GAME PREVIEW - ROCKFORD ICEHOGS AT IOWA WILD 12.26
Dec 26, 2013Rockford Ice Hogs (15-13-3-0, 33 points) at Iowa Wild (12-13-2-0, 26 points)
Thursday night’s game is the fourth of ten meetings this season between Iowa and Rockford. After dropping the first game of the series in Rockford, Iowa has taken the last three, including the last meeting, a 3-1 win at home on Dec.15. The two clubs meet again in Rockford on Jan. 3.
The Iowa Wild is off to a 3-0-1-0 start for the six-game homestand. With a 3-2 shootout win on Saturday night over San Antonio, the Wild extended its points streak to five games (4-0-1-0). The team has points in eight of the last ten outings (6-2-2-0). Iowa has a record of 6-10-1-0 on home ice and has been outscored 45-31 at home this season. The Wild is 6-2-2-0 over the last ten outings and 4-6-1-0 against the Midwest Division.
After starting out 7-2-1-0, Rockford has gone 8-11-1-0. The Hogs are coming off a 3-1 loss at home to Milwaukee on Saturday night. The Hogs are 6-8-3-0 on the road this year and 5-8-1-0 against the Midwest Division. Rockford is 6-4-0-0 over the last ten outings and winless over the last three games (0-2-1-0)
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
vs. Rockford 12/26 7:05 PM iHeart Radio
vs. Milwaukee 12/29 4:05 PM iHeart Radio
at Rockford 1/3 7:00 PM KXNO 1460 / iHeart Radio
Latest Transactions:
12/23 -24 – Delete / Add – Forward Stephane Veilleux (recalled / assigned – Minnesota – NHL)
12/23 – Add Forward Erik Haula – (assigned – Minnesota – NHL)
12/22 – Release goalie Cody Reichard (released PTO – from Fort Wayne - ECHL)
Last Time Out:
The Iowa Wild defeated the San Antonio Rampage 3-2 in a shootout in front of 6,437 fans at the Wells Fargo Arena on Saturday night. The Wild outlasted the Rampage in a sudden-death seven-round shootout, extending the team’s points streak to five games (4-0-1-0). Defenseman Steven Kampfer and Raphael Bussieres each scored in regulation, helping Iowa improve to 6-10-1-0 at home. Wild goalie John Curry stopped 39 of 41 shots in regulation and six of seven in the shootout win. Rampage defenseman Matt Gilroy and center Jon Matsumoto each scored in regulation, as San Antonio remained winless in its last eight road games. Rampage goalie Rob Madore stopped 23 of 25 shots in regulation and five of seven in the shootout loss
Iowa Wild
After 27 games, defensemen Brian Connelly and Jonathon Blum lead the team in scoring with 15 points each. Connelly has 14 assists and one goal in 25 games played. Defenseman Jonathon Blum has three goals and 12 assists in 27 games played. His 12 assists trail only Connelly. Erik Haula had 14 points in 20 games prior to his recall to Minnesota. Forward Brett Bulmer is the team leader in goals (9) and shots (62). Forward Jason Zucker has eight goals and 13 points in only 20 games with Iowa. Center Zack Phillips adds five goals and 12 points in 27 games. Forwards Kris Foucault and Warren Peters round out the top scorers with ten points each.
Goalies Darcy Kuemper, Cody Reichard and John Curry man the nets for Iowa. Kuemper is 7-10-0 in 17 appearances, posting a 2.47 GAA and a .929 SV%. Kuemper has stopped 262 of the last 275 (.953 SV %) shots faced, going 4-3-0. Johan Gustafsson is on recall to Minnesota after going 4-4-0 with a 2.95 GAA and a .898 SV %. Curry is 1-1-0 with a 1.94 GAA and a .933 SV%. Reichard has yet to make his Iowa debut.
Iowa is 20-for-121 (16.5 %) on the power play and has allowed 23 power-play goals against on 124 attempts (81.5%) The Wild is 28th in the AHL with a 2.37 goals against average and the team sits 10th with a 2.67 goals per game average.
Notables –
· Warren Peters needs one assist to reach 100 for his AHL career.
· Iowa has the #1 power play in the AHL on the road (30.2%), but the lowest in the league at home (9.0%). Iowa is 0-19 at home on the power play dating back to 11.24 vs. Abbotsford.
Rockford IceHogs
Defenseman Adam Clendening leads Rockford in scoring with four goals and 19 assists for 23 points in 28 games played. He ranks third in the AHL for points by a defenseman. Left wing Terry Broadhurst is second on the club in points with 19 in 29 games. He is also among the team leaders with seven goals. Rookie forwards Alex Broadhurst and Mark McNeill are also among the team leaders in points. Broadhurst has 11 assists and 16 points in 31 games played. McNeill has nine goals and 18 points in 31 games played. McNeill and Brad Winchester (9) lead the team in goals.
Goalies Kent Simpson and Mac Carruth are all in net for Rockford. Carruth is 2-1-0 with a 4.08 GAA and a .852 save %. Simpson is 6-9-0 with a 3.33 GAA and a .901 SV%.
The IceHogs are 18th in the AHL on the power play, going 22 for 135 (16.3%). Rockford is 30th on the penalty kill, allowing 36 power-play goals against on 147 attempts (75.5%). The Hogs sit 12th in the AHL with a 2.87 goals against average and 30th with a 3.42 goals per game average.