Fri., Dec. 16, 2011

The Houston Aeros (15-4-2-6, 38 pts.) play host to the Texas Stars (11-12-0-1, 23 pts.) at Toyota Center on Friday in the annual Teddy Bear Toss and Toy Drive game. Houston is 5-1-1-3 in its last 10 games and has points in seven straight home games (3-0-2-3) and in 12 of the last 13 games overall. The Aeros sit one point off the AHL lead behind OKC and are tied for the third-most wins in the league. Texas has split the last 10 games (5-5-0-0) and currently trails fourth-place San Antonio by one point in the West Division.

AEROS BROADCASTS
Radio: 1070 KNTH-AM
Listen online: www.aeros.com
Watch online: www.ahllive.com
Listen via Smartphone: Download the TuneIn Radio app; search Houston, then KNTH.

LIVE SCORING AND STATS
The AHL provides live scoring and stats via the GameCenter tab at www.theahl.com.

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OVERVIEW
The Houston Aeros (15-4-2-6, 38 pts.) play host to the Texas Stars (11-12-0-1, 23 pts.) at Toyota Center on Friday in the annual Teddy Bear Toss and Toy Drive game. Houston is 5-1-1-3 in its last 10 games and has points in seven straight home games (3-0-2-3) and in 12 of the last 13 games overall. The Aeros sit one point off the AHL lead behind OKC and are tied for the third-most wins in the league. Texas has split the last 10 games (5-5-0-0) and currently trails fourth-place San Antonio by one point in the West Division.
 
THIS WEEK’S GAMES
Friday --- vs. Texas (7:35 p.m.)
Saturday --- at Oklahoma City (7 p.m.)
Sunday --- vs. Rochester (5:05 p.m.)

AEROS BROADCASTS
Radio: 1070 KNTH-AM
Listen online: www.aeros.com
Watch online: www.ahllive.com
Listen on Smartphone including BlackBerry: Download the TuneIn Radio App; search Houston, then KNTH.

LIVE SCORING AND STATS
The AHL provides live scoring and stats via the GameCenter tab at www.theahl.com.

GOING TO AEROS HOME GAMES
On-street, garage and surface parking surround Toyota Center… The Box Office and Will Call windows are located on La Branch Street… Due to recent road construction surrounding Toyota Center, the Aeros encourage all guests to allow extra time for parking or visiting the box office.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS
Aeros fans can get four tickets, four Aeros gifts and parking for any Sunday game with prices starting as low as $52… Rod Ryan from 94.5 The Buzz is the host as Miss Aeros 2011-12 will be crowned on the ice based on crowd reaction on Dec. 21.

AEROS/STARS HEAD-TO-HEAD
---Houston is 3-0-2-0 vs. the Stars this season. All three wins have come on the road… HOU PP is 2/19 (10.5% this season)… HOU PK is 4/25 (84.0%)… The Aeros are 16-10-3-0 all-time vs. the Stars (8-4-2-0 at home, 8-6-1-0 on the road).

RECENT AEROS TRANSACTIONS
---Dec. 15: G Matt Hackett reassigned by MIN
---Dec. 15: G Rob Nolan released from PTO
---Dec. 14: F Warren Peters recalled by MIN
---Dec. 14: D Nate Prosser reassigned by MIN
---Dec. 10: F Jeff Taffe reassigned by MIN

AEROS INJURIES
Jed Ortmeyer has missed the last six games… David McIntyre has missed the last four games.

AEROS MILESTONES
---Jon DiSalvatore: 22nd goal will be 200th career goal… 18th goal will be 69th as an Aero, placing him first in franchise history (AHL only, 4th AHL/IHL).
---Jeff Taffe’s 12th goal will be his 200th as a pro… 33rd goal will be his 200th in the AHL… 37th game will be his 500th in the AHL… 62nd game will be his 700th as a pro.

AEROS PLAYER NOTES
---Justin Fontaine has three points (2-1=3) in the last four games.
---Jon DiSalvatore and Jeff Taffe lead the Aeros with six multi-point games each.
---Houston’s 10-2-0-1 road record has led to some interesting individual home/away split stats. Drew Bagnall’s plus-10 rating is tied for the team lead along with Jed Ortmeyer. Bagnall is plus-10 on the road with two assists and even at home with three points (1-2=3). Ortmeyer is plus-6 on the road with five points (2-3=5) and plus-4 at home with six points (3-3=6). Jarod Palmer is plus-7 on the road with six points (2-4=6) and even at home with four points (2-2=4).

TEAM NOTABLES
---Houston has earned at least a point in 13 of the 16 games (5-3-2-6) in which they have allowed the first goal. They are 10-1-0-0 when scoring first.
---All 15 of Houston’s wins (15-1-2-4) have come when allowing three or fewer goals. Three of four regulation losses have come when allowing four or more goals.
---The Aeros play nine of 11 games at home from Dec. 8-Jan. 6.
---The Aeros are 11-0-0-2 when leading at the end of two periods.
---Houston has made 17 transactions since Dec. 1.

AEROS GOALIES
HACKETT – Is 2-3-2 at home and 7-0-1 on the road... Has a 1.88 GAA and a .941 SV% away from home… Made his NHL debut on Dec. 6 and made 34 saves in a 2-1 win at SJ. He entered the game early in the first period to relieve an injured Josh Harding… Last Game: Stopped 22 of 23 in a 2-1W at LE on Nov. 30.

KUEMPER --- Is 1-0-2 at home (.95 GAA, .971 SV%) and 2-1-0 on the road (2.68 GAA, .916 SV%)… Led the ECHL in both GAA (1.74) and save percentage (.941) at the time of his recall on Nov. 29 and posted a 7-1-0 record with the Ontario Reign… Recorded his first pro shutout with 1-0 win on Dec. 9 vs. SAN (33 saves)… Last Game: Made32 saves in 3-2 SOL vs. PEO on Dec. 11.

POWER PLAY
Went 2/17 in four games last week… Is 2/26 in the last nine games (7.69%)… Set a season-high going 3/5 in a 4-2 win at SAN on Oct. 28… Casey Wellman leads the team with 7 PPG.

PENALTY KILL
Opponents were 3-for-14 in four games last week… 5/23 in the last nine games (78.2%)… Went 2/9 on the power play last week… Had allowed goals in five straight before holding TOR 0/6 on Nov. 6.

AEROS PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
4 – BAGH-nawl
7 – FRED-haym
8 – MED-vekh
14 – deh-SAL-vuh-tohr
20 – ROWH (like now)
22 – TAYF
26 – MACK-in-tyre
27 – mick-MILL-uhn
35 – KEM-per
39 – GEHN-oh-way
41 - ORT-migh-er
42 – KASS-ee-uhn
61 – KOOH-muh