HOUSTON - The Houston Aeros and Binghamton Senators square off in Game 1 of the Calder Cup Finals at Toyota Center on Friday. The series is a best-of-seven with a 2-3-2 format in which the Aeros have home ice advantage.
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.
--- 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.
2011 AEROS PLAYOFF NOTABLES
--- 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.
--- The 29:11 of overtime in Game 6 was the third-longest OT in Aeros team history.
--- The Aeros are 6-0 all-time in Calder Cup Playoff Game 7 s. This is the first Game 7 at home since the team began play in the AHL.
--- With the Game 7 win over Milwaukee, Houston joined the Maine Mariners (5-0) as the only franchises in AHL history with five Game 7 road victories to its credit.
--- The Aeros are 6-2 when scoring first.
--- Houston has outshot their opponents in 13 of 18 playoff games. They are 8-5 when doing so.
--- Opponents have scored first 10 times, but the Aeros have won six of those games.
--- The Aeros are 8-2 in games decided by one goal.
