JAN. 28, 2011: AEROS VS ABBOTSFORD HEAT (7 35 p.m. CST)
PREVIEW

The Houston Aeros (27-19-1-3, 58 pts.), who have won seven of their last 10 games and sit one point out of first place in the West Division, play host to the Abbotsford Heat (21-20-24, 48 pts.) at Toyota Center. Houston is coming off a 4-3 overtime win at Syracuse on Wednesday night while the Heat fell at San Antonio by a 4-2 decision. Four points separate the first place Peoria Rivermen in the West Division race. The Aeros and San Antonio Rampage are tied for the No. 2 spot in the West with 58 points; third place OKC is one point behind while fourth place Milwaukee sits two points out of second. Abbotsford plays the fourth of 10-straight on the road tonight and is in the No. 4 position in the North Division.

UPCOMING GAMES
Jan. 28 vs. Abbotsford, 7:35 p.m. CST
Feb. 4 vs. Texas, 7:35 p.m. CST
Feb. 8 at Texas, 7:30 p.m. CST
Feb. 9 at Rockford, 6:35 p.m. CST

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…………………….27-19-1-3, 58 pts.
STANDING…………....................T2/West Div.
HOME………………………………….13-6-1-1
ROAD…………………………………14-13-0-2
STREAK…………………………...........WON 1

AEROS SPECIAL TEAMS
PP: 16.6% (18th)........................PK: 84.5% (8th)
PPG: 37....................................................SHG: 4

NHL AFFILIATES
Houston Aeros……………….. ...Minnesota Wild
Abbotsford Heat…………………Calgary Flames

AEROS LEADERS
Points…………………………………...Earl (33)
Goals……………………………………Earl (16)
Assists……………………………….Noreau (21)
PPG…………………………………..Almond (6)
PP-Pts………………………………..Noreau (16)
SHG………………………………..McMillan (2)
SH-Pts……………………………...McMillan (3)
PIM.....………………………….....Kassian (107)

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
ALL-TIME AEROS RECORD: 3-0-1-2 (1-0-1-0 at home, 2-0-0-2 at ABB)

SEASON RECORD: 0-0-0-2 (0-0-0-0 at home, 0-0-0-2 at ABB)

ABOUT THE HEAT: The Heat entered with the lowest goals for average in the AHL (2.20) and the 10th lowest goals against average (2.72)...Goalie Leland Irving is tied for first in AHL wins (18) and is second with 15 losses...The Heat plays 10-straight on the road from Jan. 21- Feb. 9. This game will be their fourth on the trip; they split games at Manitoba last weekend and lost 4-2 at San Antonio on Wednesday...ABB is the affiliate of the Calgary Flames...The franchise can trace its roots to Providence, RI as the Rhode Island Reds. In 1977, the Reds moved to Portland, Maine, where the Maine Mariners played from 1977-92. The franchise was then purchased and moved to Utica, NY, where it was known as the Devils from 1987-93 (the 1987-92 incarnation of the Mariners was an expansion team that was Boston’s affiliate). In 1993, Calgary bought the franchise rights and moved it to Saint John, NB, where it was known as the Saint John Flames (1993-2003). From there, they played two seasons as the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights (2005-07) and two seasons as the Quad City Flames before starting play in Abbotsford in 2009…Assistant Coach Troy Ward joined the Flames organization last July following three seasons with the Aeros, the past two in the position of assistant coach & assistant general manager.

SERIES NOTES: The Heat edged the Aeros in back-to-back 3-2 shootouts on Nov. 8 and 9 at ABB...HOU led both games 2-0...HOU scored two PPG in each game...The teams meet again March 6 at HOU

PP: 4/12 (33.3%)…………………………………………PK: 7/8 (87.5%)

AEROS TIDBITS --- Houston tied a season-long three-game road winning streak on Jan. 22 at LE; the streak was snapped on Jan. 23 at TOR. They have won four of their last six on the road…Robbie Earl has scored 10 of his 16 goals on the road…The Aeros are unbeaten in regulation at home (5-0-0-1) since Dec. 26... Along with the Chicago Wolves and Lake Erie Monsters, the Aeros have played the most games in the AHL so far this season (50)...Houston and Toronto have played the most road games in the AHL so far this season (29)...The Aeros are 9-2-0-1 in the month of January… Jon DiSalvatore’s 31st point this season will be his 400th as a pro. He needs two points to get there.

AHL ALL-STAR CLASSIC --- Defenseman Maxim Noreau will represent the Aeros at the AHL All-Star Classic in Hershey, Pa. The event includes the AHL Skills Competition on Sunday, Jan. 30 (2 p.m. CST) and the All-Star Game on Monday, Jan. 31 at 6 p.m. CST. The game will be televised live on both FSN Houston and Southwest. For a full listing of TV availability, visit THEAHL.COM.

HOMEBOYS --- Houston has points in six-straight at home dating back to Dec. 26…They have also won 10 of 14 at home dating back to a Nov. 21
victory over Texas. Five of those wins have been decided by one goal; four have been decided by two goals.

TURNSTILE TIDBITS --- Through 21 home games, the Aeros are sixth in the AHL with an average attendance of 6,144…The 10,552 on hand for the Jan. 1 game was the largest crowd for an Aeros contest since Dec. 3, 2009, when 11,291 watched the Aeros and Rampage at Toyota Center.

HEATIN’ UP --- Jon DiSalvatore has points in seven of eight games (4-4-8)…Robbie Earl has goals in four of his last five games (5) and points in 13 of his last 15 (8-7-15)…Nate Prosser and notched his first multi-point AHL games with two assists on Jan. 26…Warren Peters has points in three-straight (2-1-3).

AEROS GOALIES --- Anton Khudobin has won three of his last four starts He spent almost two weeks on recall to MIN from Jan. 8-20, where he earned his first NHL shutout on Jan. 16 vs. VAN…Matt Hackett is 3-1-1 in his last five decisions.

SCHEDULE NOTES --- The Aeros play 13 games in January with seven of those games at home. Six games this month are against West rivals.

RECENT ROSTER MOVES --- F Cody Almond was reassigned by MIN on Jan. 26…G Josh Tordjman was loaned to BAK on Jan. 20…G Anton Khudobin was reassigned by MIN on Jan. 20.
 
LAST GAME QUICK RECAP --- Robbie Earl scored a pair of goals including the game-winner in overtime as the Houston Aeros edged the Syracuse Crunch 4-3 on Wednesday night before 4,005 at the War Memorial at Oncenter. Earl’s team-leading 16th goal of the season came via the power play with 1:43 gone by in extra time.