FRIDAY, FEB. 18, 2011
HOUSTON AEROS AT MILWAUKEE ADMIRALS
BRADLEY CENTER (7:00 p.m. CST)
OVERVIEW
The Houston Aeros continue their ninth three-in-three weekend of the season with a matchup at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee against the Admirals. The Aeros have dropped two in a row and had a season-high six-game winning streak snapped on Sunday in a 3-1 loss to Peoria on Sunday at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn. Chicago handed the Aeros a 3-1 defeat on Thursday in a matinee at Toyota Center. Milwaukee is coming off a 5-2 win over Rockford on Sunday. The Admirals have points in six of their last seven games.
WHERE THEY STAND
The Aeros lead the West Division and Western Conference by a one point margin over both the Admirals and Peoria Rivermen. Milwaukee has five games in hand on the Aeros while Peoria has two in hand. San Antonio sits two points behind the Aeros.
WHAT THE GAME MEANS
The winner of tonight’s game takes control of first place in the West Division and Western Conference. If the Aeros win, they increase their lead over the Admirals and Rivermen to three points (Peoria is off tonight). To make things even more interesting, San Antonio plays at Syracuse tonight, while Milwaukee and Peoria battle tomorrow night at Peoria. The long and short of it is this; a Houston win provides separation in the standings while an Aeros loss further tightens an already tense race.
NHL AFFILIATES
Houston Aeros (Minnesota Wild) --- The Wild is 30-22-5 with 65 points and sits three points out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference and has seven wins it their last 11 games. The Wild fell 3-1 last on Wednesday to Chicago and hosts Anaheim tonight.
Milwaukee Admirals (Nashville Predators) --- The Predators (31-19-8) have 70 points and are fourth in the Western Conference. They host Phoenix tomorrow night.
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……………………………………….32-21-1-3, 68 pts.
HOME……………………………………………………15-8-1-1
ROAD…………………………………………………...17-13-0-2
STREAK………………………………………………….LOST 2
AEROS SPECIAL TEAMS
PP: 17.0% (17TH)………………………………PK: 83.8% (13TH)
PPG: 44………….………………………………………..SHG: 4
AEROS LEADERS
Points…………………………………………….DiSalvatore (37)
Goals……………………………………………………..Earl (16)
Assists………………………………….......................Noreau (26)
PPG……………………………………………………Almond (7)
PP-Pts…………………………………………………Noreau (19)
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 was 8-0-0-1 in nine games at Toyota Center until Feb. 17. 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 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 18-11-1 with a 2.48 GAA and .913 SV%. Khudobin has won seven of his last 10 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 ---
3 GAMES --- Jon DiSalvatore (1-2-3)
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.
