GAME PREVIEW - CHICAGO WOLVES AT IOWA WILD 2.7.14
Feb 6, 2014MEDIA KIT - HERE
Chicago Wolves (26-16-2-2, 56 points) at Iowa Wild (19-16-5-4, 47 points)
Friday’s game is the sixth of ten meetings this season between Iowa and Chicago. The Wolves have taken three of the five previous meetings, including the last meeting on Saturday, a 3-2 OT win at home for Chicago. Three of the five games have gone to overtime or a shootout. Chicago has a 15-14 advantage in goals for the season series. Wild forward Carson McMillan leads all scorers with six assists and seven points in the previous five games. The two teams will meet next on Sunday, Mar. 2 at Allstate Arena.
Iowa has points in 22 of the last 27 outings (13-5-5-4 /.648). The Wild has a record of 9-11-3-1 at Wells Fargo Arena, outscored by the opposition in scoring 62-50. Iowa is 4-1-3-2 over the last ten outings and 7-8-3-2 against the Midwest Division. Iowa is 6-1-3-2 over the last 12 home games with its only regulation loss coming at the hands of Milwaukee. The Wild has recorded points in nine straight games. The team has also played in six straight overtime/shootout games. Iowa is coming off a 3-2 shootout loss at home to Utica on Wednesday night.
The Wolves are coming off a 4-2 victory at home over Utica on Tuesday afternoon. The team has five wins over the last six games. Chicago is 13-9-1-2 on the road this season, outscoring the opposition 68-59. The Wolves have three wins over the last four road games. Chicago is 6-3-1-0 over the last ten games and 14-7-0-2 against the Midwest Division.
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
vs. Chicago 2/7 7:05 P.M. KXNO 1460 / iHeartRadio
at Rockford 2/8 7 PM KXNO 1460 / iHeartRadio
All-Star Break 2/9/14 – 2/12/14
Latest Transactions:
2/7 – Add goalie Johan Gustafsson (assigned by Minnesota – NHL)
2/6 – Add forward Stephane Veilleux (assigned by Minnesota – NHL)
2/6 - Delete goalie Johan Gustafsson (recalled – MN NHL) / delete forward Mickey Lang (released PTO)
2/5 – Add forwards Curt Gogol and Riley Brace (acquired in trade by Minnesota with San Jose for Chad Rau)
Last Time Out:
The Iowa Wild were defeated by the Utica Comets 3-2 in a shootout in front of 4,020 fans at Wells Fargo Arena on Wednesday night. Utica defenseman Alex Biega scored in the ninth round of a sudden death shootout, helping the Comets edge the Wild. Despite the loss, the team extended its season-high points streak to nine games (4-0-3-2). Iowa also played in its sixth straight game that needed overtime or a shootout to decide a winner. Comets goalie Joe Cannata stopped 43 of 45 in regulation and seven of nine attempts in the shootout win. Wild goalie John Curry (4-2-2) took the decision, replacing Johan Gustafsson (stopped 7 of 9) to start the second period. Curry finished with 27 saves on 27 shots in regulation and six of nine in the shootout loss. Wild forwards Carson McMillan and Zack Phillips each scored in regulation.
Iowa Wild
After 44 games, defenseman Brian Connelly leads the team in scoring with 26 points in 41 appearances. Connelly has a team-high 23 assists, including a team-leading 11 on the power play. Defenseman Jonathon Blum, as well as forward Carson McMillan is also among the top scorers. McMillan has a team-leading 11 goals and 12 assists for 23 points in 42 games played. Blum has five goals and 17 assists for 22 points in 37 games played. Forward Zack Phillips has nine goals and 12 assists for 21 points in 44 games played. Second in goal scoring, Brett Bulmer (10 goals) is currently out with an injury. Forward Warren Peters is also among the active skaters in points with 17 (6g/11a). Erik Haula (17 pts.) and Jason Zucker (13 pts) are on NHL recall with Minnesota.
Goalies Johan Gustafsson and John Curry man the nets for Iowa. Darcy Kuemper is on recall to Minnesota. Johan Gustafsson is 8-9-2 with a 2.86 GAA and a .908 SV %. Curry is 4-2-2 with a 1.64 GAA and a .950 SV%.
Iowa is 33-for-197 (16.8%) on the power play and has allowed 36 power-play goals against on 179 attempts (79.9%) The Wild is 27th in the AHL with a 2.48 goals per game average and the team sits 13th with a 2.73 goals against average.
Notables –
· Iowa veteran Warren Peters plays his 700th pro game (NHL / AHL) on Friday.
Chicago Wolves
Rookie forward Ty Rattie and veteran forward Marc Mancari lead Chicago in scoring. Rattie has a team-leading 18 goals and leads the team with 30 points in 45 games played. Mancari has eight goals and 27 points in 39 games. Fellow rookie Dmitrij Jaskin is third on the team with 13 goals and 25 points in only 32 games played. He leads the team with 114 shots on goal and a +11. Veteran and long-time AHLer, Keith Aucoin has 16 assists and 21 points in 36 games played.
Goalies Matt Climie and Jake Allen split time in net for the Wolves. Allen has appeared in 32 games, going 19-11-2 with a 2.12 GAA and a .924 SV%. Matt Climie is 6-7-0 on year, sporting a 2.88 GAA and a .896 SV%.
The Wolves are 25-for-215 (11.6%) on the power play this year. Despite struggles on the extra man advantage, Chicago’s penalty kill has killed off 182 of 214 (85.0%) penalties. The Wolves average 2.85 goals per game and allow 2.54 per game.