Gameday: Aeros Set for Two in a Row in the 'Peg

Published on December 16, 2010 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Houston Aeros News Release


The Houston Aeros (16-12-1-2) visit Manitoba Moose (13-10-0-4) for the first of two in a row at the MTS Centre. The Aeros are coming off a 5-2 loss at Grand Rapids on Wednesday night. Tonight's game is the fourth of five in a row on the road for Houston; they are 1-2-0-0 on the current road trip. The Aeros hold the No. 4 spot in a tight West Division race. Division-leading San Antonio has a six point lead over the Aeros, while second place Peoria is just two points ahead of Houston. Manitoba has points in two straight (1-0-0-1) and last played on Tuesday in a 3-1 win at Texas. Tonight's game is the first of six in a row at home for the Moose, who hold fifth place in an equally tight North Division race. They are six points off the Division lead shared by Hamilton and Abbotsford.

UPCOMING GAMES

Dec. 17 at Manitoba 7:30 p.m. CST News Talk 1070 KNTH/AHLLIVE.COM

Dec. 18 at Manitoba 7:30 p.m. CST News Talk 1070 KNTH/AHLLIVE.COM

Dec. 21 vs. Hamilton 7:05 p.m. CST News Talk 1070 KNTH/AHLLIVE.COM

AEROS AT A GLANCE

RECORD: 16-12-1-2, 35 pts., 4th, West Division

HOME: 7-5-1-0

ROAD: 9-7-0-2

STREAK: LOST 1

NHL AFFILIATES

Houston Aeros (Minnesota Wild)

Manitoba Moose (Vancouver Canucks)

SPECIAL TEAMS

Power Play: 16.7%, 20th

Penalty Kill: 86.0%, 6th

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

TRENDING --- Houston has allowed the first goal in back-to-back games for the first time since Oct. 23-24...The Aeros and opponents have combined for 13 shots, a season-low in the second period, a total of four times this season. It has occurred three times in the last five games including the last two in a row...The Aeros have scored a pair of goals in the third period 11 times this season; that includes the last two games in a row and three times in the last five games and five times in the last 10.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER --- The Aeros are 9-5-0-1 in games after a win this season...In games after a loss they are 6-4-1-0...In the second game of back-to-back outings they are 8-7-0-1...In the third game of a 3-in-3 they are 3-2-0-0.

SCORE FIRST! --- The Aeros had scored the first goal in eight consecutive games (Nov. 26-Dec. 12, 5-3-0-0) until HAM drew first blood on Dec. 14. Houston leads the AHL in first goals (21) and is 15-4-0-2 when scoring first. The Aeros scored the first goal in seven straight games (Oct. 29-Nov. 8) and were 4-1-0-2 in that span.

UPDATE THE RECORD BOOK --- Casey Wellman became just the third player in Aeros history to record four goals in a game and the first to bag a natural hat trick in the opening 20 minutes in Houston's 5-3 win over San Antonio on Dec. 10. Wellman joins Dave Hymovitz (March 24, 200 at KC) and Roman Voloshenko (Oct. 21, 2005 vs. GR) in the select group...Chad Rau, who assisted on all three first period markers, tied a franchise-high watermark with the feat.

NORTHBOUND --- The Aeros are 3-3-0-2 vs. North Division teams this season. The Aeros play six in a row vs. the North from Dec. 12-21. The current stretch is the longest the team plays non-West Division rivals. The Aeros play four non-West games Jan. 22-28.

WHEN IT'S CLOSE --- The Aeros are 7-3-1-2 in games decided by one goal.

HEATIN' UP --- Robbie Earl had points in a team season-high seven straight games (5-5-10) before being held scoreless on Wednesday...Casey Wellman has points in five of seven games (4-4-8).

FOUR-SCORE --- When scoring at least four goals the Aeros are undefeated (10-0-0-0). Houston has yet to win a game when allowing four or more goals (0-7-0-0) and is 0-5-0-0 on the road when doing so.

STINGY D ON THE ROAD ---The Dec. 14 game at HAM game marked the seventh time Houston has held an opponent to one goal or less (6-0-1-0) and the fifth time on the road (5-0-0-0).

SHOOTIN' --- The Aeros are 11-5-0-2 when being outshot and 5-6-1-0 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 --- Nine of the final 12 games of 2010 are on the road...A total of 18 of Houston's final 27 games in the calendar year of 2010 are away from Toyota Center...The team plays five games in seven days from Dec. 12-18.

MOVIN' ON UP --- The Aeros have had 12 call-ups to Minnesota (Gillies, Wellman, Kassian-3x, Almond-2x, Scandella, Earl, Falk, Spurgeon, Peters).

RECENT ROSTER MOVES --- F Brock McBride was released from his PTO on Dec. 16...F Warren Peters was reassigned by MIN on Dec. 13...F Warren Peters was recalled by MIN on Dec. 11...Jamie Fraser was reassigned to Elmira (ECHL) on Dec. 10.

LAST GAME QUICK RECAP

Cody Almond and Colton Gillies scored in the third period but the Houston Aeros couldn't overcome an early 3-0 deficit in a 5-2 loss to the Grand Rapids Griffins Wednesday night at Van Andel Arena. Maxim Noreau registered two assists for the Aeros, who continue their five-game road trip at Manitoba this Friday. Francis Pare and Jordan Owens collected a goal and two assists each for the Griffins.

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American Hockey League Stories from December 16, 2010


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