SATURDAY, FEB. 27, 2011
HOUSTON AEROS (35-22-1-4) vs. ROCKFORD ICEHOGS (23-28-3-4)   
TOYOTA CENTER (5:05 p.m. CST)
OVERVIEW
The Aeros close out a three-game weekend as they host the Rockford IceHogs in a West Division matchup. The Aeros, who have won two in a row, are coming off a 5-0 victory at OKC last night while the IceHogs slipped past Milwaukee in OT last night for their second straight win.

WHERE THEY STAND
The Aeros, with 75 points, sit one point out of first place behind the Milwaukee Admirals. Rockford is last in the West Division.

WHAT THE GAME MEANS
A win by the Aeros bumps them into sole possession of first place in the West Division as Milwaukee is idle today.

SERIES NOTES
Houston is 4-1-0-0 vs. OKC this season and has won two straight… This is only the second meeting between the teams at Toyota Center… The Aeros have won three straight vs. the Hogs... Matt  Hackett started the first three meetings in goal; Anton Khudobin has started the last two… The teams play three-in-a-row at HOU from March 25-27 and close the series at HOU on April 10.

LAST GAME
Goaltender Matt Hackett made 31 saves for his second pro shutout and four different players scored for Houston as the Aeros shut out the Oklahoma City Barons 5-0 on Saturday night at the Cox Convention Center.

AEROS UPCOMING GAMES
Feb. 27 vs. RFD, 5:05 p.m.
March 2 vs. RFD, 7:05 p.m.
March 4 vs. SYR, 7:35 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 PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
PLAYERS
6 - scan-DELL-uh
14 – deh-SAL-vuh-tohr
20 – ROWH (like now)
22 – ORT-migh-uhr
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
AEROS AT A GLANCE
STANDING…………………………………….2nd /West Division
RECORD……………………………………….35-22-1-4, 73 pts.
HOME……………………………………………………16-9-1-1
ROAD…………………………………………………...19-13-0-3
STREAK………..………………………………………….WON 2

AEROS SPECIAL TEAMS
PP: 17.0% (19TH)…………………………………..PK: 83.8% (13TH)
PPG: 48……………………………………………………….SHG: 6
 
AEROS LEADERS
Points………………………………………………...DiSalvatore (43)
Goals…………………………………………………………Earl (16)
Assists………………………………….............................Noreau (29)
PPG…………………………………………Almond /DiSalvatore (7)
PP-Pts……………………………………………………..Noreau (21)
SHG……………………………………………………..McMillan (3)
SH-Pts...…………………………………………………McMillan (4)
PIM…..…………………………………………………Kassian (118)

NOTABLES
•    Jed Ortmeyer and Warren Peters were reassigned by MIN on Feb. 26.  
•    Warren Peters was recalled by MIN this on Friday while Nate Prosser was reassigned to the Aeros from the Wild.
•    The Aeros equaled their 2009-10 wins total with a 4-3 OT victory over TEX on Feb. 25.
•    Maxim Noreau’s next goal will be his 50th as a pro. He leads the team with 10 multi-point games.
•    Since Jan. 1, Houston is 17-5-0-2.
•    All 35 of Houston’s wins have come when the team allows three or fewer goals.
•    28 of Houston’s wins have come when they score the first goal.
•   Prior to Saturday, the Aeros had 35 or more shots in each of the last five games for an average of 36.8. The season average for the team is 29.6.

AEROS GOALIES --- Anton Khudobin is 19-12-1 with a 2.58 GAA and .911 SV%. He had won six straight games until suffering three straight losses Feb. 13-22... Matt Hackett is 14-11-3 with a 2.29 GAA and .918 SV%. He is 3-0-1 in his last four decisions.

SCORING STREAKS
•    DiSalvatore; 8 games (4-5-9)... 17 of 19 (8-14-22)
•    O’Sullivan; 5 games (4-6-10)... 16 of 18 as an Aero this season (12-12-24)
•    Noreau; 4 games.

INJURY UPDATE --- Casey Wellman returned to the lineup on Feb 25 after missing 10 games with an upper body injury… Tyler Cuma is out for the season with a knee injury suffered Feb. 13, 2011 vs. PEO.

SPECIAL TEAMS
POWER PLAY --- Is 4/16 in the last three games… Has multiple PPG in 11 games and is 7-2-0-2 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 --- Opponents are 3/13 in last three games… 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.