From: Patrick Armstrong, Director of Communications
713.361.7920 (Direct Line)
Scott Henninger, Communications Manager
713.361.7930 (Direct Line)
Monday, April 14, 2008

HOUSTON AEROS PLAYOFF UPDATE: APRIL 14

HOUSTON, Texas – The Houston Aeros finished the regular season in dramatic fashion with a shootout win against Milwaukee Sunday night to clinch the #3 seed in the West Division. The team will head to Rockford for the first round starting this Friday night. Tune in to Jason Shaver on 1070-AM KNTH or online at AEROS.com as the Aeros “Skate to the Finish” in the 2008 Calder Cup Playoffs!

Houston (45-29-2-4) went 2-2 to finish off the regular season including a three-in-three set against Milwaukee. The teams’ began Friday in a three way tie for third with San Antonio but Houston came out of the weekend 2-1, alone in the third spot. The Aeros play this Friday and Saturday at Rockford in games one and two of the West Division Semifinals. Houston will host games three, four and five (if necessary) but dates and times are to be determined. Stay tuned to AEROS.com for updates as they happen.

LAST WEEK
4/9 – L HOU 0 at QCY 1
4/11 – L HOU 2 at MIL 3
4/12 – W HOU 3 vs MIL 2
4/13 – W HOU 3 vs. PEO 2

Wednesday, April 9:
The Houston Aeros were shutout 1-0 by the Quad City Flames Wednesday night at I Wireless Center. Houston remains in a three-way tie for third place in the West Division. Goaltender Barry Brust stopped 19 of 20 shots, but his counterpart Matt Keetley stopped all 25 he faced for his first shutout of the season.

Friday, April 11:
The Milwaukee Admirals recorded goals in each period as they gain two points on the Houston Aeros after a 3-2 final in front of 10,303 fans at Bradley Center Friday night. Houston fell to fifth place in the West Division as Milwaukee and San Antonio win as each team has two games remaining before they head into the 2008 Calder Cup Playoffs.

Saturday, April 12:
The Houston Aeros beat the Milwaukee Admirals 3-2-Saturday night in front of the biggest crowd of the season of 11,831 fans at Toyota Center. After jumping out to a 3-0 lead, the Aeros gave up two goals in the third period but held on for the win and two points in the standings. Houston was again tied with Milwaukee and San Antonio for third place in the West Division with just one game left in the regular season.

Sunday, April 13:
Everything came down to the last game of the season to determine the seeding for playoffs, just as the game was played out as long as it could. The Houston Aeros won 3-2 in a shootout over the Milwaukee Admirals at Toyota Center in front of 9,739 fans Sunday night. The Aeros victory combined with a Rockford win sends Houston to Rockford to start the 2008 Calder Cup Playoffs as the #3 seed.

THIS WEEK – Division Semifinals
FRI. at RFD, 7:30 p.m. CDT
SAT. at RFD, 7:05 p.m. CDT

West Division Semifinal Preview
Houston will travel to Rockford, Illinois to begin a best of seven series against the IceHogs. The teams have matched up very well throughout the season with each team holding a 3-3 record. Each team is 2-1 on the road, has recorded 14 goals and has a 2.67 margin of victory in the season series.

Aeros Brandon Rogers and Joel Ward lead the Aeros this season with five points (2 goals, 3 assists) against Rockford with each scoring one game winning goal. IceHog Troy Brouwer leads the club with five points (2-3=5) against Houston. Goaltender Wade Flaherty leads Rockford with two wins over the Aeros and has a 1.93 goals-against average (GAA), a .927 save-percentage and one shutout against the club. Houston’s Nolan Schaefer did not play against Rockford during the regular season. Barry Brust has a 3.21 GAA, a .883 pct. and a 2-3 record against the IceHogs.

Aeros Player of the Week: RW Joel Ward

Day   Opponent       G  A  PTS   Notes
Wed.  at. Quad City  0  0  0
Fri.    at Milwaukee   0  0  0       Plus-1
Sat.   vs. Milwaukee 2  0  2       Second two-goal game this season, GWG
Sun. vs. Milwaukee   1  0  1
Totals                       3  0  3      Finished the week plus-4 in +/- rating

Joel Ward Recorded three goals this weekend, two on Saturday night tallying the game-winning goal. His three goals earned $6,000 from an anonymous Aeros fan who will donate the money to Bo’s Place, a local charity. The three goals also put Ward at the top of the Aeros for points (41) and goals (21) this season.

TEAM NOTES
• Houston clinched the third seed in the West Division in the team’s sixth playoff berth in seven seasons with the American Hockey League.
• Houston allowed a league-low 183 goals against earning goaltenders Nolan Schaefer and Barry Brust the Harry “Hap” Holmes Award. The award is presented to the goaltender(s) with at least 25 games played for the team which allows the fewest goals in the regular season.
• The 183 goals against set a team record for fewest goals in a season. The number beat the mark previously set at 195 during the 2004-05 season.
• Houston recorded 11 shutouts this season for a new club record. Nolan Schaefer recorded six on the season also improving his personal record for shutouts in a season. Barry Brust marked four shutouts which was also a career-high.
• The Aeros finished the season with 96 points for a 32 point improvement over last year’s 64. This marks the largest single season improvement in team history. The team recorded a 30 point improvement between the 1995-96 and 96-97 seasons while in the IHL.


Affiliation News
The Minnesota Wild have split the first two games of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs with the Colorado Avalanche. Monday night is game three and Tuesday night is game four of the Western Conference Quarterfinals in Colorado. The teams will return to St. Paul for game five on Thursday.

The ECHL’s Texas Wildcatters are moving on to the American Conference South Division Semifinals after defeating the Mississippi Sea Wolves three games to one in a best of five series. Game one of the next round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs will be hosted at the Wildcatters’ home Ford Arena with dates and opponents to be determined based on the outcome of the Augusta-South Carolina series.

Playoff Group and Special packages are available and by purchasing the group packages, you can save up to 25% off face value for each game. Playoff special packages allow you to purchase your seats for multiple rounds of the playoffs to save you money. This will also allow you to keep the same seat throughout each round as the Aeros Skate to the Finish in the 2008 Calder Cup Playoffs.

Order your group and special packages early to get your choice of seats! For more information and ordering your special packages and groups please call 713.974.PUCK.

---HOUSTON AEROS---