Sat., Jan. 14, 2012

The Houston Aeros (21-8-2-7, 51 pts.), coming off a 2-1 win at Peoria last night, complete a four-game road trip as they visit the Peoria Rivermen (19-17-2-1, 41 pts.) at Carver Arena on Saturday at 7 p.m.

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.

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 (21-8-2-7, 51 pts.), coming off a 2-1 win at Peoria last night, complete a four-game road trip as they visit the Peoria Rivermen (19-17-2-1, 41 pts.) at Carver Arena on Saturday at 7 p.m.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
---The Aeros have won three straight games and five of the last seven.
---Peoria closes out a 3-in-3 after shutting out Lake Erie 4-0 on Thursday and falling to the Aeros last night.
---The Aeros are 5-0-0-1 in their last six road games.
---Houston and OKC are tied with 51 points for the West Division and Western Conference lead.

THIS WEEK’S GAMES
Wednesday (Jan. 11) --- at Grand Rapids (3-2 SOW)
Friday (Jan. 13) --- at Peoria (2-1W)
Saturday (Jan. 14) --- at Peoria (7 p.m. CST)

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
On Jan. 20 the first 1500 kids (14 and under) get Aeros jerseys courtesy Sports 790 radio and Belknap Plumbing/Belknap Concrete!

AEROS/RIVERMEN HEAD-TO-HEAD
This is the third meeting this season… The Aeros fell 3-2 in the shootout at HOU on Dec. 11 and won 2-1 on Jan. 13 at PEO… HOU PP is  1/12… PEO PP is 2/7… HOU is 25-20-2-4 vs. PEO all time (14-9-1-2 at home, 12-11-1-2 on the road).

WATCH FOR THIS
---The Aeros are 5-1-0-2 with a 1-0-0-1 record on the road against Midwest Division teams this season.

RECENT AEROS TRANSACTIONS
---Jan. 13: G Patrick Whitt signed PTO
---Jan. 13: F Mike Radja signed PTO
---Jan. 12: G Jared Everhardt released from ATO
---Jan. 11: G Matt Hackett recalled by MIN
---Jan. 11: G Jared Everhardt signed ATO

AEROS INJURIES
Cody Almond missed the game on Jan. 13 with an undisclosed injury.

AEROS MILESTONES
---Several Aeros are on the milestone watch. Drew Bagnall is set to play in his 300th AHL game (3 games, Jan. 21 at TEX)… Jon DiSalvatore is nearing 200 games as an Aero (3 games, Jan. 21 at TEX)… Jeff Taffe is nearing 500 AHL games (3 games, Jan. 21 at TEX)… Matt Kassian needs nine PIM for 500 as an Aero. He already ranks second in Aeros AHL history behind Erik Reitz.
---Jon DiSalvatore’s 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)… 41st game will be 200th as an Aero, placing him 10th all-time in Aeros/AHL history.
---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… 61st game will be his 700th as a pro.

AEROS PLAYER NOTES
---Jeff Taffe notched his 400th AHL point with an assist on Jon DiSalvatore's goal on Jan. 8 at SA.
---Jon DiSalvatore has points in three straight-games (2-0=1).
---Joel Broda's two-goal effort on Jan. 8 was his third of the season. He has points in three-straight games (3-1=4).
---Kris Foucault's goal on Jan. 8 was his first since Dec. 6.
---Jeff Taffe had the game-winner in two straight games (Dec 26, 30).
---Mike McKenzie scored his first goal as an Aero in a 4-1 loss to RFD on Jan. 6.
---Nate Prosser has assists in two of the last three games.
---Jon DiSalvatore made his Wild debut on Dec. 28 and skated 14:27 with two shots, two PIM and one hit. It was his first NHL game since March 7, 2006, and the sixth of his career.

TEAM NOTABLES
---Houston has earned at least a point in 17 of the 22 games (9-5-2-6) in which they have allowed the first goal. They are 12-3-0-1 when scoring first.
---The Aeros played nine of 11 games at home from Dec. 8-Jan. 6 and posted a record of 3-4-0-2 in those contests.
---Houston plays seven of 10 games on the road from Jan. 8-Feb. 2.
---The Aeros are 15-0-0-2 when leading at the end of two periods.
---Houston has played 18 games that have been decided by one goal (8-1-2-7).
---The Aeros edged Grand Rapids 3-2on Jan. 11 for their first shootout victory of the season.
---Houston made 33 transactions from Dec. 1-Dec. 31 involving 17 separate players.
---The Aeros broke the 100,000 mark in attendance this season with the 4,608 who attended the game on Dec. 18.

AEROS GOALIES
HACKETT – Is 4-6-2 (2.70 GAA/.899 SV%) at home and 9-0-1 (1.99 GAA/.939 SV%) on the road… Won six-straight road starts from Oct. 28-Dec. 30… Made his NHL debut on Dec. 6 and made 34 saves in a 2-1 win at SJ after entering the game early in the first period to relieve an injured Josh Harding… Last Game: Stopped 33 of 36 in a 4-3W at SA on Jan. 8.

KUEMPER --- Is 1-1-2 at home (2.01 GAA/.934 SV%) and 4-1-1 on the road (2.11 GAA/ .927 SV%)… 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… Recorded his first pro shutout with 1-0 win on Dec. 9 vs. SAN (33 saves)… Last Game: Stopped 22/23 in a 2-1 win at PEO on Jan. 13.

POWER PLAY
Is 4/13 in the last three games… Went 5/37 (13.5%) in games 21-30 after going 20/106 (18/9%) in games 1-20… Set a season-high going 3/5 in a 4-2 win at SAN on Oct. 28… Casey Wellman leads the team with 7 PPG.

PENALTY KILL
Opponents are 1/10 on the PP in the last three games… PK stopped 20/27 (74.0%) in games 21-30 after stopping 80/97 (82.4%) in games 1-20… Allowed goals in five straight before holding TOR 0/6 on Nov. 6.

AEROS PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
4 – BAGH-nawl
7 – FRED-haym
8 – MED-vekh
10 – RAHD-juh
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