MARCH 6, 2011
HOUSTON AEROS (37-24-1-4) vs. ABBOTSFORD HEAT (30-24-4-5)
TOYOTA CENTER (5:05 p.m. CST)

OVERVIEW
The Houston Aeros close out a three-in-three weekend at home vs. the Abbotsford Heat. Houston is coming off a 3-1loss at Texas last night while the Heat fell 2-1 in overtime at OKC. Tonight starts a five-game home stand for the Aeros. The Heat closes a five-game road trip.

LAST FIVE GAMES
Houston (3-2-0-0)
Abbotsford (3-1-1-0)

WHERE THEY STAND
The Aeros, with 79 points, sit two points out of first place in the West Division behind the Milwaukee Admirals. Abbotsford (69 points) is five points off the North Division lead.

 WHAT THE GAME MEANS
A win by the Aeros could pull them into a first place tie with Milwaukee in the West Division. Milwaukee is off tonight.
 
SERIES NOTES
Houston is 1-0-0-2 vs. the Heat… This is the final matchup of the season… The Aeros won the last matchup on Jan.28 in the shootout by a 4-3 count… All three meetings have been decided by one goal… The Heat won the first two games in the shootout, at home, by 3-2 counts… Houston is 5/18 on the PP while the Heat is 1/12.

LAST GAME QUICK RECAP
Jon DiSalvatore scored Houston's lone goal and Patrick O’Sullivan extended his scoring streak to a team season-high nine games with an assist but the Houston Aeros fell 3-1 to the Texas Stars on Saturday night at the Cedar Park Center.

NHL AFFILIATES
Houston Aeros (Minnesota Wild)
Abbotsford Heat (Calgary Flames)

WILD UPDATE
Houston Aeros (Minnesota Wild) --- The Wild is 34-25-6 with 74 points and holds the No. 3 spot in the Northwest Division. The Wild beat the New York Rangers 3-1 on Thursday. Casey Wellman had the game-winning goal.
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AEROS UPCOMING GAMES
March 6 vs. ABB, 5:05 p.m.
March 11 vs. MTB, 7:35 p.m.
March 13 vs. MTB, 4:05 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.

NOTABLES
--- Patrick O’Sullivan was named the AHL/Reebok Player of the Month for February after posting 18 points (9-9-18) in 12 games.
--- Goalie Josh Tordjman was recalled on Tuesday from Bakersfield (ECHL) after Anton Khudobin was traded to Boston... The Aeros also added D Jeff Penner, who was acquired as part of from Boston as part of the Khudobin trade with Boston. Penner has posted 19 points (5-14-19) and is a plus-10 in 57 games with the AHL’s Providence Bruins this season.
--- The Aeros have earned 29 of their 37 victories when scoring the first goal of the game.
--- Houston is 28-17-1-1 vs. the West Division
--- Patrick O’Sullivan set a team-high nine game scoring streak with on March 5.
--- Max Noreau set a team and personal season high with an assist in his fifth straight game on March 2.
--- The Aeros set a franchise record and AHL season-high with six PPG on March 2 vs. RFD.
---Houston’s 8-1 win over RFD on March two tied a franchise record for goals scored in a game. A total of 13 Aeros recorded a point in the game.
---The Aeros are 7-7-0-3 vs. the North this season

AEROS GOALIES --- Matt Hackett is 6-1-1 in his last eight home decisions… Josh Tordjman is 3-0-0 in four appearances this season.

SCORING STREAKS
--- O’Sullivan; 9 games (5-11-16)... 20 of 22 as an Aero this season (13-17-30)
--- Noreau; 7 of eight games (2-7-9)… Assists in team season high six games until last night.

INJURY UPDATE --- Jeff Penner is out with an upper body injury… Jamie Fraser is out with an upper body injury… Cody Almond is out with a lower body injury but is skating on his own… Drew Bagnall is day-to-day with an upper body injury… Matt Kassian is out with a lower body injury… Tyler Cuma is out for the season with a knee injury suffered Feb. 13, 2011 vs. PEO.

SPECIAL TEAMS
POWER PLAY --- Is 11/32 in the last six games… Has multiple PPG in 12 games and is 8-2-0-2 in those games… Set franchise record and AHL season-high with six PPG on March 2 vs. RFD… Was held to one or no PPG in 15 straight games prior to Feb. 4 (2-for-4).

PENALTY KILL --- Opponents are 3/22 in the last six  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.

RECENT ROSTER MOVES --- F Chris Lawrence was signed to a PTO on March 5… F Jed Ortmeyer was reassigned by MIN on March 4… D Jamie Fritsch was signed to a PTO on March 4… F Joel Broda was recalled from BAK on March 4… F Casey Wellman was recalled by MIN on March 3… F Petr Kalus was traded to Columbus for futures on March 1… F Jed Ortmeyer was recalled by MIN on March 1… G Josh Tordjman was recalled from BAK on March 1… D Jeff Penner was loaned by MIN on March 1… F Warren Peters was recalled by MIN on Feb. 28.