GAME PREVIEW - IOWA WILD AT ROCKFORD ICEHOGS 1.3
Jan 3, 2014Iowa Wild (13-14-2-0, 28 points) at Rockford IceHogs (15-16-3-0, 33 points)
Friday’s game is the fifth of ten meetings this season between Iowa and Rockford. After dropping the first game of the season series, Iowa has stormed back to claim three straight, including the last meeting, a 5-2 win for the Wild at home on Dec. 26. Iowa has outscored Rockford 14-8.
The Iowa Wild went 4-1-1-0 on its recent six-game homestand, which concluded on Sunday with a 4-0 loss to Milwaukee. The defeat ended the Wild’s points streak at six games (5-0-1-0). The team has points in nine of the last 12 outings (7-3-2-0). Iowa has a record of 6-3-1-0 on the road and has outscored the opposition 33-27 away from home. The Wild is 5-3-2-0 over the last ten outings and 5-7-1-0 against the Midwest Division.
After starting out 7-2-1-0, Rockford has gone 8-14-2-0. The Hogs are coming off a 3-2 loss at home to Charlotte on Monday night. The Hogs are 9-7-0-0 at home this year and 5-10-1-0 against the Midwest Division. Rockford is 3-5-2-0 over the last ten outings and winless over the last six games (0-5-1-0)
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
at Rockford 1/3 7:00 PM KXNO 1460 / iHeart Radio
at Chicago 1/4 7:00 PM KXNO 1460 / iHeart Radio
at Milwaukee 1/6 7:00 PM KXNO 1460 / iHeart Radio
Latest Transactions:
1/2 – Add goalie John Curry (recalled from Orlando – ECHL)
1/2 – Delete goalie Darcy Kuemper (recalled to Minnesota – NHL)
1/1 – Delete forward Jason Zucker (recalled from Minnesota – NHL)
12/31 – Add defenseman Jonathon Blum (assigned from Minnesota – NHL)
Last Time Out:
The Iowa Wild were defeated by the Milwaukee Admirals 4-0 in front of 6,233 fans at the Wells Fargo Arena on Sunday. Admirals goalie Scott Darling picked up his second straight shutout against Iowa and his team scored a pair of goals 53 seconds apart midway through the first period. Darling improved to 7-1-0, finishing with 33 saves in the win. Milwaukee forward Colton Sissons and defenseman Anthony Bitetto each scored a goal and added an assist, improving the Admirals record to 7-6-3-1 on the road. Iowa goalie Johan Gustafsson stopped 19 shots in the loss.
Iowa Wild
After 29 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 22 games played. He has six points (3g-3a) in his last four outings. Connelly has 14 assists and one goal in 27 games played. Defenseman Jonathon Blum has three goals and 13 assists in 29 games played. His 13 assists trail only Connelly. Forward Brett Bulmer is the team leader in goals (9) and second in shots (66). Recalled on Wednesday, forward Jason Zucker had eight goals and 13 points in 22 games with Iowa. Center Zack Phillips adds five goals and 14 points in 29 games. Forwards Carson McMillan and Warren Peters round out the top scorers with 11 points each.
Goalies Johan Gustafsson and John Curry man the nets for Iowa. Darcy Kuemper was recalled on Thursday to Minnesota. Kuemper was 7-10-0 in 17 appearances, posting a 2.47 GAA and a .929 SV%. Johan Gustafsson is 4-5-0 with a 3.06 GAA and a .892 SV %. Curry is 2-1-0 with a 1.96 GAA and a .939 SV%.
Iowa is 22-for-131 (16.8 %) on the power play and has allowed 25 power-play goals against on 130 attempts (80.8%) The Wild is 26th in the AHL with a 2.38 goals per game average and the team sits 11th with a 2.69 goals against average.
Notables –
· Warren Peters recorded his 100th AHL career assist at home vs. Rockford on Dec. 26. .
· Iowa has the #1 power play in the AHL on the road (30.2%), but the lowest in the league at home (10.8%).
Rockford IceHogs
Defenseman Adam Clendening leads Rockford in scoring with four goals and 19 assists for 23 points in 34 games played. He ranks among the top scoring defenseman in the AHL. Left wing Terry Broadhurst is second on the club in points with 19 in 31 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 12 assists and 17 points in 33 games played. McNeill has nine goals and 18 points in 32 games played. McNeill trails only Brad Winchester (10) for the team lead in goals. Despite spending significant time in Chicago, forward Brandon Pirri has ten points in 13 games.
Goalies Kent Simpson and Mac Carruth are all in net for Rockford. Carruth is 2-2-0 with a 3.67 GAA and a .874 save %. Simpson is 6-11-0 with a 3.42 GAA and a .898 SV%.
The IceHogs are 19th in the AHL on the power play, going 23 for 151 (15.2%). Rockford is 29th on the penalty kill, allowing 40 power-play goals against on 161 attempts (75.2%). The Hogs sit 16th in the AHL with a 2.79 goals against average and 30th with a 3.47 goals per game average.