GAME PREVIEW - IOWA WILD AT ROCKFORD ICEHOGS 11.8
Nov 8, 2013Media Kit - HERE
Iowa Wild (5-4-0-0, 10 points) at Rockford IceHogs (7-6-1-0, 15 points)
The Iowa Wild plays a two-game set in Rockford starting on Friday and ending on Saturday night. The weekend marks the first two meetings of the season between the two clubs. Iowa is coming off a 5-2 defeat at home to Milwaukee on Sunday. The team wrapped up a five-game home stand at 2-3-0-0. After the next two games on the road, Iowa begins a season-high six-game homestand. The Wild is 2-0-0-0 on the road, having won its last road game on Sunday, Oct. 20, a 7-2 victory at Charlotte.
Friday is the first of ten meetings between the Wild and the IceHogs this year. After Saturday’s rematch, the division rivals will meet again on Dec. 15 in Des Moines. Each team will host five games over the season.
After starting out 7-2-1-0, Rockford has dropped its last four games. The team is coming off a 6-2 loss at Grand Rapids on Tuesday night. Rockford is tied for the most games played in the AHL at 14. The Hogs are 4-4-1-0 on the road this year and 3-2-0-0 at home. The club has scored 15 goals and allowed 15 goals at home this season.
Minnesota's AHL Affiliate was in Houston for the 2012-13 season, going 40-26-5-5 (90 points / .592 %). The Aeros met the IceHogs four times last season, going 3-0-1-0. Over the last five years, Houston was 14-22-2-2 against the Hogs, including a 6-7-1-1 mark at Rockford.
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
at Rockford 11/8 7:00 PM KXNO 1460 / iHeart Radio
at Rockford 11/9 7:00 PM KXNO 1460 / iHeart Radio
vs. Chicago 11/13 7:05 PM iHeart Radio
Latest Transactions:
11/6 – Add Carson McMillan (assigned by Minnesota – NHL)
11/3 – Add defenseman Corbin Baldwin (recalled from loan to Quad City – CHL)
Last Time Out:
The Iowa Wild were defeated by the Milwaukee Admirals 5-2 in front of 3,042 fans at Wells Fargo Arena on Sunday night. Milwaukee defenseman Bryan Rodney broke a 2-2 tie early in the third period and set up an insurance goal to help the Admirals remain undefeated in regulation this season. Milwaukee goalie Marek Mazanec stopped 28 Iowa shots for the win. Wild defenseman Steven Kampfer had a goal and an assist in the team’s second straight defeat. Iowa goalie Johan Gustafsson made 22 saves in the loss. Forward Jason Zucker also scored for the Wild, which fell to 3-4-0-0 at home this season. The two teams combined for 23 penalties and 64 penalty minutes, to go along with 15 power plays.
Iowa Wild
After nine games, forwards Carson McMillan, Erik Haula, Jason Zucker and Warren Peters lead the team in scoring. Haula leads the club with seven points (3g, 4a) in nine games played. McMillan has two goals and four assists for six points in seven games. Second-year forward Jason Zucker is among the leaders on the team with six points in seven games. Peters has a goal and four assists for five points in his first six games played. Five other Wild skaters are tied for fifth on the team in scoring with five points each. Defensemen Brian Connelly leads all blueliners with six assists in nine games played. Left wing Brett Bulmer is tied for the team lead with three goals in eight games played.
Goalies Johan Gustafsson and Darcy Kuemper man the nets for Iowa. Kuemper is 3-3-0 on the season. In six appearances, he has a 2.89 GAA and a .915 SV%. Gustafsson is 2-1-0 with a 2.58 GAA and a .913 SV %.
Iowa is 7-for-42 (16.7%) on the power play and has allowed nine power-play goals against on 49 attempts (81.6%) The Wild is 13th in the AHL with a 2.89 goals against average and the team sits 17th with a 2.89 goals per game average.
Former Hogs
There are a handful of former IceHogs with the Iowa Wild, starting with defenseman Brian Connelly an forward Jae Dowel. Connelly played in Rockford from 2008-12, playing in 211 games with 105 assists and 126 points. Dowell played from 2007-2010, playing in 202 games with 20 goals and 40 assists for 60 points. Iowa Assistant Coach Steve Poapst served as an assistant with Rockford from 2010-13.
Rockford IceHogs
The Rockford IceHogs were 42-31-2-1 last season, failing to make the playoffs for the third straight season. Rockford returns 12 players from the 2012-13 squad.
Defenseman Adam Clendening leads Rockford in scoring with three goals and ten assists for 13 points in 14 games played. He ranks third in the AHL for points by a defenseman. Rookie forwards Alex Broadhurst and Mark McNeil are also among the team leaders in points. Broadhurst has seven assists and 11 points in 14 games played. McNeil has seven goals and ten points in 14 games played.
Goalie Antti Raanta and Kent Simpson split time in net. Raanta is 5-4-0 with a 3.02 GAA and a .911 SV %. Simpson is 2-3-0 with a 3.27 GAA and a .915 SV%.
The IceHogs are 23rd in the AHL on the power play, going ten for 62 (16.1%). Rockford is 20th on the penalty kill, allowing 12 power-play goals against on 63 attempts (81%).