Fri., Dec. 9, 2011

The Houston Aeros (14-4-2-5, 35 pts., Minnesota Wild) continue a four-game home stand at Toyota Center on Friday against the San Antonio Rampage (10-13-0-0, 20 pts., Florida Panthers). The Aeros have earned standings points in 10 of 12 home games, including the last five in a row after yesterday’s 2-1 shootout loss to OKC. Houston is tied for the AHL points lead (with OKC) and has a 5-1-2-2 record in the last 10 games overall. The Rampage holds the No. 4 position in the West Division and is coming off a 6-1 loss to Houston on Tuesday.

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.

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OVERVIEW
The Houston Aeros (14-4-2-5, 35 pts., Minnesota Wild) continue a four-game home stand at Toyota Center on Friday against the San Antonio Rampage (10-13-0-0, 20 pts., Florida Panthers). The Aeros have earned standings points in 10 of 12 home games, including the last five in a row after yesterday’s 2-1 shootout loss to OKC. Houston is tied for the AHL points lead (with OKC) and has a 5-1-2-2 record in the last 10 games overall. The Rampage holds the No. 4 position in the West Division and is coming off a 6-1 loss to Houston on Tuesday.

THIS WEEK’S GAMES
Tuesday --- at San Antonio (6-1 W)
Thursday --- vs. Oklahoma City (2-1 SOL)
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.

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. 8: D Mike Montgomery signed PTO
---Dec. 8: F Joey Martin released from PTO
---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 returned to the lineup on Dec. 8 after missing six games… Jed Ortmeyer has missed the last four games… David McIntyre missed the last two 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 four 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 four games.
---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. Hackett led the Wild to a 4-2 win at LA last night with 42 stops.
---Jeff Taffe and Jarod Spurgeon assisted on Mikko Koivu’s goal 24 seconds into last night’s Wild game at LA.
---Marco Scandella had the game-winner for the Wild and Cody Almond bagged an insurance goal.

NOTABLES
---The Aeros have won three of their last five and have earned standings points in 10 of the last 11 games.
---Houston has earned at least a point in 12 of the 15 games in which they have allowed the first goal. They are 9-1-0-0 when scoring first.
---The Aeros play nine of 11 games at home from Dec. 8-Jan. 6.
---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.

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.

POWER PLAY
Is 0/9 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-9 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