MARCH 15, 2011
HOUSTON AEROS (38-25-1-5, 82 pts.) vs. MILWAUKEE ADMIRALS (36-18-4-7, 83 pts.)
TOYOTA CENTER (7:05 p.m. CST)

OVERVIEW
The Houston Aeros and Milwaukee Admirals square off in a battle for first place in the AHL’s West Division and Western Conference at Toyota Center. Houston is coming off a 6-3 victory over Manitoba on Sunday while the Admirals edged Peoria 2-1 on Sunday. This is the fifth of six meetings between the teams this season.
 
LAST FIVE GAMES/LAST RESULT
Houston (2-2-0-1) --- March 13 (HOU 6, MTB 3)
Milwaukee (2-2-1-0) --- March 13 (MIL 2, PEO 1)

WHERE THEY STAND
The Aeros, with 82 points, sit one point out of first place in the West Division behind Milwaukee. The third place Texas Stars have 80 points while Peoria and Chicago are tied with 79 points.

WHAT THE GAME MEANS
An Aeros win in regulation gives them sole possession of first place in the West. An OT or SO win would create a points tie between the Aeros and Admirals, although the Aeros would have three more wins. 
 
SERIES NOTES
Houston is 1-2-0-1 vs. the Admirals this season…  MIL has won the last three games after the Aeros took the first matchup of the season… All four games have been decided by one goal… Each team has won a shootout in the series… HOU is 2/19 on the PP while MIL is 2/15.

LAST GAME QUICK RECAP
The Houston Aeros scored six times in the third period to take a 6-3 victory over the Manitoba Moose on Sunday at Toyota Center. Robbie Earl’s even-strength goal at 11:34 of the third held up as the game-winner while Aeros captain Jon DiSalvatore registered two goals and an assist. The six Aeros goals in the third period set a franchise record for goals in one period.

NHL AFFILIATES
Houston Aeros (Minnesota Wild)
Milwaukee Admirals (Nashville Predators)

WILD UPDATE
As of March 14, the Minnesota Wild is 35-27-7 with 77 points and holds the No. 3 spot in the Northwest Division. They sit four points out of the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference. The Wild plays on Monday at Vancouver and Thursday at San Jose.

AEROS UPCOMING GAMES
March 15 vs. MIL, 7 p.m.
March 19 vs. SA, 7:35 p.m.
March 20 at SA, 3 p.m.

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 NOTABLES
--- Houston is 28-17-1-1 vs. West Division teams.
--- Houston is 8-8-0-4 vs. North Division teams.
--- Jon DiSalvatore’s two goals on March 6 gave him 20 on the season and marked his eighth straight 20-goal campaign.
--- Opponents have scored the first goal of the game in five straight.
--- The Aeros are 20-8-0-3 since Jan. 1.
--- All 38 of Houston’s wins have come when the team allows three or fewer goals.
--- The Aeros have earned 29 of their 38 victories when scoring the first goal of the game.
--- Houston set a franchise record with six goals in the third period on March 13 vs. MTB (6-3 win).
--- The Aeros set a franchise record and AHL season-high with six PPG on March 2 vs. RFD (8-1 win).
---Houston’s 8-1 win over RFD on March 2 tied a franchise record for goals scored in a game. A total of 13 Aeros recorded a point in the game.

AEROS GOALIES
Matt Hackett is 2-1-1 in his last four decisions… At home, Hackett is 8-4-2 with a 2.33 GAA and a .916 SV%… Josh Tordjman is 3-1-0 in five appearances this season.

AEROS SCORING STREAKS
--- O’Sullivan; points in 11 of 12 games (6-13-19)... 20 of 26 as an Aero this season (14-19-33)
---DiSalvatore; has six points (5-1-6) in his last four games.
--- Earl and Palmer; points in three straight (1-2-3)

AEROS INJURY UPDATE
Jeff Penner is out with an upper body injury… Jamie Fraser is out with an upper body injury… Colton Gillies is out with an upper body injury… Matt Kassian is out with a lower body injury… Tyler Cuma is out for the season with a knee injury suffered Feb. 13, 2011 vs. PEO.

AEROS SPECIAL TEAMS
POWER PLAY --- Is 3/16 in the last four games… Has multiple PPG in 12 games and is 8-2-0-2 in those games… Set franchise record and AHL season-high with six PPG on March 2 vs. RFD… Was held to one or no PPG in 15 straight games prior to Feb. 4 (2-for-4).

PENALTY KILL --- Opponents are 4/15 in the last four games… Held opponents to one or no PPG in 15 straight games until TOR went 2-for-5 on Jan. 23…Has allowed multiple PPG in nine games and is 2-7-0-0 in those contests.

AEROS RECENT ROSTER MOVES
F Chris Lawrence was released from his PTO on March 14… F Scott Campbell was signed to an ATO on March 14… F Casey Wellman was reassigned by MIN on March 10… D Marco Scandella was recalled by MIN on March 9… F Casey Wellman was recalled by MIN on March 9… F Casey Wellman was reassigned by MIN on March 8… F Chris Lawrence was signed to a PTO on March 5… F Jed Ortmeyer was reassigned by MIN on March 3.

AEROS PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
6 - scan-DELL-uh
14 – deh-SAL-vuh-tohr
20 – ROWH (like now)
22 – ORT-migh-uhr
26 – Max-uhm naw-roh
32 – FRED-haym
42 – KAS-ee-uhn
61 – KOO-muh
62 – DAH-ooh
Yeo – YOH
Sydor – sugh-DOHR
Tretiak – TREE-tee-ack