APRIL 15, 2011
HOUSTON AEROS (2nd seed, West Division) vs. PEORIA RIVERMEN (3rd seed, West Division)
BEST-OF-7 (HOU LEADS 1-0)
TOYOTA CENTER (7:35 p.m. CST)

OVERVIEW
The Houston Aeros and Peoria Rivermen battle in a best-of-seven series in the opening round of the 2011 Calder Cup Playoffs. The series is a 2-3-2 format. The Aeros won Game 1 on Wednesday by a 4-1 count to take a 1-0 series lead.

REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS
The Aeros finished the regular season with a 46-28-1-5 (98 pts.) record for the No. 2 spot in the West Division. The Aeros had the most wins in both the division and the Western Conference. Only two other teams finished with more wins (WBS – 58, Portland -47). Peoria finished at 42-30-3-5 (92 pts.) and earned the No. 3 seed in the West. Peoria raced out to an impressive 25-12-2-1 record in the first half of the season and went 17-18-1-4 in the final 40 games of the season.

NHL AFFILIATES
Houston Aeros (Minnesota Wild)
Peoria Rivermen (St. Louis Blues)

FIRST ROUND PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
Game 1 - Wed Apr 13 7:05 PM Peoria 1 at Houston 4
Game 2 - Fri Apr 15 7:35 PM Peoria at Houston
Game 3 - Mon Apr 18 7:05 PM Houston at Peoria
Game 4 - Tue Apr 19 7:05 PM Houston at Peoria
Game 5 - Wed Apr 20 7:05 PM * Houston at Peoria
Game 6 - Fri Apr 22 7:35 PM * Peoria at Houston
Game 7 - Sun Apr 24 4:05 PM * Peoria at Houston

REGULAR SEASON SERIES NOTES
--- The Aeros went 2-3-1-0 (0-2-1-0 at home, 2-1-0-0 on the road).
--- HOU went 4/34 on the PP while PEO went 3/22.
--- HOU went scoreless on the PP in the first three games of the series.
--- PEO was held without a PPG in the first four games of the series.
--- PEO had the first goal in four of the six games including the first three overall.

PLAYOFF NUGGETS
--- This is the third time the Aeros have played the Rivermen in the playoffs. Houston swept the Rivermen in 2006 and won in seven games in 2009). Both were first round matchups.
--- The Aeros are 9-3 against Peoria in the playoffs.
--- Houston is 17-10 in Game 1 of a playoff series. They are 12-3 at home.
--- The Aeros are 12-4 all-time in the playoffs when they win the first game of the series.
--- After winning the first game of a series, the Aeros are 6-10 in Game 2.

LAST GAME QUICK RECAP
Jed Ortmeyer had a goal and an assist as the Houston Aeros scored four unanswered goals en route to a 4-1 victory over the Peoria Rivermen in Game 1 of the American Hockey League’s West Division Semifinals on Wednesday at Toyota Center. Nine different players recorded a point for the Aeros, who outshot the Rivermen 31-18. Aeros goaltender Matt Hackett made 17 saves for his first professional playoff victory.

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 GOALIES
Matt Hackett won a personal season-high four in a row from March 13-20…  Hackett improved to 12-4-2 at home with the March 27 win vs. OKC… Hackett had won five in a row at Toyota Center until taking the loss on March 31 vs. CHI… Josh Tordjman is 4-1-0 in six appearances this season.

SEASON NOTES
Jon DiSalvatore led Houston in scoring with 61 points (28-33=61) in 80 games. Hackett posted team-bests in wins (23), goals against average (2.37) and save percentage (.916).

AEROS SPECIAL TEAMS
POWER PLAY --- Went 1/8 in the series opener… Finished the season with goals in six-straight to set a season-high streak (18/45)…Also had goals in six-straight from Feb. 22-Mar. 4…  Has multiple PPG in 16 games and was 12-2-0-2 in those games.

PENALTY KILL --- Held PEO 0/3 in Game 1… Opponents were 16/46 on the PP in the final last eight games of the season… Allowed at least a goal in a season-high seven straight (Mar. 22 – Apr. 2)… Held opponents to one or no PPG in 15 straight games until TOR went 2-for-5 on Jan. 23.

AEROS PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
6 - scan-DELL-uh
8 – LOFF-kwist
10 – FOO-coh
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