DEC. 30, 2010: AEROS AT ROCKFORD
PREVIEW
The Houston Aeros (18-16-1-2) complete a three-game road trip and close out the calendar year of 2010 against the Rockford IceHogs (13-13-1-4) at the MetroCentre. Houston is coming off a 3-2 loss at Milwaukee on Wednesday. The loss ended a two-game win streak for the Aeros, who play their 23rd road game of the season tonight. Houston is tied with West Division counterparts Chicago and Milwaukee for the most road games played in the AHL so far this season. The Aeros and ‘Hogs have split the season series so far; Houston won a 4-3 shootout on Dec. 2 and lost 2-1 in regulation on Dec. 3. Rockford sits at the bottom of the West Division but has won five times in the last 10 outings and has earned at least a point in eight of 10. The Hogs beat Milwaukee 4-1 on Tuesday night.
UPCOMING GAMES
Dec. 30 at Rockford, 6:35 p.m. CST
Jan. 1 vs. San Antonio, 7:35 p.m. CST
Jan. 7 vs. Lake Erie, 7:35 p.m. CST
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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 AT A GLANCE
RECORD: 18-16-1-2, 39 pts., 6th, West Division
HOME: 8-6-1-0
ROAD: 10-10-0-2
STREAK: LOST 1
NHL AFFILIATES
Houston Aeros (Minnesota Wild)
Rockford IceHogs (Chicago Blackhawks)
AEROS SPECIAL TEAMS
PP: 16.4% (21st)
PK: 84.4% (9th)
AEROS LEADERS:
POINTS: Noreau (7-15-22)
GOALS: Earl (9)
ASSISTS: Noreau (15)
PIM: Kassian (82)
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
TRENDING --- The Aeros have allowed the first goal in five of the last seven games after scoring first in eight straight…Warren Peters’ goal, 30 seconds into the first period on Dec. 26 snapped Houston’s scoreless skid at 159:13…The Aeros reversed a season-long four-game losing skid with the Dec. 27 win at SA. Their last previous road win was Dec. 14 at Hamilton (3-1)…The Aeros won for just the second time this season when allowing the first goal (2-10-1-0) on Dec. 27 at SA.
ON THE SHELF --- Casey Wellman has missed the last three games with a lower body injury…Colton Gillies and Warren Peters have missed the last two games.
ROUGH ROAD --- Houston has lost five of seven away from home dating back to Dec. 12. The team dropped four-of-five during a five-game road trip from Dec. 12-18 and was outscored 17-10 during that run.
SCORE FIRST! --- Houston leads the AHL in first goals (23) and is 16-5-0-2 when scoring first. Cody Almond leads the club with three first-goals. Four other players have two game-opening tallies.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER --- The Aeros are 10-6-0-1 in games after a win this season…In games after a loss they are 7-7-1-0…In the second game of back-to-back outings they are 8-8-0-1…In the third game of a 3-in-3 they are 3-2-0-0.
TURNSTILE TIDBIT --- Through 15 home games, the Aeros are sixth in the AHL with an average attendance of 5,766. As of Dec. 31, 2009, the Aeros averaged 5,407 through 20 games.
WESTWARD --- The Aeros are 15-10-1-0 vs. West Division teams this season and have won five of the last six against Division rivals.
WHEN IT’S CLOSE --- The Aeros are 9-5-1-2 in games decided by one goal.
HEATIN’ UP --- Jon DiSalvatore had two power play goals on Dec. 26 vs. Texas…Cody Almond has points in two straight (1-1-2)…Nate Prosser has points in three straight (1-2-3)…
FOUR-SCORE --- When scoring at least four goals the Aeros are undefeated (11-0-0-0). Houston has yet to win a game when allowing four or more goals (0-9-0-0) and is 0-6-0-0 on the road when doing so.
SCHEDULE NOTES --- Nine of the final 12 games of 2010 are on the road…A total of 18 of Houston’s final 27 games in the calendar year of 2010 are away from Toyota Center…Houston plays four games in five days from Dec. 26-30 and five in seven from Dec. 26-Jan. 1…The team played five games in seven days, all on the road, from Dec. 12-18.
RECENT ROSTER MOVES --- F Sean Muncy and F Aaron Lewicki were released from their PTO's on Dec. 28...F Pascal Morency was recalled from BAK on Dec. 28...D Jared Spurgeon was reassigned by MIN on Dec. 28...F Brock McBride signed a PTO on Dec. 28...F Sean Muncy and F Aaron Lewicki signed PTO's on Dec. 27...D Bryce Lampman was released from his PTO on Dec. 22.
LAST GAME QUICK RECAP
Nate Prosser and Cody Almond extended scoring streaks for the Houston Aeros but a pair of goals by the Milwaukee Admirals 17 seconds apart in the third period were enough to hand the visitors a 3-2 loss Wednesday night at the Bradley Center. The loss ends a modest two-game winning streak for the Aeros, who close a three-game road trip Thursday night at Rockford and return home on Saturday vs. division-leading San Antonio. Houston maintains the No. 6 spot in the West Division race.
