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MARCH 2, 2011
HOUSTON AEROS (35-23-1-4) vs. ROCKFORD ICEHOGS (24-28-3-4)    
TOYOTA CENTER (7:05 p.m. CST)

OVERVIEW
The Aeros host the Rockford IceHogs for the second of two-straight games between the clubs. The Hogs edged the Aeros 3-2 on Sunday at Toyota Center.

WHERE THEY STAND
The Aeros, with 75 points, sit three points out of first place behind the Milwaukee Admirals. Rockford is last in the West Division.

WHAT THE GAME MEANS
A win by the Aeros could pull them back within a point of first place in the West Division behind the Milwaukee Admirals, who beat Toronto 3-1 on Tuesday. The Admirals visit Hamilton tonight.
 
SERIES NOTES
The Aeros are 4-3-0-0 vs. the Hogs this season… They’ve had better success on the road (3-1-0-0) than at home (1-2-0-0) in the season series… This is the final meeting of the season between the teams… Three of the previous seven games have been decided by one goal… Special teams haven’t been much of a factor in the series; the Aeros are 4/26 (14.4%) on the power play while Rockford is just 1/27 (3.7%).

LAST GAME
Casey Wellman extended his goal streak to three games while Patrick O’Sullivan registered a point in his sixth consecutive contest but the Houston Aeros fell 3-2 to the Rockford IceHogs in front of 10,643 on Sunday at Toyota Center.

NHL AFFILIATES
Houston Aeros (Minnesota Wild) --- The Wild is 33-23-6 with 72 points and holds the No. 3 spot in the Northwest Division as of March 1.
Rockford IceHogs (Chicago Blackhawks) --- The Hawks are 34-23-6 with 74 points and are second in the Central Division.

AEROS UPCOMING GAMES
March 2 vs. RFD, 7:05 p.m.
March 4 vs. SYR, 7:35 p.m.
March 6 vs. ABB, 5:05 p.m.

BROADCAST INFO
Follow the Aeros on News Talk 1070 KNTH and online at AEROS.COM with Joe O’Donnell providing the play-by-play call. Watch every game at www.ahllive.com.

NOTABLES
--- Patrick O’Sullivan was named the AHL/Reebok Player of the Month for February after posting 18 points (9-9-18) in 12 games.
--- Goalie Josh Tordjman was recalled on Tuesday from Bakersfield (ECHL) after Anton Khudobin was traded to Boston... The Aeros alsoadded D Jeff Penner, who was acquired as part of from Boston as part of the Khudobin trade with Boston. Penner has posted 19 points (5-14-19) and is a plus-10 in 57 games with the AHL’s Providence Bruins this season.
--- The Aeros have earned 28 of their 35 victories when scoring the first goal of the game.
--- Houston is 27-16-1-1 vs. the West Division
--- Jon DiSalvatore set a team season high by recording points in eight straight games from Feb. 11-26.
--- Max Noreau tied a team and personal season high with an assist in first fourth straight game on Sunday.

AEROS GOALIES --- Matt Hackett is 14-11-3 with a 2.29 GAA and .918 SV%. He is 3-0-1 in his last four decisions… Josh Tordjman  is 2-0-0 with a 1.54 GAA and .938 SV%.

SCORING STREAKS
--- O’Sullivan; 6 games (4-7-11)... 17 of 19 as an Aero this season (12-13-25)
--- Noreau: 5 games (1-4-5)
--- Wellman; 4 games (3-3-6)
--- Buck; 4 games (1-3-4)

INJURY UPDATE --- Casey Wellman returned to the lineup on Feb 25 after missing 10 games with an upper body injury… Tyler Cuma is out for the season with a knee injury suffered Feb. 13, 2011 vs. PEO.

SPECIAL TEAMS
POWER PLAY --- Is 5/20 in the last four games… Has multiple PPG in 11 games and is 7-2-0-2 in those games…Was held to one or no PPG in 15 straight games prior to Feb. 4 (2-for-4).

PENALTY KILL --- Opponents are 1/12 in last three games… Held opponents to one or no PPG in 15 straight games until TOR went 2-for-5 on Jan. 23…Has allowed multiple PPG in nine games and is 2-7-0-0 in those contests.

RECENT ROSTER MOVES --- F Petr Kalus was traded to Columbus for futures on March 1… F Jed Ortmeyer was recalled by MIN on March 1… G Josh Tordjman was recalled from BAK on March 1… D Jeff Penner was loaned by MIN on March 1… F Warren Peters was recalled by MIN on Feb. 28… F Cody Almond was reassigned by MIN on Feb. 28… G Anton Khudobin was traded to BOS by MIN on Feb. 28 in exchange for D Jeff Penner and RW Mikko Lehtonen.

AEROS PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
6 - scan-DELL-uh
14 – deh-SAL-vuh-tohr
20 – ROWH (like now)
22 – ORT-migh-uhr
26 – Max-uhm naw-roh
32 – FRED-haym
42 – KAS-ee-uhn
61 – KOO-muh
62 – DAH-ooh
Yeo – YOH
Sydor – sugh-DOHR
Tretiak – TREE-tee-ack