AEROS AT GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS, NOV. 19, 2010
OVERVIEW
The Houston Aeros (8-6-1-2) visit the Grand Rapids Griffins (8-5-0-3) to begin a three-in-three weekend. After Friday’s game, the Aeros travel to Chicago to take on the Wolves and then fly back to Houston to face the Texas Stars Sunday afternoon. The Aeros have won two in a row, six of their last 10 and have at least a point in eight of 10 (6-2-0-2). The team enters the weekend tied with Peoria for third place in the West Division and are eight points off the Division lead held by San Antonio. Grand Rapids is tied with Manitoba and Toronto for third place in the North Division. The Griffins have been shut out twice in the last four games and are coming off a 3-0 loss at Lake Erie on Wednesday.
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UPCOMING GAMES
Nov. 19 at Grand Rapids 6:05 p.m. CST
Nov. 20 at Chicago 7:35 p.m. CST
Nov. 21 vs. Texas 4:05 p.m. CST
NHL AFFILIATES
Houston Aeros (Minnesota Wild)
Grand Rapids Griffins (Detroit Red Wings)
AEROS AT A GLANCE
RECORD: 8-6-1-2, 19 pts.
HOME: 3-3-1-0
ROAD: 5-3-0-2
STREAK: WON 2
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
POTENT PENALTY KILL --- Houston’s penalty kill enters the weekend ranked second in the AHL at 90.5%. Only OKC has a better percentage (90.9%). Both teams have given up just eight PPG. The Aeros have turned away 13-straight power plays over four games.
MOVIN' ON UP --- The Aeros have already had seven callups up to Minnesota (Gillies, Wellman, Kassian, Almond-2x, Scandella, Earl).
BUSY KHUDOBIN --- Anton Khudobin has started six of the last nine games, is 4-1-1 and has stopped 166 of 178 (.932) in that span.
HACKETT BREAKS SLUMP --- Matt Hackett earned his first win since Oct. 15 with a 21-save outing Nov. 14 in a 5-2 victory at PEO. Hackett was 0-3-1 between wins. His win over CHI on Nov. 17 was his first consecutive start and win since Oct. 9-15.
KALUS FINDING STRIDE --- After being held without a goal in 11 games from Oct. 22-Nov. 13, Petr Kalus now has goals in two straight.
SCORE EARLY! --- The Aeros are 6-0-0-2 when leading after 20 minutes and 1-3-0-0 when trailing after the opening period.
SCORE FIRST! --- Houston is 8-1-0-2 when scoring first this season and 0-5-1-0 when allowing the first goal.
FIRST-GOAL STREAK ---The Aeros have scored the first goal in nine of the last 10 games and have won six of those contests. The Aeros scored the first goal in seven straight games (Oct. 29-Nov. 8) and were 4-1-0-2 in those contests.
SHOOTIN' --- The Aeros are 7-2-0-2 when being outshot and 1-3-1-0 when outshooting their opponents. The Nov. 14 win at PEO was the first time this season the Aeros out shot an opponent and won.
SCHEDULE NOTES --- The Aeros just completed their longest stretch between home games of the season, a total of 12 days (Nov. 5 vs. TOR-Nov. 17 vs. CHI)...The Aeros opened the season playing six of their first 11 games at home...A total of 18 of Houston’s final 27 games in the calendar year of 2010 are away from Toyota Center; The longest home-stand remaining in 2010 is four games from Nov. 26-Dec. 3...The Aeros have two separate five-game road trips: Nov. 6-Nov. 14 and Dec. 12-Dec. 18. These two road trips are the longest of the 2010-11 season.
HITTIN' THE ROAD --- The Aeros played five in a row away from Toyota Center (one at OKC, two at ABB, two at PEO) from Nov. 5-14. Eight of the team's 10 games from Nov. 6-24 are on the road. After the first five away, the team plays at home Nov. 17 vs. CHI and then heads back out for games at GR and CHI.
RECENT ROSTER MOVES --- D Justin Falk was reassigned to Houston from Minnesota on Nov. 18…D Bryce Lampman was signed to a PTO on Nov. 16…LW Robbie Earl was recalled by Minnesota on Nov. 13…C Cody Almond was reassigned by Minnesota on Nov. 13…D Marco Scandella was recalled by Minnesota on Nov. 12…C Cody Almond was recalled by Minnesota on Nov. 10…C Cody Almond and LW Matt Kassian were reassigned to Houston from Minnesota on Nov. 7.
