GAME PREVIEW - ROCHESTER AMERICANS AT IOWA WILD 2.27.14
Feb 27, 2014Rochester Americans (27-18-3-4, 61 points) at Iowa Wild (22-21-6-4, 54 points)
Thursday’s game is the second of two rare meetings this season between Rochester and Iowa. The Americans took the first meeting last week, posting a 3-2 overtime win at Blue Cross Arena on Feb. 19. Prior to this season, the last time these two teams met, Minnesota’s AHL affiliate was in Houston. The Aeros and Americans split, with Houston winning 3-1 on the road.
Iowa returned to home ice after a three-game road trip, falling 4-1 to the Rockford IceHogs on Tuesday night at Wells Fargo Arena. The Wild has a record of 10-14-3-1 at home, outscored by the opposition 78-60. Iowa is 3-5-1-1 over the last ten outings and 4-2-2-1 against the North Division.
Rochester visits Iowa for the only time this season. The club comes to town with a four-game points streak at 3-0-0-1. The Americans are the seventh seeded team in the AHL’s Western Conference. Rochester is 6-3-0-1 over the last ten games and 10-11-2-1 on the road, outscored by the home teams 71-62. The Americans have played seven games against the Midwest Division, going 3-4-0-0. Rochester is coming off a 3-2 win at home over Hamilton on Saturday night.
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
vs. Rochester 2/25 7:05 PM KXNO 1460 / iHeartRadio
at Milwaukee 2/28 7 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio
at Chicago 3/2 3 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio
Latest Transactions:
2/26 - Trade – Iowa acquires forward Brad Winchester and defenseman Zach Miskovic from Chicago / Rockford
2/26 - Trade – Minnesota trades defenseman Brian Connelly to Chicago - Rockford
2/26 - Add goalie Hannu Toivonen (signed PTO – from Milwaukee (AHL)
2/26 - Delete goalie John Curry and forward Stephane Veilleux (recalled – Minnesota – NHL)
Last Time Out:
The Iowa Wild were defeated by the Rockford IceHogs 4-1 in front of 4,102 fans at Wells Fargo Arena on Tuesday night. Wild goalie John Curry made 33 saves, including 15 in the first period, taking the defeat. Rockford forward Jeremy Morin scored a pair of goals to lead his team to victory. Iowa defenseman Jonathon Blum scored the lone tally. IceHogs goalie Jason LaBarbera stopped 19 shots, helping his team to a ten-game points streak (9-0-0-1).
Iowa Wild
After 53 games, leading scorer Brian Connelly was traded to Chicago / Rockford on Wednesday, leaving with team highs of 27 assists and 32 points. Forward Brad Winchester was acquired in the trade and is now the team’s active leading scorer with a team leading 16 goals and 30 points in 55 games, all with Rockford. Defenseman Jonathon Blum, as well as forwards Carson McMillan and Zack Phillips: are also among the top scorers. Blum has seven goals and 19 assists for 26 points in 44 games played with Iowa. Forward Zack Phillips has nine goals and 16 assists for 25 points in 53 games played. McMillan has 11 goals and 12 assists for 23 points in 45 games played. Third in goal scoring, Brett Bulmer (10 goals) has 16 points in 28 games played. Center Warren Peters is also among the active skaters in points with 18 (7g/11a).
Goalies Johan Gustafsson and Hannu Toivonen man the nets for Iowa. Goalie John Curry was recalled on Wednesday to Minnesota. Johan Gustafsson is 8-12-2 with a 3.10 GAA and a .903 SV %. Toivonen has four AHL appearances this season, all with Milwaukee. He went 1-1-1 with a 2.50 GAA and a .909 SV%.
Iowa is 38-for-220 (17.3%) on the power play and has allowed 41 power-play goals against on 207 attempts (80.2%). The Wild is 26th in the AHL with a 2.47 goals per game average and the team sits 16th with a 2.87 goals against average.
Notables –
· Iowa forward Brad Winchester played one game for the Iowa Stars (AHL) during the 2007-08 season.
· Winchester and defenseman Zach Miskovic are expected to make their Iowa debuts on Thursday.
· Rochester has three former Houston Aeros from the 2012-13 season. Defenseman Drew Bagnall, forward Johan Larsson and goalie Matt Hackett, each spent time with Minnesota’s AHL affiliate.
Rochester Americans
Forwards Luke Adam and Phil Varone lead Rochester in scoring. Adam leads the team with 22 goals, including a team leading 11 on the power play. Adam has 40 points in 38 games played. Varone leads the team with 28 assists and is tied for the team lead with 40 points in 45 games played. Jamie Tardif is third on the team with 32 points in 39 games played. Former Minnesota Wild draft pick Johan Larsson is fourth on the team with 30 points in 31 games played.
Goalies Nathan Lieuwan and Matt Hackett are all in net for Rochester. Lieuwan is 14-7-2 with a 2.40 GAA and a .920 SV%. Hackett is 13-14-2 with a 2.78 GAA and a .907 SV%. He played in MN’s system for three seasons before a trade to Buffalo.
Rochester is 45-for-230 (19.6%) on the power play and has allowed 47 power-play goals against on 248 attempts (81.0%). The Americans are 14th in the AHL with a 2.92 goals per game average and the team sits 13th with a 2.79 goals against average.