Sat., Dec. 17, 2011

The Houston Aeros (16-4-2-6, 40 pts.) visit the Oklahoma City Barons (19-7-0-1, 39 pts.) on Saturday at 7 p.m. in a game that will determine first place in the American Hockey League.

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 (16-4-2-6, 40 pts.) visit the Oklahoma City Barons (19-7-0-1, 39 pts.) on Saturday at 7 p.m. in a game that will determine first place in the American Hockey League. The Aeros are unbeaten in regulation in the last five games (3-0-0-2) and have the fewest regulation losses in the league. They also have the second-most road wins and fewest road losses in the AHL. Coming off a 4-1 win at home over Texas last night, Houston has points in 13 of their last 14 games overall. OKC has wins in seven of its last 10 games but dropped a 3-2 decision to Texas on Dec. 13.

THIS WEEK’S GAMES
Friday --- vs. Texas (4-1W)
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/BARONS HEAD-TO-HEAD
---Houston is 0-1-0-2 vs. the Barons this season… HOU PP is 1/20… OKC PP is 3/12… The Aeros are 9-2-0-2 all-time vs. the Barons (4-1-0-2 at home, 5-1-0-0 on the road).

RECENT AEROS TRANSACTIONS
---Dec. 16: F Jarod Palmer recalled by MIN
---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

AEROS INJURIES
David McIntyre has missed the last five 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 points in three straight games and four of the last five games (2-2=4).
---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 five points (1-4=5). Ortmeyer is plus-6 on the road with five points (2-3=5) and plus-4 at home with six points (3-3=6).

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 16 of Houston’s wins (16-1-2-4) 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 12-0-0-2 when leading at the end of two periods.
---Houston has made 18 transactions since Dec. 1.

AEROS GOALIES
HACKETT – Is 3-3-2 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 29 of 30 in a 4-1W vs. TEX on Dec. 16.

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 3/29 in the last nine games (10.3%)… 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 went 3-for-14 in four games last week… 6/24 in the last nine games (25.0%)… 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