GAME PREVIEW - IOWA WILD AT ABBOTSFORD HEAT 12.11.13
Dec 10, 2013Media Kit - HERE
Iowa Wild (8-12-1-0, 17 points) at Abbotsford Heat (19-6-1-1, 40 points)
The Iowa Wild concludes a six-game road trip with its first visit to the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre for a pair of meetings with the AHL’s top team, the Abbotsford Heat. It marks the final two games of six straight on the road for Iowa. The team is 2-1-1-0 on the current trip. The Wild returns home on Dec. 15, beginning a six-game homestand. Iowa suffered a 2-1 overtime loss on Saturday night in Texas. The Wild is 5-2-1-0 on the road this year, outscoring the home clubs 27-19 this season. The Wild is 2-7-1-0 over the last ten outings and 5-6-1-0 against the West Division.
Abbotsford is wrapping up a six-game homestand with a visit from Iowa. The club is 2-1-1-0 through the first four games. The Heat is coming off a 5-2 win at home over San Antonio on Saturday. The club improved to 8-2-1-1 at home this season, having outscored its opponents 38-29 on home ice. The club is 6-1-1-0 over the last eight games at home. Abbotsford is 7-2-0-1 over its last ten games and 5-0-0-1 against the Midwest division.
The Heat and Wild meet a total of four times during the regular season. Abbotsford swept a two-game set in Des Moines the last weekend of November, outscoring Iowa 6-1. After Joni Ortio secured a 4-0 shutout on Nov. 23, Joey MacDonald stopped 42 of 43 in a 2-1 win on Nov. 24.
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
at Abbotsford 12/11 9:00 PM KXNO 1460 / iHeart Radio
at Abbotsford 12/12 9:00 PM iHeart Radio
vs. Rockford 12/15 4:05 PM KXNO 1460 / iHeart Radio
Latest Transactions:
12/10 – Delete forward Jason Zucker (recalled – Minnesota – NHL)
12/9 – Add forward Erik Haula (assigned - Minnesota – NHL)
12/2 – Add forward Josh Caron (recalled from Orlando – ECHL)
Last Time Out:
The Iowa Wild were defeated by the Texas Stars 2-1 in overtime in front of 5,080 fans at the Cedar Park Center on Saturday night. Texas forward Colton Sceviour scored his AHL league-leading 18th goal of the year at 3:49 of overtime, lifting the Stars past the Wild. Iowa goalie Darcy Kuemper made 44 saves in his club’s first-ever overtime defeat. Texas goalie Christopher Nisltorp made 38 saves for the OT win. Wild rookie forward Tyler Graovac scored the team’s lone goal.
Iowa Wild
After 21 games, defenseman Brian Connelly leads the team in scoring with 14 points (13 assists) in 19 games played. Defenseman Jonathon Blum is second on the team in scoring with 13 points in 21 games played. His 10 assists trail only Connelly. Blum has seven points in his last nine games. With Jason Zucker in Minnesota, forwards Brett Bulmer and Erik Haula are tied for third in scoring with 10 points each. Bulmer leads the team with eight goals and 58 shots in 20 games played. Haula returns from Minnesota after posting two assists in his first six NHL games. Haula has 10 points (4g,6a) in 18 games for Iowa. Forwards Warren Peters and Zack Phillips round out the top scorers with nine points each.
Goalies Johan Gustafsson and Darcy Kuemper man the nets for Iowa. Kuemper is 5-9-0 in 14 appearances, posting a 2.80 GAA and a .919 SV%. Kuemper has stopped 154 of the last 164 (.939 SV %) shots faced, going 2-2-0. Johan Gustafsson is 3-3-0 with a 2.62 GAA and a .910 SV %.
Iowa is 19-for-99 (19.2 %) on the power play and has allowed 19 power-play goals against on 101 attempts (80.6%) The Wild is 29th in the AHL with a 2.29 goals against average and the team sits 15th with a 2.81 goals per game average.
Notables –
· Iowa’s Jonathon Blum recorded his 100th AHL assist on Saturday night in Texas.
· Warren Peters needs two assists to reach 100 for his AHL career.
· The Wild road power play is best in the AHL, converting 12 of 38 chances (31.6%)
Abbotsford Heat
The Heat returns ten players from last year’s team, which failed to make the playoffs. Head Coach Troy G. Ward returns for his third season with the club. Ward has his club off to the best start of his tenure.
Center Ben Street leads the team in scoring with 24 points in 20 games. Street has a team-high, 14 goals and 57 shots on goal. Defenseman Chad Billins is second on the team in points with 23 in 23 games played, including a team-best 17 assists. Rookie Markus Granlund, Corban Knight and Ben Hanowski are also among the team leaders in points. Granlund, is second on the team with 10 goals and has 20 points in 22 games. Hanowski also has 20 points off nine goals and 11 assists in 26 games played. Knight has 18 points in 27 games played.
Goalies Joni Ortio and Joey MacDonald split time between the pipes for Abbotsford. MacDonald is 4-2-0 with a 2.46 GAA and a .9122 SV%. Ortio is 11-1-0 with a 2.28 GAA and a .924 SV %.
Abbotsford is second in the league on the power play, going 32-for-124 (25.8%). The Heat penalty kill has allowed 24 goals on 112 chances (78.6%). The team averages 3.41 goals per game while allowing 2.74 GAA.