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Preview: Aeros Take Two-Game Win Streak to Chicago

January 13, 2011 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Houston Aeros News Release


The Houston Aeros (22-18-1-2) continue a four-game-in-five-day stretch with a game at Chicago against the Wolves (21-18-2-2). The Aeros are coming off a 4-2 win at Rockford on Wednesday. The victory ended a three-game road losing streak dating back to Dec. 29. Now winners of two-in-a-row, the Aeros jumped into sole possession of fifth place in the AHL ‚¬â„¢s Western Conference with the triumph over the IceHogs. The Wolves are winless in three games (0-2-0-1) and start a three-in-three home stand. The high-scoring Wolves lead the AHL with 139 goals scored and are ninth in goals-for average (3.23) but also have also allowed the most goals of any team (146) and own the second-highest team goals against average (3.40).

UPCOMING GAMES

Jan. 14 at Chicago, 7:30 p.m. CST

Jan. 15 vs. Grand Rapids, 7:35 p.m. CST

Jan. 16 vs. Grand Rapids, 7:35 p.m., CST

BROADCAST INFO

Follow the Aeros on News Talk 1070 KNTH and online at AEROS.COM with Joe O ‚¬â„¢Donnell providing the play-by-play call. Watch every game at www.ahllive.com.

AEROS AT A GLANCE

RECORD: 22-18-1-2, 47 pts., 5th West Division

HOME: 11-6-1-0

ROAD: 11-12-0-2

STREAK: WON 2

NHL AFFILIATES

Houston Aeros (Minnesota Wild)

Chicago Wolves (Atlanta Thrashers)

AEROS SPECIAL TEAMS

PP: 16.8% (15th)

PK: 85.1% (9th)

AEROS LEADERS:

POINTS: Earl (11-16-27)

GOALS: Earl (11)

ASSISTS: Earl/Noreau (16)

PIM: Kassian (98)

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

VS. CHICAGO --- All-Time Series 50-41-14-5 (Home 20-15-8-2, Road 20-26-6-3)...Season Series 1-2-0-0 (Home 1-1-0-0, Road 0-1-0-0)...The teams meet six times...Next meeting is Feb. 17 at HOU.

SERIES BASICS --- PP: 1/9 (11.1%)...PK: 7/9 (77.7%)...HOU Leading scorers (Kalus 2-0-2, Gillies 1-1-2, McMillan/Prosser 0-2-2)...CHI Leading Scorers (Krog/Ross 1-2-3).

SERIES NOTABLES: The teams have not met since Nov. 20 at Chicago, a 5-2 loss for Houston...That loss snapped a three-game winning streak for the Aeros...Houston ‚¬â„¢s 3-2 win at home on Nov. 17 was spurred by the team ‚¬â„¢s first three-goal opening period of the season. The only other three-goal first period this season was Dec. 10 in a 5-3 win over SA.

TAKE NOTE--- Cody Almond and Carson McMillan each need one game to reach the 100-pro game mark...Chad Rau played his 100th pro game at SA on Jan. 8...JM Daoust needs six games to reach 400 pro and two points to reach 300...Houston ‚¬â„¢s Max Noreau is second among AHL defensemen with five PPG...As of Jan. 13 CHI ‚¬â„¢S Jason Krog (4) and Darren Haydar (6) are among the top-10 in AHL scoring...Krog is first among active AHL players in assists (32) power play points (26) and power play assists (21)...CHI ‚¬â„¢S Nigel Dawes is tied for first in the AHL with 20 goals

NOREAU TO ALL STAR GAME --- Maxim Noreau has been selected to participate in the 2011 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Capital BlueCross. The game is scheduled for Jan. 31 at the Giant Center in Hershey, Pa. Noreau, 23, will be a member of the 2011 Western Conference All-Star Team.. He also represented the Aeros at the 2010 AHL All-Star Classic as a member of Team Canada.

ON THE SHELF --- Casey Wellman has missed the last nine games with a lower body injury.

ROUGH ROAD --- Houston has lost seven of 10 away from home dating back to Dec. 12...The team dropped four-of-five during a five-game road trip from Dec. 12-18 and was outscored 17-10 during that run...The Aeros are 5-for-38 on the power play away from home since Dec. 12.

HOMEBOYS --- Houston has won eight of 11 at home dating back to a Nov. 21 victory over Texas. Four of those wins have been decided by one goal; a trio has been decided by two goals.

SCORE FIRST! --- Houston leads the AHL in first goals (26) and is 18-6-0-2 when scoring first. Cody Almond leads the club with three first-goals. Five other players have two game-opening tallies.

TURNSTILE TIDBITS --- Through 18 home games, the Aeros are seventh in the AHL with an average attendance of 6,003...The 10,552 on hand for the Jan. 1 game was the largest crowd for an Aeros contest since Dec. 3, 2009, when 11,291 watched the Aeros and Rampage at Toyota Center.

HEATIN ‚¬â„¢ UP --- Robbie Earl has points in five straight (2-4-6) and in seven of his last eight games (3-6-9)...Chad Rau has points in four of five (3-1-4)...J.M. Daoust has two game-winning goals in his last four outings...Jed Ortmeyer has at least a point in four of five games since joining the team...Matt Hackett has wins in four of his last five decisions.

SCHEDULE NOTES --- The Aeros play 13 games in January with seven of those games at home. Six games this month are against West rivals.

RECENT ROSTER MOVES --- D Jarod Spurgeon was reassigned by MIN on Jan. 10...G Anton Khudobin was recalled by MIN on Jan. 8...D Jamie Fraser was recalled from Elmira on Jan. 8...G Josh Tordjman was recalled from BAK on Jan. 8...G Dave Weninger was released from his PTO on Jan. 8... G Dave Weninger was signed to a PTO on Jan. 7

LAST GAME QUICK RECAP

Warren Peters had a goal and two assists, Matt Hackett made 27 saves and Chad Rau bagged the game-winner as the Houston Aeros won their second straight in a 4-2 decision over the Rockford IceHogs on Wednesday night at the MetroCentre. Rau broke a 2-2- tie 7:18 into the final stanza with his fourth goal of the season. Jarod Palmer and Nate Prosser picked up assists to help lead the Aeros to their first road victory after losing three consecutive road games since Dec. 27.

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