THURSDAY, FEB. 17, 2011
HOUSTON AEROS VS. CHICAGO WOLVES
TOYOTA CENTER (11:05 a.m. CST)
OVERVIEW
The Houston Aeros begin their ninth three-in-three weekend of the season with a matinee matchup against the Chicago Wolves. The Aeros had a season-high six-game winning streak snapped in their last outing, a 3-1 loss to Peoria on Sunday at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn. Thursday’s game is also the start of a three-in-three for the Wolves and the second of three straight away from home; they beat Milwaukee 5-2 on Friday and have been off since. The Aeros/Wolves matchup is the only game on the slate for Feb. 18 in the AHL.

WHERE THEY STAND
Entering this week’s action the Aeros led the West Division and Western Conference with 68 points and were tied with San Antonio for most wins. In a tight West Division race, the standings seem to change almost daily. Peoria has a shot at taking over first place on Wednesday night at Rockford; a win by the Rivermen would put them one point ahead of the Aeros in the standings.

NHL AFFILIATES
Houston Aeros (Minnesota Wild) --- The Wild is 30-21-5 with 65 points; the team sits one point out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference and has seven wins it their last 10 games.
Chicago Wolves (Atlanta Thrashers) --- The Thrashers (25-23-10) has 60 points and sits 10th in the Eastern Conference, two points out of a playoff spot. They have two wins in their last 10 games.

AEROS UPCOMING GAMES
Feb. 18 at Milwaukee, 7 p.m.
Feb. 19 at Rockford, 7:05 p.m.
Feb. 22 vs. Milwaukee, 7:05 p.m.
Feb. 25 vs. Texas, 7:35 p.m.
Feb. 26 at OKC, 7:05 p.m.

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 at www.ahllive.com.

AEROS AT A GLANCE
STANDING……………………………………1st/West Division
RECORD……………………………………….32-20-1-3, 68 pts.
HOME……………………………………………………15-7-1-1
ROAD…………………………………………………...17-13-0-2
STREAK………………………………………………….LOST 1

AEROS SPECIAL TEAMS
PP: 17.0% (18TH)………………………………PK: 83.9% (12TH)
PPG: 40………….………………………………………..SHG: 4
 
AEROS LEADERS
Points…………………………………………….DiSalvatore (36)
Goals……………………………………………………..Earl (16)
Assists…………………………………...Noreau/DiSalvatore (25)
PPG……………………………………………………Almond (7)
PP-Pts…………………………………………………Noreau (18)
SHG…………………………………………………McMillan (3)
SH-Pts…………………………….............................McMillan (4)
PIM…………………………………………………Kassian (118)

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW
·    The Aeros set a season-high with their sixth consecutive win on Friday at Peoria.
·    Houston is 8-0-0-1 in its last nine games at Toyota Center. Their home regulation unbeaten streak of nine games dated back to Dec. 26 and was snapped in their 3-1 loss to Peoria at Xcel Energy Center in Minnesota (the neutral site game was recorded as an Aeros home game).
·    The Aeros have outscored opponents 8-3 in 5-on-5 play over the last five games.
·    The Aeros have won seven of their last eight on the road and four straight.
·    All 32 of Houston’s wins have come when the team allows three or fewer goals.
·    26 of Houston’s wins have come when they score the first goal.
·    The Aeros won 10 games in the month of January, one win shy of a team record for victories in one month (10 games played or more).

AEROS GOALIES --- Anton Khudobin is 18-9-1 with a 2.44 GAA and .916 SV%. Khudobin has won seven of his last nine starts and had a six-game winning streak snapped on Feb. 13… Matt Hackett is 12-11-2 with a 2.42 GAA and .915 SV%. He is 4-1-1 in his last six decisions.

SCORING STREAKS ---
2 GAMES --- Cody Almond (1-1-2)… Jon DiSalvatore (0-2-2)… Robbie Earl (0-2-2).

INJURY UPDATE --- Casey Wellman is out with an upper body injury but has been skating with the team… Tyler Cuma is out for the season with a  knee injury suffered Feb. 13. 2011 vs. PEO.

AEROS PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
PLAYERS
6 - scan-DELL-uh
14 – deh-SAL-vuh-tohr
20 – ROWH (like now)
23 – KAL-uhs
26 – Max-uhm naw-roh
30 – hoo-DOH-bin
32 – FRED-haym
42 – KAS-ee-uhn
61 – KOO-muh
62 – DAH-ooh

STAFF
Mike Yeo - YOH
Darryl Sydor - suh-DOHR
Doug Tretiak - TREE-tee-ahk

SPECIAL TEAMS
POWER PLAY --- Has a goal in three straight (3/17)… Has multiple PPG in 10 games and is 6-2-0-2 in those games…Was held to one or no PPG in 15 straight games prior to Feb. 4 (2-for-4)…Set a season-high with three PPG on Nov. 19… PPG in back-to-back games for the first time this season Nov. 5-6…Snapped an 0-for-28 skid Oct. 29 at SAN… Went 2-for-7 in the season opener Oct. 8 at OKC.

PENALTY KILL --- Has allowed a goal in three straight (4/14)…Held opponents to one or no PPG in 15 straight games until TOR went 2-for-5 on Jan. 23…Has allowed multiple PPG in nine games and is 2-7-0-0 in those contests…Opponents went 5-for-19 over a four-game losing skid Dec. 15-21…Stopped 18 in a row over five games (Nov. 9-19)…Stopped 23 in a row over four games (Oct. 30 – Nov. 6)…Turned away 10 of 10 in two games Oct. 30-31... OKC went 4-for-8 on PP Oct. 17…Was perfect on 16 kills through first three games this season.

UPCOMING OPPONENTS
CHICAGO WOLVES
ALL-TIME AEROS RECORD: 50-41-14-5 (30-15-8-2 at home, 20-23-6-3 on the road)
SEASON RECORD: 2-1-0-0 (0-1-0-0 at home, 1-1-0-0 on the road)
NOTES: This is the second time Chicago has visited Houston this season and first time since November... Houston edged the Wolves 4-3 in the shootout in their last meeting (Jan. 14 at CHI)... Four different goalies have seen time in goal for the Aeros vs. CHI this season... CHI was eight points out of first place entering the week.

MILWAUKEE ADMIRALS
ALL-TIME AEROS RECORD: 44-49-12-5 (26-19-8-3 at home, 18-30-4-2 on the road)
SEASON RECORD: 1-1-0-0 (0-0-0-0 at home, 1-1-0-0 on the road)
NOTES: This is Milwaukee’s first visit to Toyota Center this season...Goalies Anton Khudobin and MIL’s Karl Dekanich have played in both games... Both contests have been decided by one goal... MIL entered the week one point behind the Aeros in the West Division.

ROCKFORD ICEHOGS
ALL-TIME AEROS RECORD: 11-10-2-2 (7-5-5-1-1 at home, 6-5-2-0 on the road)
SEASON RECORD: 3-2-0-0 (1-1-0-0 at home, 2-1-0-0 on the road)
NOTES: The Aeros have won two straight vs. the Hogs... Matt Hackett has played in four-straight vs. RFD and is 2-2-0... The Hogs had won just once in the last 10 games entering the week.

AEROS NOTABLES

·    The Aeros won their 30th game of the 2010-11 season on Feb. 8 at TEX in their 53rd game. Last season, it took the club 71 games to win 30 overall (March 26).
·    The Aeros have hosted a game at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul three times including the 3-1 loss on Feb. 13, 2011. The club has split their previous two decisions in St. Paul, posting a 3-1 victory over the Grand Rapids Griffins on Mar. 7, 2005 and dropping a 2-1 decision to the Milwaukee Admirals on Dec. 8, 2002.

HOMEBOYS --- Houston has points in nine consecutive games at Toyota Center (8-0-0-1) dating back to Dec. 26… The nine-game points streak at home ended on Feb. 13 at Xcel Energy Center… They have also won 12 of 17 at home dating back to a Nov. 21 victory over Texas.

TURNSTILE TIDBITS --- Through 24 home games, the Aeros are sixth in the AHL with an average attendance of 6,261…The average includes on game at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul… The 10,552 on hand for the Jan. 1 game was the largest crowd for an Aeros contest since Dec. 3, 2009, when 11,291 watched the Aeros and Rampage at Toyota Center.

RECENT ROSTER MOVES --- F Cody Almond and D Justin Falk were reassigned by MIN on Feb. 6……F Cody Almond and D Justin Falk were recalled by MIN on Feb. 5…F Cody Almond was reassigned by MIN on Jan. 26… G Josh Tordjman was loaned to BAK on Jan. 20… G Anton Khudobin was reassigned by MIN on Jan. 20.

JANUARY JUGGERNAUT --- The Aeros had an impressive month of January by recording a 10-2-0-1 record and moving into position to challenge for the top spot in the Western Conference. Here’s a rundown of nuggets from January…
·    Jan. 2011 was the sixth time in franchise history the team has recorded 10 or more wins in a month.
·    The last time was Jan. 2003 (11-2-3-0).
·    The franchise has recorded 10 wins or more in a month in four other seasons (1997-98, 1998-99, 2000-01, 2002-03).
·    In the 1997-98 and 00-01 seasons the team lost in the 1st round of playoffs.
·    In the 1998-99 and 2002-03 seasons the team went on to win championships.
·    The Aeros have never finished season lower than 2nd in their division when recording 10 or more wins in one month.

SCORE FIRST! --- Houston leads the AHL in first goals (36) and is 26-7-0-3 when scoring first. Cody Almond leads the club with three first-goals. Five other players have two game-opening tallies.

WHEN IT’S CLOSE --- The Aeros are 16-5-1-3 in games decided by one goal.

MOVIN' ON UP --- The Aeros have had 20 call-ups to Minnesota (Khudobin, Hackett, Gillies, Wellman, Kassian-3X, Almond-4X, Scandella-2X, Earl, Falk-2X, Spurgeon-3X, Peters).

HOLD EM’ TO ONE --- Houston is 15-1-1-0 when holding opponents to one or no goals.

FOUR-SCORE --- When scoring at least four goals the Aeros are undefeated (20-0-0-0). Houston has yet to win a game when allowing four or more goals (0-11-0-0) and is 0-8-0-0 on the road when doing so.

WESTWARD --- The Aeros are 24-13-1-0 vs. West Division teams this season including an 11-5-1-0 mark at home.

NORTHBOUND --- The Aeros are 7-7-0-3 vs. the North this season. They played six in a row vs. the North from Dec. 12-21 and went 1-5-0-0 in that span. That’s the longest stretch the team played non-West Division rivals this season.

PENALTY SHOTS --- J.M. Daoust’s penalty shot goal on Jan. 7 at home vs. LE was his first tally since Dec. 2 and the team’s first penalty shot since Feb. 21, 2010… Colton Gillies scored at PEO on Feb. 11… Houston is 3-for-12 on penalty shots since 2005-06. The Aeros were 1-for-1 last season (Chad Rau, Feb. 21, 2010) and 0-for-3 in the preceding two seasons.

TAKE A BREATHER --- The Aeros had five full days in between the Jan. 1-Jan. 7 games. It’s one of the longest stretches between games this season. The team also had five days off between the season opener and its next game (Oct. 9-15). The longest the team has between games this season is six days (Jan. 29-Feb. 3) and a full week (Apr. 3-10).

QUICKLY --- The goals 20 seconds apart by Chad Rau and Warren Peters in the third period of the Jan. 1 comeback win over San Antonio were the fastest the Aeros have combined for goals this season.

UPDATE THE RECORD BOOK --- Casey Wellman became just the third player in Aeros history to record four goals in a game and the first to bag a natural hat trick in the opening 20 minutes in Houston’s 5-3 win over San Antonio on Dec. 10. Wellman joins Dave Hymovitz (March 24, 2000 at KC) and Roman Voloshenko (Oct. 21, 2005 vs. GR) in the select group…Chad Rau, who assisted on all three first period markers, tied a franchise-high watermark with the feat.

COME BACK NOW --- The Dec. 7 win at OKC marked the second time in four games the Aeros came from behind to win after trailing entering the third period. The Aeros earned their first win of the season when trailing after two periods on Dec. 2; they were 0-9-0-0 until that point.

CUMA MAKES DEBUT --- Tyler Cuma made his pro debut on Dec. 2. The Wild's first round pick (23rd overall) in 2008 missed the first 23 games of the season on the injured reserve

KASSIAN, FALK BREAK GOAL DROUGHTS--- Matt Kassian’s goal on Nov. 21 vs. TEX was his first since Jan. 16, 2010, vs. Toronto, a span of 41 AHL games. Justin Falk’s goal on Jan. 12 at RFD was his first tally since March 14, 2010, at RFD, a run of 25 AHL games.

PPG PLATEAU --- The Aeros scored three PPG on Nov. 19 at GR, marking the first time this season the team eclipsed the two PPG plateau.

FIRST SHUTOUT --- Houston’s 5-0 shutout on Nov. 19 at GR was their first since a Feb. 13, 2010, 1-0 overtime win at home against the Griffins, a run that spanned 42 games. Anton Khudobin made 28 saves for his sixth career shutout with the most recent win.

2010-11 AEROS PLAYER NOTES

4 – JAMIE FRASER
2010-11: Recalled from Elmira (ECHL) on Jan. 8…Appeared in eight games for Elmira (ECHL) and registered four assists...Began the season with the Aeros and played in 14 games, producing one assist and four penalty minutes (PIM)…

7 – CASEY WELLMAN
2010-11: Missed 10 games with a lower body injury Dec. 26- Jan. 14…Scored four goals, including a natural hat trick in the first period, on Dec. 10 vs. SA…Had a goal and an assist Nov. 26 vs. SA…Reassigned by MIN on Nov. 23…Appeared in 12 games with Wild, collecting an assist and four PIM…Recalled by MIN Oct. 28…Scored OT GWG at OKC on Oct. 15…

12 – CODY ALMOND
2010-11: Scored SO GWG at PEO on Feb. 111… Notched a goal and an assist on Feb. 8 at TEX…Reassigned by MIN on Feb. 6…Recalled by MIN on Feb. 5…Reassigned by MIN on Jan. 26…Recalled by MIN on Jan. 17…Had two goals on Dec. 17 at MAN…Scored GWG in OT on Dec. 4 at TEX…Scored GTG and had two assists Dec. 2 vs. RFD…Was scoreless in seven games (Nov. 9-21)…Reassigned by MIN on Nov. 13…Recalled on Nov.10 by MIN…Reassigned by MIN on Nov. 7.

14 – JON DISALVATORE
2010-11: Registered three assists on Feb. 8 at TEX, a personal season-high…Notched 400th pro point with an assist on Feb. 4 vs. TEX…Had points in five-straight games Jan. 14-22 (3-4-7)…Scored GWG Jan. 15 vs. GR…Scored a goal and SO GWG Jan. 14 at CHI…Scored SO GWG Dec. 2 vs. RFD…Collected two points (1-1-2) at TEX on Nov. 24…Had three points (1-2-3) Nov. 19 at GR to snap a 16-game goalless skid.

15 – NATE PROSSER
2010-11: Registered a goal and an assist on Feb. 9 at RFD… Notched first two-assist AHL game on Jan. 26 at SYR…Had goals in two straight (2-0-2) Oct. 30-31…Scored first pro goal Oct. 30 at TEX.

16 – PATRICK O’SULLIVAN
2010-11: Ran goal streak to five games with a tally at PEO on Feb. 11… Had a goal and an assist on Feb. 9 at RFD…Registered a goal and an assist on Feb. 8 at TEX…Had points on four-straight (2-3-5) Jan. 15-22…Scored a goal on his first shot Jan. 15 vs. GR…Assigned to HOU by MIN on Jan. 14…Posted seven points (1-6-7) in 21 games with the Wild after he was acquired on waivers from Carolina on Nov. 23… O’Sullivan posted one goal in 10 games for the Hurricanes this season…

17 – ROBBIE EARL
2010-11: Scored twice including the OT GWG on Jan. 26 at SYR…Had goals in three-straight Jan. 16-22…Had points in six straight games (Dec. 30-Jan.14)…Had a team-high seven-game scoring streak (Nov. 9-Dec. 15, 5-5-10)…Scored GWG vs. TEX on Jan. 21…Had a goal and an assist Jan. 7 vs. LE…Had two assists on Dec. 10 vs. SA…Scored twice, including GTG, and had SO GWG Dec. 7 at OKC…Had the only goal in a 2-1 loss to RFD on Dec. 3…Reassigned by MIN on Nov. 29…Recalled by MIN on Nov. 13…Had two points (1-1-2) Nov. 9 at ABB.

18 – COLTON GILLIES
2010-11:  Scored penalty shot goal Feb. 11 at PEO… Had ENG in two straight games (Jan. 9-12)…Posted a goal and an assist Dec. 4 at TEX…Had points in two straight (0-2-2) Nov. 14-17…Reassigned to Houston on Nov. 3...Played three games with the Wild, averaging 6:08 time on ice (TOI)...Recalled by MIN Oct. 19.

19 – JAROD PALMER
2010-11: Had two points (1-1-2) and GWG on Nov. 21 vs. TEX…Had points in two straight (0-2-2) Nov. 14-17…Had three points (1-2-3) including GWG Nov. 6 at OKC…Had two assists (0-2-2) Oct. 30 at TEX.

20 – CHAD RAU
2010-11: Registered an assist and scored SO GWG on Jan. 28 vs. ABB…Notched a pair of assists on Jan. 26 at SYR…Scored GTG in third period of 4-3 SOW Jan. 14 at CHI…Scored GWG at RFD on Jan. 12…Had three assists in the first period, tying a franchise record, on Dec. 10 vs. SA… Returned to lineup Dec. 3 vs. RFD…Missed 20 games on IR…Had assist (0-1-1) in season opener at OKC on Oct. 9.

22 - JED ORTMEYER
2010-11: Scored GWG on Feb. 8 at TEX… Had assists (0-5-5) in four of his first five games as an Aero…Signed to SPC by MIN and assigned to HOU on Jan. 8…Assisted on GWG in Aeros debut on Jan. 1…Signed PTO on Jan. 1…    

23 – PETR KALUS
2010-11: Had goals in three of five games (3-0-3) Nov. 14-21…Goals in two-straight games Nov. 14-17 (2-0-2, GWG on Nov. 17)…Snapped 11-game goal drought on Nov. 14 at PEO…Scored a goal Oct. 17 at OKC…Had three points (2-1-3) Oct. 9 at OKC.

25 – WARREN PETERS
2010-11: Had goals in two-straight (Jan. 22-23)…Scored GWG Jan. 22 at LE…Reassigned by MIN on Dec. 13…Recalled by MIN on Dec. 11…Had points in two straight (0-2-2) Nov. 14-17…Had points (1-3-4) in three straight Oct. 31-Nov. 6…Had two points (1-1-2) vs. TEX on Oct. 31.

26 – MAXIM NOREAU
2010-11: Named to 2011 Western Conference All-Star Team at AHL All-Star Classic in Hershey, Pa…Had back-to-back two point games (each 1-1-2) Nov. 24-26…Had three points (2-1-3) at GR on Nov. 20…Had GWG and two assists (1-2-3) at PEO on Nov. 14.

27 – CARSON MCMILLAN
2010-11: Scored SHG ENG at RFD on Feb. 9…Collected three points in two games (1-2-3) Nov. 14-17…Collected two points (1-1-2) Nov.14 at PEO…Had a goal Nov. 6 vs. TOR…Had back-to-back GWG Oct. 30 at TEX and Oct. 31 vs. TEX.

29 – DREW BAGNALL
2010-11: Notched first point of the season with an assist Nov. 14 at PEO…Reassigned to Houston on Oct. 9 after starting season with MIN (did not play).

32 – KRIS FREDHEIM
2010-11: Scored first AHL goal Oct. 31 vs. TEX…Notched first AHL point with an assist (0-1-1) on Oct. 30 at TEX.

39 – BRANDON BUCK
2010-11: Scored first goal of season, a GWG, on Dec. 14 at HAM…Had assists (0-2-2) in two straight Oct. 30-31.

42 – MATT KASSIAN
2010-11: Reassigned by MIN on Nov. 30…Recalled by MIN on Nov. 29…Reassigned by MIN on Nov.26…Recalled by MIN on Nov. 23…Had a goal Nov. 21 vs. TEX, his first in 41 AHL contests.

44 – JUSTIN FALK
2010-11: Notched his second goal on Feb. 8 at TEX…Reassigned by MIN on Feb. 6…Recalled by MIN on Feb. 5…Scored his first goal of the season on Jan. 12 at RFD…Reassigned by MIN on Dec. 6…Recalled by MIN on Nov. 23…Collected an assist Nov. 21…Reassigned to Houston Nov. 18.

61 – TYLER CUMA
2010-11: Scored first pro goal on Jan. 1 vs. SA…Notched first pro point with an assist on Dec. 10 vs. SA…Played first pro game Dec. 2 vs. RFD after missing the first 23 games on IR.

62 – JEAN-MICHEL DAOUST
2010-11: Scored GWG on Feb. 9 at RFD…Registered 300th pro point with a goal on Jan. 28 vs. ABB…Played 400th pro game Jan. 23 at TOR…Scored GWG Jan. 9 vs. SA…Scored GWG, on a penalty shot, Jan. 7 vs. LE…Had two points (1-1-2) Dec. 2 vs. RFD…Had a goal and two assists (1-2-3) at TEX on Nov. 24…Scored a goal Nov. 9 at ABB…Had two assists Nov. 6 at OKC.

AEROS GOALIE NOTES

30 – ANTON KHUDOBIN
2010-11: Won six consecutive games (Jan. 22 –Feb. 11) and posted a 1.94 GAA and a .931 SV%... Reassigned by MIN on Jan. 20... Appeared in four games with MIN after being recalled Jan. 8 and posted a 2-1-0 record with a 1.59 goals-against average (GAA), a .942 save percentage (SV%) and one shutout. In three starts he stopped 77-of-81 shots faced for a 1.34 GAA and a .951 SV% and made 32 saves in a 4-0 win vs. Vancouver on Jan. 16 for his first career NHL shutout…Recalled to MIN on Jan. 8…Won six-straight home starts Oct. 31-Dec. 10, posting a 2.08 GAA and .933 save percentage over that span…Made 31 saves in 4-2 win over TEX on Nov. 21…Made 28 saves for first shutout win of the season at GR on Nov 19…Made 37 saves in 3-2 SOL at ABB on Nov. 9…Won four straight Oct. 30-Nov. 6 and posted a .944 save percentage and a 1.71 GAA over those games…Was 0-2-1 in first three starts but had a .929 save percentage (92/99) and 2.32 GAA…Made first appearance of 2010-11 on Oct. 16 vs. PEO and made 31 saves in 3-2 loss…Reassigned to Houston Oct. 9 after starting season with MIN…Served as backup to Niklas Backstrom for two games (Oct. 7-8).
 
31 – MATT HACKETT
2010-11: Is 2-1-0 in his last three games with a 1.67 GAA and .938 SV%...Won four-in-a-row at home (Dec. 26-Jan. 9)…Won two-in-a-row Jan.  9-12…Won two-in-a-row Jan. 1-7…Earned first pro shutout with 25 saves Jan. 7 vs. LE… Earned first consecutive home wins Dec. 26-Jan. 1…Snapped personal three-game losing skid with 24 saves at HAM on Dec. 14 (3-1-W)…Stopped 27 of 29 on Dec. 3 vs. RFD…Made 30 saves in 3-2 win vs. CHI on Nov. 17…Earned first win since Oct. 15 (four games, 0-3-1) with 21 saves at PEO on Nov. 14…Was 0-3-1 in four starts (.860 save percentage, 4.18 GAA) from Oct. 17- Nov. 8…Made 40 stops in 2-1 OTW at OKC on Oct. 15…Made first pro start and earned the win with 30 save in 6-1 opening night victory Oct. 9 at OKC.