GAME PREVIEW - IOWA WILD AT CHICAGO WOLVES 1.4.14
Jan 4, 2014Iowa Wild (14-14-2-0, 30 points) at Chicago Wolves (17-13-1-2, 37 points)
Saturday’s game is the fourth of ten meetings this season between Iowa and Chicago. Iowa has taken two of the three previous meetings, including the last meeting, a 3-1 win for the Wild at Chicago on Nov. 27. Iowa has outscored Chicago 9-8 in the three previous meetings. The two teams will meet next on Saturday, Feb. 1 in Chicago.
The Iowa Wild began a six-game road trip with a 3-2 shootout win in Rockford on Friday night. Iowa 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 11 of the last 13 outings (8-3-2-0). Iowa has a record of 7-3-1-0 on the road and has outscored the opposition 36-29 away from home. The Wild is 6-2-2-0 over the last ten outings and 6-7-1-0 against the Midwest Division.
The Wolves are coming off a 3-1 loss at Grand Rapids on Friday night. Chicago is 8-7-0-0 at home this season, matching the opposition in scoring with 44 goals per side. The Wolves have rattled off five straight wins at home, outscoring the visitors 19-12 over that span. Chicago is 5-1-1-0 over the last seven outings. The team is 6-3-1-0 over the last ten games and 8-6-0-2 against the Midwest Division.
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
at Chicago 1/4 7:00 PM KXNO 1460 / iHeart Radio
at Milwaukee 1/6 7:00 PM KXNO 1460 / iHeart Radio
at Grand Rapids 1/10 6:00 PM CT 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)
Last Time Out:
The Iowa Wild defeated the Rockford IceHogs 3-2 in a shootout in front of 3,326 fans at the BMO Harris Bank Center on Friday night. Iowa forwards Carson McMillan, Tyler Graovac and Zack Phillips each scored in a shootout, as goaltender Johan Gustafsson stopped three of four attempts to preserve the extra point. Gustafsson stopped 37 of 39 in regulation to help his team improve to 4-1-0-0 against Rockford this year. Iowa defenseman Brian Connelly set up two goals, helping his club move to 7-3-1-0 on the road this season. Graovac and defenseman Jonathon Blum each scored in regulation. Rockford goalie Mac Carruth stopped 22 of 24 in regulation and one of four in the shootout loss.
Iowa Wild
After 30 games, forward Erik Haula, as well as defensemen Brian Connelly and Jonathon Blum lead the team in scoring. Connelly has 16 assists and one goal in 28 games played. Defenseman Jonathon Blum has four goals and 13 assists in 30 games played. His 13 assists trail only Connelly. Haula has eight goals and eight assists for 16 points in 23 games played. He has six points (3g-3a) in his last five outings. Forward Brett Bulmer was recalled to Minnesota on Saturday morning. He leaves as the team leader in goals (9) and he was 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 30 games. Forwards Warren Peters (12 points) and Carson McMillan (11 points) round out the top scorers.
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 5-5-0 with a 2.94 GAA and a .899 SV %. Curry is 2-1-0 with a 1.96 GAA and a .939 SV%.
Iowa is 23-for-135 (17.0 %) on the power play and has allowed 26 power-play goals against on 133 attempts (80.5%) The Wild is 26th in the AHL with a 2.39 goals per game average and the team sits 11th with a 2.68 goals against average.
Notables –
· Iowa’s shootout win in Rockford on Friday marked the IceHogs first shootout loss since Oct. 12, 2012.
· Iowa has the #1 power play in the AHL on the road (29.8%), but the lowest in the league at home (10.2%).
Chicago Wolves
Veteran forwards Corey Locke and Marc Mancari lead Chicago in scoring. Locke has a team-high 18 assists and 24 points in 31 games played. Mancari has eight goals and 19 points in 29 games. Rookie Ty Rattie leads the club in scoring with 11 goals. He has 18 points in 32 games, ranking among the AHL rookie leaders in goals. Fellow rookie Dmitrij Jaskin is fourth on the team with nine goals and 17 points in only 21 games played. He leads the team with 82 shots on goal and a +9.
Goalies Matt Climie and Jake Allen split time in net for the Wolves. Allen has appeared in 23 games, going 14-7-2 with a 2.17 GAA and a.922 SV%. Matt Climie is 3-7-0 on year, sporting a 3.19 GAA and a .889 SV%.
The Wolves are 17-for-156 (10.9%) on the power play this year. Despite struggles on the extra man advantage, Chicago’s penalty kill has killed off 130 of 152 (85.5%) penalties. The Wolves average 2.94 goals per game and allow 2.69 per game.