Aeros vs. Rivermen - Head to Head

Here is a quick look at some head to head statistics that might give you an idea of which team is strong in what department. The one glaring area where the Aeros trail is both playoff experience and Calder Cup experience. Peoria has three key players with AHL Cups: Graham Mink, Dean Arsene and Nathan Oystrick.

Overall Record
Edge, Aeros (46-28-1-5) over Peoria (42-30-3-5)

Home Record
Edge, Aeros (21-16-0-3) over Peoria (20-16-2-2)

Road Record
Edge, Peoria (22-14-1-3) over Houston (21-16-0-3)

Goals For
Edge, Aeros (240) over Peoria (223)

Goals Against
Edge, Aeros (212) over Peoria (218)

Power Play
Edge, Aeros (20.2 percent) over Peoria (19.5 percent)

Penalty Kill
Edge, Peoria (84.8 percent) over Aeros (81.0 percent)

Penalty Minutes
Edge, Aeros (16.1/game) over Peoria (20.1/game)

Record in one-goal games
Edge, Aeros (21-8-1-5) over Peoria (19-7-3-5)

Predictions for this series
Heather Galindo, Pro Hockey News/T3I - Rivermen in six
Andrew Ferraro, Houston Chronicle/T3I - Aeros in seven
Patrick Williams, The Hockey News - Rivermen in seven
Dave Eminian, The Peoria Journal-Star - Aeros in six or seven
Shaun Bill, Pro Hockey News - Rivermen in five
John Royal, The Houston Press/T3I - Aeros in six

Only one of us predicted a series shorter than six games, but that is exactly what is going to happen if one of these two teams gets down in a 2-0 hole. That three in three looming next week pretty much guarantees a six or seven game series if these guys split this week at Toyota Center.

Ultimately, I think the Aeros have the upper hand because of their depth at forward and a confidence that I have seen in no Aeros team since 1999. Even the 2003 team had a few glaring holes and the Wild even made their big playoff run that year. Guys like Ortmeyer and DiSalvatore and Noreau seem to be hungry. Players like Robbie Earl and Chad Rau are just getting better all the time. And, with the return of Jared Spurgeon and Marco Scandella, this team is solid on the blueline.

This is going to be a great series, but neither team should be able to dominate because of the unfortunate scheduling in Peoria.