MARCH 13, 2011
HOUSTON AEROS (37-25-1-5) vs. MANITOBA MOOSE (37-23-1-5)
TOYOTA CENTER (4:05 p.m. CST)

OVERVIEW
The Houston Aeros play host to the Manitoba Moose for the second of two games this weekend. The Moose slipped by the Aeros in a 2-1 shootout on Friday night. The Aeros were off on Saturday while the Moose visited San Antonio and won 7-2. Sunday’s game is the third of a five-game home stand for the Aeros while the Moose close out a run of 11-straight away from home.
 
LAST FIVE GAMES/LAST RESULT
Houston (2-2-0-1) --- March 11 (MTB 2 at HOU 1, SO)
Manitoba (4-1-0-0) --- March 12 (MTB 7 at SA 2)

WHERE THEY STAND
The Aeros, with 80 points, sit one point out of first place in the West Division behind Milwaukee. Peoria is one point behind the Aeros. All three teams were off on Saturday; Peoria visits Milwaukee on Sunday. The Moose are the North Division leaders and have a three-point lead on both Hamilton and Toronto.

WHAT THE GAME MEANS
An Aeros win could give them sole possession of first place in the West Division, depending on the outcome of Sunday’s PEO/MIL game. The Moose can tighten their grip on first place in the North Division with a win.
 
SERIES NOTES
Houston is 0-3-0-0 vs. the Moose this season… Prior to Friday’s 2-1 SOL, both previous games were at Winnipeg; a 5-3 loss on Dec. 17 and a 1-0 loss on Dec. 18… Those two games closed out a five-game road trip for the Aeros… The Aeros are 2/11 on the PP while MTB is 3/11... All-time the Aeros are 46-29-10-3 vs. MTB in 87 games (23-11-5-3 at home, 23-16-50 on the road).

LAST GAME QUICK RECAP
Aeros rookie defenseman Nate Prosser scored his eighth goal of the season while rookie goalie Matt Hackett made 37 saves as the Houston Aeros earned a standings point in a 2-1 shootout loss to the Manitoba Moose in front of 7,633 fans on Friday night at Toyota Center.

NHL AFFILIATES
Houston Aeros (Minnesota Wild)
Manitoba Moose (Vancouver Canucks)

WILD UPDATE
As of March 10, the Minnesota Wild is 35-27-7 with 77 points and holds the No. 3 spot in the Northwest Division. They sit four points out of the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference. The Wild fell 4-0 at Nashville on Thursday and 4-0 at Dallas on Friday. They play again on Monday at Vancouver.

AEROS UPCOMING GAMES
March 13 vs. MTB, 4:05 p.m.
March 15 vs. MIL, 7 p.m.
March 19 vs. SA, 7:35 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.

AEROS NOTABLES
--- Houston is 7-8-0-4 vs. North Division teams.
--- Jon DiSalvatore’s two goals on March 6 gave him 20 on the season and marked his eighth straight 20-goal campaign.
--- Opponents have scored the first goal of the game in four straight.
--- The Aeros are 19-8-0-3 since Jan. 1.
--- All 37 of Houston’s wins have come when the team allows three or fewer goals.
--- The Aeros have earned 29 of their 37 victories when scoring the first goal of the game.
--- Patrick O’Sullivan set a team season-high nine game scoring streak on March 5.
--- Max Noreau set a team and personal season high with an assist in his fifth straight game on March 2.
--- Noreau leads AHL defensemen with 27 PP points.
--- The Aeros set a franchise record and AHL season-high with six PPG on March 2 vs. RFD.
---Houston’s 8-1 win over RFD on March two tied a franchise record for goals scored in a game. A total of 13 Aeros recorded a point in the game.

AEROS GOALIES
Matt Hackett is 2-2-1 in his last five decisions… Hackett is 5-1-2 in his last eight home decisions… Josh Tordjman is 3-1-0 in five appearances this season.

AEROS SCORING STREAKS
--- O’Sullivan; 10 of 11 games (5-12-17)... 19 of 25 as an Aero this season (13-18-31)
--- Noreau; points in 8 of 10 games (2-9-11)… Assists in team season high six games until March 5.
--- Buck; points in 6 of 8 (1-6-7)
--- Wellman; points in 5 of 6 games (3-4-7)
---DiSalvatore; goals in four of six games (5-0-5)
--- Earl; assists in four of five games (0-6-6)
--- Rau; points in three of five (2-2-4)
--- Palmer points in 3 of 4 (3-1-4)

AEROS INJURY UPDATE
Jeff Penner is out with an upper body injury… Jamie Fraser is out with an upper body injury… Colton Gillies is out with an upper body injury… Matt Kassian is out with a lower body injury… Tyler Cuma is out for the season with a knee injury suffered Feb. 13, 2011 vs. PEO.

AEROS SPECIAL TEAMS
POWER PLAY --- Is 3/12 in the last three games… Has multiple PPG in 12 games and is 8-2-0-2 in those games… Set franchise record and AHL season-high with six PPG on March 2 vs. RFD… Was held to one or no PPG in 15 straight games prior to Feb. 4 (2-for-4).

PENALTY KILL --- Opponents are 3/12 in the 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.

AEROS RECENT ROSTER MOVES
F Casey Wellman was reassigned by MIN on March 10… D Marco Scandella was recalled by MIN on March 9… F Casey Wellman was recalled by MIN on March 9… F Casey Wellman was reassigned by MIN on March 8… F Chris Lawrence was signed to a PTO on March 5… F Jed Ortmeyer was reassigned by MIN on March 3.