GAME PREVIEW - GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS AT IOWA WILD 3.22.14
Mar 22, 2014Grand Rapids Griffins (40-18-2-4, 86 points) at Iowa Wild (25-27-6-4, 60 points)
Saturday’s game is the ninth of ten meetings this season between Iowa and Grand Rapids. The two teams played on Friday, with the Griffins posting a 4-1 win. Saturday marks the final regular season visit by Grand Rapids to Des Moines. The Griffins are 6-2-0-0 against the Wild this season, outscoring Iowa 22-12 in the season series. Four of the eight games have been decided by one goal. Iowa and Grand Rapids conclude its season series at Van Andel Arena on Apr. 2.
Iowa dropped its second straight home game on Friday with the loss to Grand Rapids. The team has lost six of the last seven games on home ice. The defeat dropped Iowa’s record to 11-17-3-1 at home, having been outscored 91-67. Iowa is 3-7-0-0 over the last ten outings and 11-16-3-2 against the Midwest Division.
The defending champs lead the Midwest Division and are second the Western Conference with 86 points, third best among all AHL teams. Grand Rapids is 20-7-2-2 on the road this season, outscoring the opposing teams 107-79. The Griffins are 23-10-0-1 against the Midwest Division and 8-1-0-1 over the last ten. The club is 3-0-0-1 over the last four.
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
vs. Grand Rapids 3/22 1:05 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio
vs. Charlotte 3/25 5:35 PM Mediacom 22 / KXNO / iHeartRadio
vs. Charlotte 3/26 7:05 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio
Latest Transactions:
3/14 – Delete forward Mike Ullrich (released from PTO)
3/13 – Delete defenseman Colton Jobke and forward Taylor Matson (assigned to Orlando – ECHL)
3/5 – Delete goalie Hannu Toivonen (released from PTO)
Last Time Out:
The Iowa Wild was defeated by the Grand Rapids Griffins 4-1 in front of 6,547 fans at the Wells Fargo Arena on Friday evening. Grand Rapids Captain Jeff Hoggan scored 13 seconds into the game and the Griffins never trailed en route to the team’s 40th win of the year. Winger Mitch Callahan added a goal and an assist as the Griffins improved to 6-2-0-0 against the Wild this season. Grand Rapids goalie Tom McCollum stopped 17 of 18 for the win. Iowa Johan Gustafsson stopped 25 of 29 in the defeat. Forward Kris Foucault scored the Iowa’s lone goal.
Iowa Wild
After 62 games, forward Brad Winchester leads the team in scoring with 18 goals and 33 points in 64 games. He has two goals and three points in nine games with Iowa since he was acquired from Rockford via trade. Defenseman Jonathon Blum, as well as forwards Carson McMillan and Zack Phillips: are also among the top scorers. Blum has seven goals and 22 assists for 29 points in 53 games played with Iowa. Forward Zack Phillips has a career-high, 11 goals and 18 assists for 29 points in 62 games played. McMillan has 11 goals and 13 assists for 24 points in 54 games played. Tied for second in goal scoring, Brett Bulmer (11 goals) has 18 points in 37 games played. Center Warren Peters is also among the active skaters in points with 19 (8g/11a).
Goalies John Curry and Johan Gustafsson man the nets for Iowa. Curry is 7-7-2 with a 2.31 GAA and a .928 SV%. Johan Gustafsson is 11-15-2 with a 2.98 GAA and a .906 SV %.
Iowa is 43-for-251 (17.1%) on the power play and has allowed 47 power-play goals against on 236 attempts (80.1%). The Wild is 30th in the AHL with a 2.34 goals per game average and the team sits 20th with a 2.98 goals against average.
Notables –
· Grand Rapids ranks 7th in shots per game average and 10th in shots allowed per game.
Grand Rapids Griffins
Recently recalled to Detroit, right wing Teemu Pulkkinen was leading the Griffins in scoring with 26 goals and 51 points in 60 games played. He had a team-high 175 shots on goal and was second with 25 assists. Defenseman Adam Almquist is first on the team with 41 assists and second with 45 points in 61 games played. Almquist also leads the Griffins with 21 power-play assists. The team is missing forward Tomas Jurco, who is in Detroit after scoring 13 goals and totaling 32 points in 32 games played. Cory Emmerton is also among the team leaders with 14 goals and 35 points in 43 games played. Right wing Mitch Callahan is among the team leaders with 23 goals and 38 points in 64 games played.
Goalie Tom McCullom and Petr Mrazek split time in net for Grand Rapids. Mrazek is 18-5-1 with a 2.01 GAA and a .928 SV%. He has made eight appearances for the Red Wings this season, going 1-4-0 with a 2.01 GAA and a .916 SV%. McCullom is 22-11-3 with a 2.25 GAA and a .923 SV %.
Grand Rapids is tenth in the league on the power play, going 52-for-262 (19.8%). The Griffins penalty kill has allowed 38 goals on 275 chances (86.3%). The team averages 3.22 goals per game (4th overall) while allowing 2.41 per game (first overall).