MARCH 19, 2011
HOUSTON AEROS - 2nd, West Division (39-25-1-5, 84 pts.) vs. SAN ANTONIO RAMPAGE – 7th, West Division (37-26-3-1, 78 pts.)
TOYOTA CENTER (7:35 p.m. CST)

OVERVIEW
The Houston Aeros and San Antonio Rampage face off at Toyota Center on Saturday in the first game of a home-and-home series. The teams meet again Sunday in San Antonio at 3 p.m. The Aeros have points in three straight (2-0-0-1) and have won six of their last 10 including a 3-2 OT victory over Milwaukee on Tuesday. San Antonio dropped a 4-1 decision to Milwaukee last night after edging the Admirals 2-1 in OT on Wednesday.
 
LAST FIVE GAMES/LAST RESULT (as of March 18)
Houston (2-2-0-1) --- March 15 (HOU 3, MIL 2 (OT)
San Antonio (2-2-0-1) --- March 18 (SA 1, MIL 4 )

WHERE THEY STAND
The Aeros, with 84 points, sit three points out of first place in the West Division behind Milwaukee. Peoria (81 pts.) and Texas (80 pts.) are right behind the Aeros, while Chicago, San Antonio and Oklahoma City remain in the playoff mix.

WHAT THE GAME MEANS
A win could move the Aeros within one point of Milwaukee if the Admirals lose at home to Lake Erie. A win would also keep a three-point cushion between the Aeros and Peoria, who visit Rockford on Saturday.
 
SERIES NOTES
Houston is 4-4-0-0 vs. the Rampage this season (3-1-0-0 at home, 1-3-0-0 on the road)…  HOU has won four of the last five meetings… Matt Hackett has started three of the last four games in the series for HOU… The Rampage has scored the first goal in four straight games in the series… HOU is 5/37 on the PP while SA is 9/34.

AEROS LAST GAME QUICK RECAP
Robbie Earl scored the deciding goal 1:25 into overtime, Patrick O’Sullivan scored twice and Matt Hackett made 25 saves as the Houston Aeros edged the Milwaukee Admirals 3-2 on Tuesday night at Toyota Center. The Houston victory, coupled with Milwaukee earning an overtime point, pulled the teams into a tie for first place in the AHL’s West Division.

NHL AFFILIATES
Houston Aeros (Minnesota Wild)
San Antonio Rampage (Phoenix Coyotes)

WILD UPDATE
Patrick Marleau scored the winning goal five minutes into the third period on a power play as the Wild dropped the fourth and final game of a road trip 3-2 at San Jose. Niklas Backstrom made 47-saves, which tied a career high. The Wild hosts Columbus on Saturday at 1 p.m.

AEROS UPCOMING GAMES
March 19 vs. SA, 7:35 p.m.
March 20 at SA, 3 p.m.
March 22 at Texas, 7:30 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
--- A win by the Aeros would give them 40 wins in a season for the 10th time as a franchise.
--- Houston is 29-17-1-1 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 six straight, a season-high.
--- The Aeros are 21-8-0-3 since Jan. 1.
--- All 39 of Houston’s wins have come when the team allows three or fewer goals.
--- The Aeros have earned 29 of their 39 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).

AEROS GOALIES
Matt Hackett is 3-1-1 in his last five decisions… At home, Hackett is 9-4-2 with a 2.30 GAA and a .916 SV%… Josh Tordjman is 3-1-0 in five appearances this season.

AEROS SCORING STREAKS
--- Patrick O’Sullivan; points in 12 of 13 games (8-13-21)... 21 of 26 as an Aero this season (16-19-35).
--- Maxim Noreau; Assists in two straight (0-3-3), points in 10 of 12 (2-12-14)/
--- Jon DiSalvatore; Points in four of last five games (5-1-6) and in 19 of his last 25 (13-14-27).
--- Robbie Earl; Points in four straight (2-2-4).

AEROS INJURY UPDATE
Jeff Penner has been out with an upper body injury but is cleared to play… Jamie Fraser is out with an upper body injury… Colton Gillies has been out with an upper body injury but is cleared to play… 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 4/22 in the last five 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 6/18 in the last five 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.

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