GAME PREVIEW - IOWA WILD AT MILWAUKEE ADMIRALS 2.14.14
Feb 14, 2014Iowa Wild (20-17-5-4, 49 points) at Milwaukee Admirals (22-14-6-5, 55 points)
Friday’s game is the sixth of ten meetings this season between Iowa and Milwaukee. All but one game of the season series has been in Des Moines, with the Admirals taking the previous five meetings by outscoring the Wild 17-7. Iowa dropped the last meeting, a 3-2 OT loss at home to Milwaukee on Jan. 31.
Iowa has points in 23 of the last 29 outings (14-6-5-4 /.638). The Wild has a record of 10-6-2-3 on the road, outscored by the opposition in scoring 66-62. Iowa is 5-1-2-2 over the last ten outings and 8-9-3-2 against the Midwest Division. Saturday’s 8-3 at Rockford ended Iowa’s ten-game points streak and stretch of seven straight OT/SO games. The Wild ranks tied for second in the AHL with 15 OT appearances, trailing Norfolk’s 18 for the AHL league lead. Iowa is 7-1-3-2 over the last 12 home games with its only regulation loss coming at the hands of Milwaukee. The Wild is 2-1-1-1 over the last five road games.
The Admirals got off to a 6-0-2-0 start to the season and have posted a 16-14-4-5 mark since. Milwaukee is coming off a 4-3 shootout loss at home to Chicago on Sunday. The team is 14-4-3-2 at home this season, leading the AHL with the fewest regulation losses on home ice. Milwaukee is 1-1-1-2 over the last five games at the Bradley Center. The Admirals are 4-2-1-3 over their last ten outings and 12-6-4-2 against the Midwest Division.
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
at Milwaukee 2/14 7:00 P.M. KXNO 1460 / iHeartRadio
vs. Rockford 2/15 7:05 P.M. KXNO 1460 / iHeartRadio
vs. Rockford 2/16 4:05 P.M. KXNO 1460 / iHeartRadio
Latest Transactions:
2/13 – Add forward Riley Brace (recalled from Ontario- ECHL)
2/9 – Delete forward Tyler Murovich (released PTO)
2/7 – Add goalie Johan Gustafsson and forward Erik Haula (assigned by Minnesota – NHL)
Last Time Out:
The Iowa Wild were defeated by the Rockford IceHogs 8-3 in front of 5,310 fans at the BMO Harris Bank Arena on Saturday night. IceHogs forward Jeremy Morin led the way, registering the first-ever hat trick allowed by the Wild. Trailing 3-0 to start the second period, Iowa narrowed the deficit to one on two separate occasions before Rockford pulled away late in the second. Wild goalie Johan Gustafsson suffered the loss, he was pulled after 40 minutes of work, with 26 saves and six goals allowed. Rockford goalie Kent Simpson stopped 30 shots in the victory. Marc Hagel scored twice for Iowa, which ended its four-game winning streak over Rockford.
Iowa Wild
After 46 games, defenseman Brian Connelly leads the team in scoring with 30 points in 43 appearances. Connelly has a team-high 26 assists, including a team-leading 13 on the power play. Defenseman Jonathon Blum, as well as forward Carson McMillan are also among the top scorers. McMillan has a team-leading 11 goals and 12 assists for 23 points in 42 games played. He is currently out with an injury. Blum has five goals and 18 assists for 23 points in 39 games played. Forward Zack Phillips has nine goals and 13 assists for 22 points in 46 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 18 (7g/11a). Erik Haula (19 pts. In 25 games) had two assists on Saturday in his return from an 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 8-10-2 with a 3.06 GAA and a .903 SV %. Curry is 5-2-2 with a 1.94 GAA and a .941 SV%.
Iowa is 35-for-203 (17.2%) on the power play and has allowed 37 power-play goals against on 186 attempts (80.1%). The Wild is 27th in the AHL with a 2.52 goals per game average and the team sits 16th with a 2.85 goals against average.
Notables –
· Iowa defenseman Steven Kampfer needs two games to play in his 200th AHL/NHL game.
Milwaukee Admirals
Rookies Colton Sissons and Mikka Salomaki are the team leaders in points for Milwaukee. Salomaki leads the team with 20 assists and is first with 32 points in 46 games played. Sissons leads the team in goals with 17 and places second on the team in points with 29 in 45 games played. Defenseman Anthony Bitetto and forward Taylor Beck are tied for third on the tam in scoring. Bitetto is second on the club with 18 assists and has 27 points in 46 games played. Beck has 11 goals and 27 points in 46 games played. Forward Austin Watson is fourth on the team with 26 points in 47 games played.
Goalies Marek Mazanec, Hannu Toivonen, Scott Darling and Magnus Hellberg man the net for the Admirals. Hellberg and Darling are both injured. Mazanec is 9-4-3 with a 2.32 GAA and a .922 SV%. Hannu Toivonen has made one appearance, entering the game in OT and falling in a shootout.
The Admirals are 15th in the AHL on the power play, going 38 for 216 (17.6%). Milwaukee is 14th on the penalty kill, allowing 35 power-play goals against on 205 attempts (82.9%). The Admirals are 21st in the AHL with a 2.66 goals per game average and the team sits 12th with a 2.74 goals against average.