Wed., Dec. 21, 2011

The Houston Aeros (16-5-2-7, 41 pts.) host the Texas Stars (12-14-0-1, 25 pts.) on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. Houston is coming off a 6-3 loss to Rochester on Sunday.

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 (16-5-2-7, 41 pts.) host the Texas Stars (12-14-0-1, 25 pts.) on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. Houston is coming off a 6-3 loss to Rochester on Sunday. The Aeros have earned standings points in four of the last five games but is winless in two (0-1-0-1). The Aeros trail first place in the West Division and overall in the AHL, held by OKC, by three points. Texas has alternated wins and losses over its last six games and is coming off a 4-2 loss at San Antonio on Dec. 18. The Stars trail fourth place San Antonio in the West Division by three points.

UPCOMING GAMES
Wednesday --- vs. Texas (7:05 p.m.)
Monday (Dec. 26) --- vs. San Antonio (7:05 p.m.)
Friday (Dec. 30) --- at San Antonio (7:05 p.m.)
Sunday (Jan. 1) --- vs. Oklahoma City (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… The Aeros will host the annual Guns vs. Hoses game (HPD vs. HFD) on Dec. 26.

AEROS/STARS HEAD-TO-HEAD
---This is the seventh meeting this season… Houston has won two-straight… Houston is 4-0-2-0 vs. the Stars this season. Three of four wins have come on the road… 13 of Houston’s goals in the series have come via 5-on-5 play and three via 5-on-4… Three of the Stars’ 10 goals in the season series have come via 5-on-5 play, five via 5-on-4 and two via 4-on-4… HOU PP is 3/22 (13.6%)… TEX PP is 5/26 (19.2%)… The Aeros are 17-10-3-0 all-time vs. the Stars (9-4-2-0 at home, 8-6-1-0 on the road).

WATCH FOR THIS
---Houston’s penalty kill, ranked 22nd overall, will have to shut down the fifth-ranked Texas power play.
---Four of Chad Rau’s five goals this season have come against the Stars.
---Stars forward Matt Fraser has points (5-3=8) in seven-straight games.
---A win tonight pulls the Aeros within one point of first place in the AHL heading into the Christmas break. Abbotsford could leapfrog both the Aeros and Barons if the Heat can win tonight at Grand Rapids and tomorrow at Chicago.

RECENT AEROS TRANSACTIONS
---Dec. 19: F Chad Rau reassigned by MIN
---Dec. 19: F Aaron Lee released from PTO
---Dec. 18: F Chad Rau recalled by MIN
---Dec. 18: F Jed Ortmeyer recalled by MIN
---Dec. 17: F Cody Almond reassigned by MIN

AEROS INJURIES
David McIntyre has missed the last seven games… Mike Montgomery has missed the last three 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
---Jon DiSalvatore has goals in two-straight after an eight-game personal drought.
---Justin Fontaine has a point in four of the last five games (1-3=4).
---Cody Almond has a point in four straight games with the Aeros (2-2=4).
---Jeff Taffe had his first two-point game (0-2=2) since Nov. 4 at Hamilton and has a point in three straight games (0-4=4).
---Drew Bagnall is on pace to surpass his career-high for points in a season (12).
---Jarod Palmer made his NHL debut with the Minnesota Wild on Saturday and registered six shots.

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 11-2-0-1 when scoring first.
---All 16 of Houston’s wins (16-1-2-4) have come when allowing three or fewer goals. Three of five 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 24 transactions since Dec. 1.
---The Aeros broke the 100,000 mark in attendance this season with the 4,608 who attended Sunday's game.

AEROS GOALIES
HACKETT – Is 3-4-2 (2.70 GAA, .900 SV%) at home and 7-0-1 (1.86 GAA, .941 SV%) on the road… Is winless in four-straight at home… Has won five-straight road starts… Made his NHL debut on Dec. 6 and made 34 saves in a 2-1 win at SJ after entering the game early in the first period to relieve an injured Josh Harding… Last Game: Stopped 13 of 18 in 40 minutes of action in a 6-3L to RCH on Dec. 18.

KUEMPER --- Is 1-0-2 at home (.86 GAA, .972 SV%) and 2-1-1 on the road (2.46 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: Stopped 5/5 in 20 minutes of third period relief work on Dec. 18 vs. RCH.

POWER PLAY
Went 3/11 in three games last week… Went 5/37 (13.5%) in games 21-30 after going 20/106 (18/9%) in games 1-20… 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 2-for-4 on the PP in three games last week… PK stopped 20/27 (74.0%) in games 21-30 after stopping 80/97 82.4%) in games 1-20… 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