Thu., Dec. 8, 2011

The Houston Aeros (14-4-2-4, 34 pts.) start a four-game home stand at Toyota Center on Thursday morning against the Oklahoma City Barons (16-6-0-1, 33 pts.). The Aeros are point ahead of the Barons for the Western Conference lead.

AEROS BROADCASTS
Radio: 1070 KNTH-AM
Listen online: www.aeros.com
Watch online: www.ahllive.com
Listen via Smartphone: Download the TuneIn Radio app; search Houston, then KNTH.
*TODAY'S GAME IS ONLY AVAILABLE ON AHLLIVE.COM

LIVE SCORING AND STATS
The AHL provides live scoring and stats via the GameCenter tab at www.theahl.com.

►Follow us on Facebook
►Buy Tickets Online
►Listen: Audio Highlights & Exclusive Interviews

---

OVERVIEW
The Houston Aeros (14-4-2-4, 34 pts.) start a four-game home stand at Toyota Center on Thursday morning against the Oklahoma City Barons (16-6-0-1, 33 pts.). Today’s game is the annual School Kid’s Day game in which schools from around Houston experience hockey with an educational twist. Houston is coming off a 6-1 win at San Antonio on Tuesday. The victory moved the Aeros into sole possession of first place in the American Hockey League's Western Conference. The Barons sit right behind the Aeros in the standings and have won four of their last five games. OKC last played on Saturday and fell 2-1 at San Antonio,

THIS WEEK’S GAMES
Tuesday --- at San Antonio (6-1 W)
Thursday --- vs. Oklahoma City (11 a.m.)
Friday --- vs. San Antonio (7:35 p.m.)
Sunday --- vs. Peoria (5:05 p.m.)

AEROS BROADCASTS
Radio: 1070 KNTH-AM
Listen online: www.aeros.com
Watch online: www.ahllive.com
Listen on Smartphone including BlackBerry: Download the TuneIn Radio App; search Houston, then KNTH.
*TODAY'S GAME IS ONLY AVAILABLE ON AHLLIVE.COM

LIVE SCORING AND STATS
The AHL provides live scoring and stats via the GameCenter tab at www.theahl.com.

GOING TO AEROS HOME GAMES
On-street, garage and surface parking surround Toyota Center… The Box Office and Will Call windows are located on La Branch Street… Due to recent road construction surrounding Toyota Center, the Aeros  encourage all guests to allow extra time for parking or visiting the box office.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS
Aeros fans can get four tickets, four Aeros gifts and parking for any Sunday game with prices starting as low as $52…  Get to the game early on Dec. 9 and you'll get a special Aeros Wearable Blanket to cozy up those chilly winter nights courtesy Sunny 99.1 FM... Bring a stuffed animal for the annual Teddy Bear Toss on Dec. 16 to toss on the ice when the Aeros score their first goal of the game.

RECENT AEROS TRANSACTIONS
---Dec. 6: F Mike McKenzie signed SPC
---Dec. 6: G Rob Nolan signed PTO
---Dec. 3: G Wayne Cowley signed/released (PTO)

AEROS INJURIES
Carson McMillan has missed the last six games… Jed Ortmeyer has missed the last three games… David McIntyre missed the last game games.

AEROS MILESTONES
---Jon DiSalvatore: 22nd goal will be 200th career goal… 18th goal will be 69th as an Aero, placing him first in franchise history (AHL only, 4th AHL/IHL).
---Jeff Taffe’s 12th goal will be his 200th as a pro… 33rd goal will be his 200th in the AHL… 37th game will be his 500th in the AHL… 62nd game will be his 700th as a pro.

AEROS PLAYER NOTES
---Kris Foucault has four points (2-2=4) in the last three games, including a pair of 1-1=2 games.
---Warren Peters recorded his first multi-goal game of the season on Dec. 6 at SA.
---Justin Fontaine has two goals in his last three games.
---Joey Martin and Mike McKenzie each recorded a point in their first game as an Aero on Dec. 6 at SA. McKenzie got the primary assist on Martin's first goal as an Aero in the third period.
---Matt Hackett made his NHL debut on Tuesday and made 34 saves in a 2-1 win at SJ. He entered the game early in the first period to relieve an injured Josh Harding.

NOTABLES
---The Aeros have won four of their last five and have earned standings points in nine of the last 10 games.
---Houston has made 14 separate transactions since Nov. 28.
---The 2-1 win at LE on Nov. 30 tied an Aeros franchise record for the team's best road start, originally set during the team's 1998-99 IHL Turner Cup championship season. The win gave the Aeros 18 road points, the most through 10 away games since the team joined the AHL in the 2001-02 season.
---Houston has earned at least a point in 11 of the 14 games in which they have allowed the first goal. They are 9-1-0-0 when scoring first.

AEROS GOALIES
HACKETT – Is 2-3-2 at home and 7-0-1 on the road... Has a 1.88 GAA and a .941 save percentage away from home.… Last Game: Stopped 22 of 23 in a 2-1W at LE on Nov. 30.

NOLAN – Signed PTO on Dec. 6… Appeared in 12 games and registered a 6-5-1 record along with a 2.87 GAA and .901 save percentage with Chicago (ECHL).

KUEMPER --- Led the ECHL in both GAA (1.74) and save percentage (.941) at the time of his recall on Nov. 29 and posted a 7-1-0 record with the Ontario Reign... Has not played at home yet this season for Houston.

POWER PLAY
Is 0/8 in the last two games… Went 1/9 in three games last week… Set a season-high going 3/5 in a 4-2 win at SAN on Oct. 28… 19/106 overall.

PENALTY KILL
Opponents are 2-for-12 in the last two games… Went 2/9 on the power play last week… Had allowed a goal in five straight before holding TOR 0/6 on Nov. 6… Opponents are 18/97 on the power play this season.

AEROS PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
4 – BAGH-nawl
7 – FRED-haym
8 – MED-vekh
14 – deh-SAL-vuh-tohr
20 – ROWH (like now)
22 – TAYF
26 – MACK-in-tyre
27 – mick-MILL-uhn
35 – KEM-per
39 – GEHN-oh-way
41 - ORT-migh-er
42 – KASS-ee-uhn
61 – KOOH-muh