GAME PREVIEW - MILWAUKEE ADMIALS AT IOWA WILD 12.29.13
Dec 29, 2013MEDIA KIT - HERE
Milwaukee Admirals (15-8-5-1, 36 points) at Iowa Wild (13-13-2-0, 28 points)
Sunday’s game is the third of ten meetings this season between Iowa and Milwaukee. Every game of the season series has been in Des Moines, with the Admirals taking the previous two meetings. Iowa visits Milwaukee on Jan. 6.
The Iowa Wild is off to a 4-0-1-0 start for the six-game homestand, which concludes on Sunday. With a 5-2 win on Thursday night over Rockford, the Wild extended its points streak to six games (5-0-1-0). The team has points in nine of the last 11 outings (7-2-2-0). Iowa has a record of 7-10-1-0 on home ice and has been outscored 47-36 at home this season. The Wild is 6-2-2-0 over the last ten outings and 5-6-1-0 against the Midwest Division.
The Admirals got off to a 6-0-2-0 start to the season and have posted a 9-8-3-1 mark since. Milwaukee is coming off a 3-2 loss at home to Charlotte on Friday night. The team is 6-6-3-1 on the road this season, having been outscored by their opponents 47-33. The Admirals are 6-3-1-0 over their last ten outings and 8-4-3-0 against the Midwest Division.
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
vs. Milwaukee 12/29 4:05 PM iHeart Radio
at Rockford 1/3 7:00 PM KXNO 1460 / iHeart Radio
at Chicago 1/4 7:00 PM KXNO 1460 / iHeart Radio
Latest Transactions:
12/29 – Delete goalie John Curry (assigned to Orlando – ECHL)
12/28 – Add goalie Johan Gustafsson (assigned by Minnesota – NHL)
12/27 – Delete – Forward Taylor Matson (assigned to Orlando - ECHL)
12/27 – Delete – Forward Stephane Veilleux (recalled – Minnesota – NHL)
Last Time Out:
The Iowa Wild defeated the Rockford IceHogs 5-2 in front of 6,151 fans at the Wells Fargo Arena on Thursday night. Wild forwards Erik Haula and Tyler Graovac scored a pair of goals 1:50 apart in the second period, helping extend the club’s points streak to six games (5-0-1-0). Iowa goalie John Curry (2-1-0) stopped 37 shots, including 17 in the third period, leading his team to victory. Haula and Iowa defenseman Steven Kampfer each picked up two points in the game (one goal and one assist) in the club’s third straight win against Rockford. Icehogs goalie Kent Simpson (6-10-0) stopped 26 shots in the loss. Iowa forwards Zack Phillips and Jake Dowell also scored, improving the club’s record to 7-10-1-0 at home.
Iowa Wild
After 28 games, forward Erik Haula, as well as defensemen Brian Connelly and Jonathon Blum lead the team in scoring. Haula has eight goals and eight assists for 16 points in 21 games played. He has six points (3g-3a) in his last three outings. Connelly has 14 assists and one goal in 26 games played. Defenseman Jonathon Blum has three goals and 13 assists in 28 games played. His 13 assists trail only Connelly. Forward Brett Bulmer is the team leader in goals (9) and second in shots (64). Forward Jason Zucker has eight goals and 13 points in only 21 games with Iowa. Center Zack Phillips adds five goals and 14 points in 28 games. Forwards Carson McMillan and Warren Peters round out the top scorers with 11 points each.
Goalies Darcy Kuemper 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 2-1-0 with a 1.96 GAA and a .939 SV%.
Iowa is 22-for-126 (17.5 %) on the power play and has allowed 23 power-play goals against on 128 attempts (82.0%) The Wild is 26th in the AHL with a 2.46 goals per game average and the team sits 10th with a 2.64 goals against 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 (10.8%).
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.
Rookies Colton Sissons and Mikka Salomaki are the leaders in points for Milwaukee. Salomaki has a team-high 14 assists and 21 points in 28 gams played. Sissons leads the team lead in goals with 11 and he is second on the team in points with 20 in 29 games played. Forward Austin Watson is third on the team with 18 points in 29 games played. Defenseman Anthony Bitetto is fourth on the club in scoring, posting eight goals and nine assists for 17 points in 28 games played.
Goalie 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 4-12-1 with a 2.78 GAA and a .915 SV%. Darling has made 11 appearances, going 6-1-0 with a 1.61 goals against average and a .949 SV %.
The Admirals are 19th in the AHL on the power play, going 22 for 141 (15.6%). Milwaukee is 13th on the penalty kill, allowing 21 power-play goals against on 130 attempts (83.8%). The Admirals are 20th in the AHL with a 2.62 goals per game average and the team sits seventh with a 2.52 goals against average.