GAME PREVIEW - IOWA WILD AT CHARLOTTE CHECKERS 12.8.14
Dec 8, 2014Iowa Wild (5-15-1-1, 12 points) at Charlotte Checkers (8-11-2-0, 18 Points)
The Iowa Wild concludes a five-game road trip with the second of two games in Charlotte this Sunday. Charlotte claimed the third meeting of the season between the two teams on Saturday by a 2-1 decision. The two teams met for a pair of games in October at Wells Fargo Arena. Charlotte took the first game 5-1 on Oct. 24 and Iowa claimed the second meeting 4-1 on Oct. 25. After AHL division realignment this summer the two teams find themselves in the West Division. Iowa and Charlotte played four times in 2013-14, as the Wild opened its inaugural season with a pair of wins in Charlotte to start the year. The Checkers came to Des Moines and won a pair of games at Wells Fargo Arena in March. Charlotte is 4-3-0-0 in the all-time series. Iowa is 2-1-0-0 at Charlotte, while the Checkers are 3-1-0-0 at Wells Fargo Arena.
Iowa is 2-8-1-1 on the road this season, having been outscored 44-30 by the home teams. Charlotte is 6-4-1-0 at home, outscored by the visitors 31-28 at Time Warner Cable Arena. The Checkers are 4-4-2-0 over the last ten games. Charlotte has points in four straight (3-0-1-0) and has points in six straight at home. Iowa is 3-5-1-1 over the last ten games.
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
at Charlotte 12/8 6:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio
vs. San Antonio 12/11 7:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio
vs. San Antonio 12/12 7:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio
vs. Adirondack 12/14 3:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio
vs. Rockford 12/16 7:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio
Transactions:
12.1.14 – Delete D Christian Folin (recalled by Minnesota – NHL)
12.2.14 – Delete F Cody Almond (reassigned to Geneve – Swiss A)
12.3.14 Add – D Justin Falk (assigned by Minnesota – NHL)
12.5.14 – Delete F Raphael Bussieres (reassigned to Alaska – ECHL)
12.8.14 – Add G Johan Gustafsson (recalled from Alaska – ECHL)
Last Time Out
The Iowa Wild were defeated by the Charlotte Checkers 2-1 in front of 6,985 fans at Time Warner Cable Arena on Saturday night. Checkers forward Brendan Woods scored two goals in a 2:38 span of the second period, helping Charlotte erase a 1-0 deficit and take a 2-1 lead. Checkers goalie Drew MacIntyre stopped 27 of 28 for the win, extending the Checkers points streak to four games (3-0-1-0). Iowa goalie Josh Harding took the loss with 19 saves and left the game after two periods of play. John Curry played the third period, making seven saves on seven shots. Iowa’s lone goal was scored by Captain Stephane Veilleux.
Iowa Wild
Through the 22 games of the season, forwards Tyler Graovac, Michael Keranen and Jordan Schroeder are the team’s leading scorers. Graovac is first on the team with six goals and tied for second with ten assists for 17 points. Michael Keranen is second on the team in scoring with 16 points. He leads the team with 12 assists in 22 games. Schroeder is third on the squad with five goals and 15 points in 19 games played. Center Brett Sutter is fourth on the team with 11 points in 22 games played off three goals and eight assists. Marc Hagel is among the team leaders with six goals and has nine points in 13 games. Hagel had six points in his last seven games, but has missed time recently with an injury.
Goalies Johan Gustafsson, John Curry and Josh Harding man the Iowa Wild crease. Harding is 0-1-1 with a 3.37 GAA and a .920 SV%. Curry is 1-5-0 with a 3.43 GAA and a .899 SV%. Recently back from ECHL’s Alaska, Johan Gustafsson was 4-9-1-0 with a 3.53 GAA and a .890 SV % in Iowa.
Iowa’s power play is ranked 22nd at 14.9%, while the penalty kill sits 30th at 76.3%.
Notables –
· Center Zack Phillips has played in 96 games for Iowa and is poised to become the first player to reach 100 for the franchise.
Charlotte Checkers
In the first 21 games this season, right wing Greg Nemisz leads the Checkers with eight goals and six assists for 14 total points. Brendan Woods moved into second in team scoring with five goals and five assists for 10 points in 21 games. Four Charlotte forwards are tied for third on the team in points with nine each. Right wing Justin Shugg is second on the team with seven goals scored and second in points with nine in 13 games played. Left wing Brock McGinn is third on the team with five goals and is also tied for second in points with nine in 20 games played. Phil Di Giuseppe (3g-6a) and Chad Larose (2g-7a) are also tied for second in scoring with nine points. Ryan Murphy is among the leaders in points among defensemen, he has seven assists in 13 games.
Playing in 16 games this year, goalie Drew MacIntyre (7-8-1) is posting a 2.70 GAA and a 0.912 SV%. Goalie John Muse (1-3-1) is posting a 2.82 GAA and a 0.906 SV% in seven games played.
Charlotte's power play is ranked 29th in the AHL at 10.7%, while its penalty kill is 19th at 82.0%.