GAME PREVIEW - MILWAUKEE ADMIRALS AT IOWA WILD 11.16.13
Nov 16, 2013Milwaukee Admirals (7-3-2-1, 17 points) at Iowa Wild (6-7-0-0, 12 points)
The Iowa Wild continues a six-game homestand with the Milwaukee Admirals. The Wild is coming off a 5-2 loss at home to San Antonio on Friday night. The loss dropped the Wild to 3-6-0-0 at home this season, having been outscored by the visitors 31-19 at Wells Fargo Arena. Iowa is 4-6-0-0 over the last ten games. The team has lost six of the last eight games overall and five of the last six on home ice.
Milwaukee is coming off a 4-3 loss at home to Chicago on Friday night. The team is 3-2-1-1 on the road this season, having been outscored by their opponents 23-22. The Admirals are 5-3-1-1 over their last ten outings. Milwaukee is 1-3-0-1 over the last five games. Prior to that, the Admirals were last remaining team in the AHL without a regulation loss, starting the year 6-0-2-0.
The Admirals visited the Wells Fargo Arena on Nov. 3, taking the first meeting of the season 5-2 over the Wild. Minnesota's AHL Affiliate was in Houston for the 2012-13 season, going 40-26-5-5 (90 points / .592 %). The Aeros met the Admirals four times last season, going 3-0-1-0. Over the last five years, Houston was 9-11-5-3 against Milwaukee, including a 5-4-4-1 mark at home.
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
vs. Milwaukee 11/16 7:05 PM KXNO 1460 / iHeart Radio
vs. Grand Rapids 11/22 7:05 PM KXNO 1460 / iHeart Radio
vs. Abbotsford 11/23 7:05 PM KXNO 1460 / iHeart Radio
Latest Transactions:
11/15 – Delete goaltender Johan Gustafsson (recalled – Minnesota - NHL)
11/15 – Add goaltender Thomas Heemskerk (signed PTO – from Quad City – CHL)
11/12 – Add Mike Rupp (conditioning loan – Minnesota NHL)
Last Time Out:
The Iowa Wild were defeated by the San Antonio Rampage 5-2 in front of 6,696 fans at the Wells Fargo Arena on Friday night. Rampage Captain Greg Rallo scored twice, helping his team win the first meeting of the season between the two clubs. San Antonio goalie Jacob Markstrom stopped 34 Iowa shots for the victory. Wild defenseman Jonathon Blum scored and added an assist, as his team dropped its fourth straight loss at home. Center Zack Phillips also picked up a goal in the defeat. Iowa Wild goalie Darcy Kuemper stopped 26 San Antonio shots in the loss.
Iowa Wild
After 13 games, defenseman Brian Connelly leads the team in scoring with 11 points (all assists). Connelly set an Iowa season mark with three power-play assist last Saturday in Rockford. Forward Erik Haula is second in scoring with ten points in 13 games played. Haula is also tied for first with four goals and tied for second on the club with six assists. Left wing Jason Zucker is third on the team with eight points in 11 games played. Zucker set a team mark with 11 shots on goal on Friday against San Antonio. He is tied with Brett Bulmer for the team lead in goals at four. Center Zack Phillips and defenseman Jonathon Blum are also among the team leaders with eight points each. Phillips has three goals and five assists, whiel Blum has two goals and six assists.
Goalies Thomas Heemskerk and Darcy Kuemper man the nets for Iowa. Kuemper is 3-6-0 on the season. In seven appearances, he has a 3.19 GAA and a .900 SV%. Johan Gustafsson is on recall to Minnesota. He was 3-1-0 with a 2.45 GAA and a .920 SV %. Heemskerk has yet to make his Iowa debut.
Iowa is 14-for-67 (20.9 %) on the power play and has allowed 13 power-play goals against on 70 attempts (81.4%) The Wild is 19th in the AHL with a 2.69 goals against average and the team sits 18th with a 3.00 goals per game average.
Notables –
· Forward Mike Rupp made his Iowa debut, playing in his 200th AHL game on Wednesday.
Milwaukee Admirals
The Milwaukee Admirals were 41-28-4-3 last season, falling to Texas in the first round of the 2013 Calder Cup Playoffs (3-1). The Admirals return 15 players from the 2012-13 squad.
Rookie center Colton Sissons leads the team lead in goals with six and first on the team in points with 12 in 13 games played. He also leads the team with 41 shots on goal. Defenseman Anthony Bitetto is second on the club in scoring, posting six goals and four assists for ten points in 13 games played. Mark Van Guilder and Mikka Salomaki are also among the team leaders with nine points each.
Goalies Scott Darling and Magnus Hellberg man the net for the Admirals. Marek Mazanec is in Nashville after going 5-0-0 with a 1.97 GAA and a .933 SV %. Hellberg is 2-5-0 with a 2.70 GAA and a .912 SV%. Darling has made two appearances without a decision, posting a 5.28 goals against average and a .867 SV %.
The Admirals are 12th in the AHL on the power play, going 13 for 69 (18.8%). Milwaukee is ninth on the penalty kill, allowing 10 power-play goals against on 62 attempts.