scored the first goal in eight consecutive games (Nov. 26-Dec. 12, 5-3-0-0) until HAM drew first blood on Dec. 14. Houston leads the AHL in first goals (22) and is 15-5-0-2 when scoring first. The Aeros also scored the first goal in seven straight games (Oct. 29-Nov. 8) and were 4-1-0-2 in that span.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER --- The Aeros are 9-5-0-1 in games after a win this season…In games after a loss they are 6-7-1-0…In the second game of back-to-back outings they are 8-8-0-1…In the third game of a 3-in-3 they are 3-2-0-0.
HOMEBOYS --- Houston has won seven of 10 at home dating back to an Oct. 31 victory over Texas. Four of those wins have been by one goal; a pair has been decided by two goals...Eight of Houston’s 14 home games have been one-goal decisions (4-3-1-0) and three have been decided by two goals (2-1)…Except for an 8-2 loss to Peoria, a5-3 defeat by San Antonio and 5-0 loss to Hamilton, the Aeros have not allowed more than three goals in a home game…Goals allowed (1 – 2X; 2 – 5X; 3 - 4X; 5 – 2X; 8 – 1X).
TURNSTILE TIDBIT --- Through 14 home games, the Aeros are seventh in the AHL with an average attendance of 5,641. As of Dec. 23, 2009, the Aeros averaged 5,374 through 18 games.
WESTWARD --- The Aeros are 13-9-1-0 vs. West Division teams this season and have won three-in-a row against Division rivals.
WHEN IT’S CLOSE --- The Aeros are 7-4-1-2 in games decided by one goal.
HEATIN’ UP --- Cody Almond has goals in two of the last four games (3-0-3)…Jon DiSalvatore and Warren Peters each have assists (0-3-3) in two of the last four.
FOUR-SCORE --- When scoring at least four goals the Aeros are undefeated (10-0-0-0). Houston has yet to win a game when allowing four or more goals (0-8-0-0) and is 0-6-0-0 on the road when doing so.
SCHEDULE NOTES --- Nine of the final 12 games of 2010 are on the road…A total of 18 of Houston’s final 27 games in the calendar year of 2010 are away from Toyota Center…The team plays five games in seven days from Dec. 12-18.
RECENT ROSTER MOVES --- D Bryce Lampman was released from his PTO on Dec. 22…F Joel Broda and F Peter Zingoni were recalled from Bakersfield on Dec. 20…D Marco Scandella was recalled by MIN on Dec. 20…F Brock McBride was released from his PTO on Dec. 16…F Warren Peters was reassigned by MIN on Dec. 13…F Warren Peters was recalled by MIN on Dec. 11…Jamie Fraser was reassigned to Elmira (ECHL) on Dec. 10.
LAST GAME QUICK RECAP
HOUSTON --- The Houston Aeros set a season-high for shots in the second period with 23 but that effort couldn’t propel them past the Hamilton Bulldogs in a 5-0 loss Tuesday night at Toyota Center. Bulldogs goalie Curtis Sanford turned aside all 38 shots he faced to hand the Aeros their fourth consecutive defeat.
