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Preview: Aeros-Senators Calder Cup Finals Game 3

May 31, 2011 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Houston Aeros News Release


The Aeros and Binghamton Senators resume the 2011 Calder Cup Finals on Wednesday at Broome County Arena. Face off is 6:05 p.m. CST.

JUNE 1, 2011

HOUSTON AEROS (Western Conference Champions)

vs. BINGHAMTON SENATORS (Eastern Conference Champions)

BEST-OF-7 --- BROOME COUNTY ARENA (6:05 p.m. CST)

OVERVIEW

The Houston Aeros and Binghamton Senators square off in Game 3 of the Calder Cup Finals at Broome County Arena. The series is a best-of-seven with a 2-3-2 format in which the Aeros have home ice advantage. Houston won Game 1 by a 3-1 count while the Senators answered with a 2-1 overtime victory in Game 2.

HOW THEY GOT HERE

HOUSTON

--- Swept the Peoria Rivermen 4-0 in the first round.

--- Defeated Milwaukee in seven games in the second round.

--- Defeated Hamilton 4-3 in the Western Conference Finals

BINGHAMTON

--- Defeated Manchester 4-3 in the first round.

--- Defeated Portland 4-2 in the second round.

--- Swept Charlotte 4-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals.

DID YOU KNOW?

--- The Aeros are the first AHL club ever to win a playoff series after relinquishing a 3-0 series lead (Conference Finals vs. HAM)

--- With wins over Milwaukee and Hamilton in the last two rounds, Houston improved to 6-0 all-time in AHL Game 7's.

--- Houston and Binghamton both reached the 2011 Calder Cup Finals after missing the postseason entirely in 2010.

--- Binghamton is the eighth consecutive East Division team to represent the Eastern Conference in the Calder Cup Finals.

--- Houston's hockey history actually pre-dates that of Binghamton. The Houston Skippers began play at the Sam Houston Coliseum in 1946, changed their name to the Huskies, and were coached by Toe Blake during the 1947-48 season. The team won the USHL crown that season. Binghamton's first pro team was known as the Broome Dusters in the NAHL in 1973.

ALL-TIME AEROS PLAYOFF NOTABLES

--- The Aeros are 7-3 all-time in AHL Playoff series when they split the first two games.

--- In 2003, the Aeros split the first two games of each best-of-seven series on their way to the Calder Cup.

--- Houston is 8-9 all-time in AHL Game 3's with a 5-3 record on the road.

2011 AEROS PLAYOFF NOTABLES

--- When registering 40 or more shots, the Aeros are 4-1.

--- On home ice, Houston has a 4-1 record when allowing the first goal.

--- On the road, the Aeros are a combined 5-3 in games decided by two or fewer goals.

--- The Aeros are 6-2 when scoring first.

--- Houston has outshot their opponents in 14 of 20 playoff games. They are 9-6 when doing so.

--- Opponents have scored first 12 times, but the Aeros have won seven of those games.

--- The Aeros are 8-3 in games decided by one goal.

--- Houston's 61 shots in Game 6 vs. HAM tied a team record for the second-most shots in one playoff game and were the most since Houston peppered Hamilton's Ty Conklin with 84 shots in Game 2 of the 2003 Calder Cup Finals.

AEROS PLAYER NOTABLES

--- Jed Ortmeyer became the fifth Aeros player to score two goals in a game this playoff campaign when he notched a pair in Game 1 vs. BNG.

--- Aeros players have a combined 28 multi-point games in the playoffs, led by Patrick O'Sullivan (4), Jed Ortmeyer and Casey Wellman (3 each).

NHL AFFILIATES

Houston Aeros (Minnesota Wild)

Binghamton Senators (Ottawa Senators)

CALDER CUP FINALS SCHEDULE

2011 Calder Cup Finals (best-of-seven)

W2-Houston Aeros vs. E5-Binghamton Senators

Game 1 - Fri., May 27 - Binghamton 1 at Houston 3

Game 2 - Sat., May 28 - Binghamton 2 at Houston 1 OT

Game 3 - Wed., June 1 - Houston at Binghamton, 7:05 EST

Game 4 - Fri., June 3 - Houston at Binghamton, 7:05 EST

*Game 5 - Sat., June 4 - Houston at Binghamton, 7:05 EST

*Game 6 - Tue., June 7 - Binghamton at Houston, 7:05 CST

*Game 7 - Thu., June 9 - Binghamton at Houston, 7:05 CST

PLAYOFF HISTORY, CONNECTIONS

--- This is the first time the teams have met in the playoffs.

--- The Aeros have never faced a team from New York in the postseason.

--- Binghamton's Corey Locke is the Aeros single season (2009) playoff leader in points (23), goals (12) and PPG (6). Goaltender Barry Brust was an Aero from 2007-10.

AEROS GOALIES

--- AT HOME, Matt Hackett is 8-3 with a 2.17 GAA and .911 SV%. He went 3-1 at home in the Conference Finals.

--- ON THE ROAD, Hackett is 5-4 with a 2.94 GAA and .884 SV%. He is 3-3 in his last six road games.

--- Matt Hackett's uncle, Jeff, led the Springfield Indians to a Calder Cup win in 1990 and was awarded the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy, annually given to the most valuable player of the playoffs. He went 10-5 that playoff campaign.

LAST GAME QUICK RECAP

Jim O'Brien scored the deciding goal with 12:06 left in the first overtime as the Binghamton Senators edged the Houston Aeros 2-1 in Game 2 of the Calder Cup Finals in front of 9,002 fans at Toyota Center on Saturday night. Aeros goaltender Matt Hackett turned aside 19 shots in the loss. Robin Lehner made 28 saves.

AEROS SPECIAL TEAMS

POWER PLAY --- Is 1/6 vs. BNG... Went 6/30 vs. HAM... Went 6/32 vs. MIL in round 2... Went 3/24 vs. PEO in the opening round... Ranked 6th (20.2%) in the regular season... Jon DiSalvatore led the team with 14 PPG... Finished the season with goals in six-straight to set a season-high streak (18/45)...Also had goals in six-straight from Feb. 22-Mar. 4... Had multiple PPG in 16 games and was 12-2-0-2 in those games.

PENALTY KILL --- BNG is 1/8... HAM went 6/25and scored three SHG... MIL went 4/30 in round 2... The Ads scored a SHG in Game 5... PEO went 3/12 on the PP in the first round... Ranked 22nd (81.0%) in the regular season... Carson McMillan led the team with three SHG... Opponents were 16/46 on the PP in the final eight games of the season... Allowed at least a goal in a season-high seven straight (Mar. 22 - Apr. 2)... Held opponents to one or no PPG in 15 straight games until TOR went 2-for-5 on Jan. 23.

AEROS 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 online at www.ahllive.com.

AEROS REGULAR SEASON NOTES

The Aeros finished the regular season with a 46-28-1-5 (98 pts.) record for the No. 2 spot in the West Division. The Aeros had the most wins in both the division and the Western Conference. Only two other teams finished with more wins (WBS - 58, Portland -47).

AEROS PRONUNCIATION GUIDE

6 - scan-DELL-uh

8 - LOFF-kwist

10 - FOO-coh

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

AEROS PLAYER NOTES

4 Jamie Fraser --- Has not played.

5 Jeff Penner --- Had three assists in the first round... DNP vs. MIL

6 Marco Scandella --- Missed first round with injury

7 Casey Wellman --- Scored twice in GM 7 vs. HAM... Scored series clinching goal vs. MIL.

8 Sam Lofquist --- Has not played.

10 Kris Foucault --- Has not played.

11 Brett Bulmer --- Made pro debut in GM 1 vs. MIL.

12 Cody Almond --- Had primary assist on OT GWG in Game 5 vs. MIL.

14 Jon DiSalvatore --- Scored series clinching goal in GM 7 vs. HAM... Had two goals in GM 3 at HAM incl. GWG.

15 Nate Prosser --- Had a goal in GM 6 vs. HAM.

16 Patrick O'Sullivan --- Had points in each of first five playoff games... Set franchise record w/ 12 shots in GM 5 vs. MIL.

17 Robbie Earl --- Scored 2X incl. OT GWG in GM 5 vs. MIL... Had 3 assists in GM 3 vs. MIL.

18 Colton Gillies --- Had GWG in GM 2 vs. HAM... Leads team w/ 7 goals.

19 Jarod Palmer --- Assisted on OT GWG in GM 4 vs. MIL.

20 Chad Rau --- Had GTG in GM 5 vs. MIL.

21 Colton Jobke --- Has not played.

22 Jed Ortmeyer --- Scored twice including GWG in GM 1 vs. BNG... Scored GWG in GM 1 vs. HAM.

24 Scott Campbell --- Has not played.

25 Warren Peters --- 1-1 in GM 1 vs. BNG... ENG in GM 7 vs. MIL.

26 Maxim Noreau --- 0-2-2 in GM 4 vs. MIL and assisted on OT GWG.

27 Carson McMillan --- Had OT GWG's in GM 2 vs. PEO and GM 4 vs. MIL... Only Aero to have multiple OT GWG in postseason.

28 Jared Spurgeon --- 0-2-2 vs. HAM in GM 2...1-1 -2 vs. MIL in GM 3.

29 Drew Bagnall --- Had GTG in GM 4 vs. PEO.

31 Matt Hackett --- Has started every postseason game.

32 Kris Fredheim --- Has not played.

37 Pascal Morency --- Has not played.

39 Brandon Buck --- Has not played.

41 Josh Tordjman --- Made relief appearance in Game 4 at HAM.

42 Matt Kassian --- Was plus-2 in RND 1 vs. PEO.

44 Justin Falk --- Had two assists in GM 7 vs. HAM

56 Joel Broda--- Has not played.

61 Tyler Cuma --- Injured.

62 JM Daoust --- Scored a goal in first playoff appearance in GM 5 at HAM.

ROAD GAME WATCH PARTIES

Watch every Aeros playoff road game at the Maple Leaf Pub, the official Aeros watch party headquarters. Games are also shown at Nick's Place and Stats Sports Bar and Grill. Join other fans to cheer on the team and enjoy drink specials and Aeros prizes.

AEROS SEASON TICKETS

Aeros season ticket holders can renew their seats by calling 713-974-7825 for first priority for the 2011-12 season.

STUFF TO DO IN HOUSTON?

Aeros hockey is an awesome night out in Houston! It's major league fun with affordable family prices. Get ticket packages with parking included, or bring out your office or youth sports team for a great group event. Call 713-974-7825 to save money off box office prices and take advantage of the best Aeros ticket packages.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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