GAME PREVIEW - IOWA WILD AT ROCKFORD ICEHOGS 11.9
Nov 9, 2013Media Kit - HERE
Iowa Wild (5-5-0-0, 10 points) at Rockford IceHogs (8-6-1-0, 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. The Wild dropped a 3-1 decision to the Hogs on Friday night, extending the team’s losing skid to three games. After two games on the road, Iowa begins a season-high six-game homestand. The Wild is 2-1-0-0 on the road, outscoring its opponents 11-6.
Saturday is the second 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 dropped its last four games until Friday’s victory over Iowa. Rockford is tied for the most games played in the AHL at 15. The Hogs are 4-4-1-0 on the road this year and 4-2-0-0 at home. The club has scored 18 goals and allowed 16 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 11/9 7:00 PM KXNO 1460 / iHeart Radio
vs. Chicago 11/13 7:05 PM iHeart Radio
vs. San Antonio 11/15 7:05 PM KXNO 1460 / 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 Rockford IceHogs 3-1 in front of 4,101 fans at the BMO Harris Bank Arena on Friday night. Defenseman Bobby Shea and forward Brad Winchester connected for goals 2:33 apart in the first period, giving the Hogs a lead they would not surrender. Rockford winger Terry Broadhurst added an insurance goal in the third period for the two-goal win, which ended the team’s four-game losing skid. Rockford goalie Antti Raanta stopped 24 Iowa shots to preserve the win. Iowa goalie Darcy Kuemper made 24 saves in the defeat. Wild forward Jason Zucker scored the team’s lone goal, as Iowa lost for the third straight game.
Iowa Wild
After ten games, forward Erik Haula leads Iowa in scoring eight points off three goals and five assists. Left wing Jason Zucker is first on the team with four goals and second on the team with seven points in eight games played. Zucker has a goal in three of the last four games played. Defenseman Brian Connelly and for ward Carson McMillan are tied for third with six points each. McMillan has two goals and four assists for six points in eight games. Four 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 ten games played.
Goalies Johan Gustafsson and Darcy Kuemper man the nets for Iowa. Kuemper is 3-4-0 on the season. In six appearances, he has a 2.93 GAA and a .912 SV%. Gustafsson is 2-1-0 with a 2.58 GAA and a .913 SV %.
Iowa is 8-for-47 (17.0%) on the power play and has allowed 10 power-play goals against on 53 attempts (81.1%) The Wild is 19th in the AHL with a 2.70 goals against average and the team sits 14th with a 2.90 goals per game average.
Former Hogs
There are a handful of former IceHogs with the Iowa Wild, starting with defenseman Brian Connelly and forward Jake Dowell. 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 11 assists for 14 points in 15 games played. He ranks third in the AHL for points by a defenseman. Rookie forwards Alex Broadhurst and Mark McNeill are also among the team leaders in points. Broadhurst has seven assists and 11 points in 15 games played. McNeill has seven goals and 11 points in 15 games played.
Goalie Antti Raanta and Kent Simpson split time in net. Raanta is 6-4-0 with a 2.81 GAA and a .915 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 11 for 66 (16.7%). Rockford is 22nd on the penalty kill, allowing 13 power-play goals against on 68 attempts (80.9%).