GAME PREVIEW - IOWA WILD AT TEXAS STARS 12.6.13
Dec 6, 2013Media Kit - HERE
Wild on Stars -
Iowa Wild (8-11-0-0, 16 points) at Texas Stars (12-8-2-2, 28 points)
The Iowa Wild continues a six-game road trip with its first visit to the Cedar Park Center for a meeting with West Division foe Texas. It marks the third game of six straight on the road for Iowa. The Wild will play the Stars twice before heading off to Abbotsford. Iowa picked up a win Wednesday night in San Antonio, taking a 5-4 shootout decision over the Rampage. The Wild is 5-1-0-0 on the road this year, outscoring the home clubs 24-13 this season. Iowa returns home on Dec. 15 for Rockford. The Wild is 3-7-0-0 over the last ten outings and 5-5-0-0 against the West Division.
Texas is coming off a 5-4 win at Oklahoma City on Tuesday night, ending a three-game road swing. The team is 8-2-0-1 at home this season, having outscored its opponents 51-31. The club is 4-1-0-1 over the last six games on home ice. Texas is 4-4-0-2 over its last ten games and 4-6-1-0 against the Midwest division.
The Stars and Wild meet a total of six times during the season. The teams split a two-game set in Des Moines the first weekend of November. Iowa will play its final game at Texas on Jan. 22. The Stars will make their final visit to Iowa on March 19. Minnesota's AHL Affiliate was in Houston for the 2012-13 season, going 40-26-5-5 (90 points / .592 %). The Aeros met the Stars 12 times last season, going 6-4-2-0. Over the last five years, Houston was 26-16-5-1 against Texas, including a 13-8-2-1 mark at Cedar Park Center.
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
at Texas 12/6 7:30 PM KXNO 1460 / iHeart Radio
at Texas 12/7 7:00 PM KXNO 1460 / iHeart Radio
at Abbotsford 12/11 9:00 PM KXNO 1460 / iHeart Radio
Latest Transactions:
12/2 – Add forward Josh Caron (recalled from Orlando – ECHL)
12/1 – Add forward Jason Zucker (assigned – Minnesota – NHL)
11/29 – Delete forward Erik Haula (recalled - Minnesota – NHL)
Last Time Out:
The Iowa Wild defeated the San Antonio Rampage 5-4 in a shootout in front of 3,531 fans at the AT&T Center on Wednesday night. Rookie Tyler Graovac scored in the seventh round of the shootout, helping Iowa pick up its third straight win on the road. Wild forward Jason Zucker and defenseman Brian Connelly were instrumental in the victory, with each player posting a goal and two assists. Connelly’s game-tying goal with 5:42 left in regulation, forced overtime and helped set up the victory. Iowa goalie Darcy Kuemper stopped 44 shots in regulation and six of seven in the shootout win.
Iowa Wild
After 19 games, defenseman Brian Connelly leads the team in scoring with 14 points (13 assists) in 17 games. Left wing Jason Zucker is second on the team in scoring with 13 points in 14 games played. Zucker has five points in his last two games and leads the team with seven goals. Defenseman Jonathon Blum is third on the team in scoring with 11 points in 19 games played. His eight assists trail only Connelly. Second-year forwards Bulmer and Zack Phillips round out the scoring with eight points each. Bulmer is second on the club with six goals. Phillips has three goals and five assists in 19 games played. Veteran center Carson McMillan also has eight points (2G,6A) in 17 games played.
Goalies Johan Gustafsson and Darcy Kuemper man the nets for Iowa. Kuemper is 5-7-0 in 12 appearances, posting a 2.87 GAA and a .914 SV%. Johan Gustafsson is 3-3-0 with a 2.62 GAA and a .910 SV %.
Iowa is 18-for-91 (19.8 %) on the power play and has allowed 17 power-play goals against on 94 attempts (81.9%) The Wild is 27th in the AHL with a 2.37 goals against average and the team sits 12th with a 2.79 goals per game average.
Notables –
· Iowa has allowed the first goal in nine of the last 11 games. The team is 6-2-0-0 when scoring first.
· The Wild road power play is best in the AHL, converting 11 of 30 chances (36.7%)
Texas Stars
The Stars return 17 players from last year’s team, which captured the regular season Western Conference title, going 43-22-5-6 with 97 points. Texas was knocked out in the second round by Oklahoma City.
With four points on Tuesday at Oklahoma City, fifth-year Star Colton Sceviour claimed the team lead in scoring. He has 17 goals and 12 assists for 29 points in 24 games played. He leads the AHL in goals and points. Veteran center Travis Morin was recalled to Dallas earlier in the week. He led the AHL with 29 points in 19 games. Forward Chris Mueller has nine goals and 21 points in 22 games played.
Goalies Christopher Nilstorp and Jack Campbell spit time in net. Nilstorp is 5-8-1 with a 3.23 GAA and a .892 SV %. Campbell is 2-0-0 with a 1.00 GAA and a .956 SV %.
Texas is top in the AHL, going 28-for-97 (28.9 %) on the power play. The team has allowed 15 power-play goals against on 97 attempts (84.5%) The Wild is fourth in the AHL with a 3.46 goals against average and the team sits 20th with a 3.00 goals per game average.