GAME PREVIEW - IOWA WILD AT ROCHESTER AMERICANS 1.2.15
Jan 2, 2015Iowa Wild (11-19-1-1, 24 points) at Rochester Americans (13-19-1-0, 27 points)
Iowa hits the road with four straight – starting the trip in Rochester with the Americans. The Wild also visits Utica, Texas and San Antonio. Rochester and Iowa only play twice this season, the Americans visit the Wild on Apr. 1. The two teams met for a pair of games last season, with Rochester outscoring Iowa 7-4 in en route to a sweep. Iowa has a point in the series, falling 3-2 in overtime in its only visit to Blue Cross Arena on Feb. 19, 2014.
Iowa is 5-9-1-1 on the road this season, having been outscored 58-43 by the home teams. The Wild is coming off a 3-2 overtime victory at home over Milwaukee on Monday night. The Wild has four wins over the last six games and is 9-9-1-1 under Head Coach John Torchetti. The team has three wins over the last four road games. The Wild is 0-1-0-0 against the North Division this season. It will play 12 games against the North Division this season. Iowa is 6-4-0-0 over the last ten games, while Rochester is 4-6-0-0. After a six-game losing skid from Nov. 29 – Dec. 12, the team is 4-3-0-0 over the last seven (all home). Rochester is 11-10-0-0 at home, while outscoring the visiting teams 70-61. The Amerks are coming off a 4-1 win at home on Wednesday night.
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
at Rochester 1/2 6:05 PM (CT) KXNO / iHeartRadio
at Utica 1/3 6 PM (CT) KXNO / iHeartRadio
at Texas 1/9 7:30 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio
at San Antonio 1/10 7:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio
vs. Chicago 1/13 7:00 PM KXNO/ iHeartRadio
Transactions:
12.28.14 – Delete – F Brett Sutter (recalled by Minnesota – NHL)
12.28.14 – Add – D Justin Falk (assigned by Minnesota – NHL)
12.31.14 – Add – G John Curry (assigned by Minnesota – NHL)
12.31.14 – Delete – G Parker Milner (released from PTO – returns to Quad City- ECHL)
1.1.15 – Add – F Tyler Graovac (assigned by Minnesota – NHL)
Last Time Out
The Iowa Wild defeated the Milwaukee Admirals 3-2 in overtime in front of 6,618 fans on Monday night at Wells Fargo Arena. Forward Jordan Schroeder scored twice for Iowa, including the game-tying goal with 3:44 remaining in regulation and the game-winning tally in overtime. Rookie forward Zack Mitchell also scored in the Wild OT win. Iowa goalie Johan Gustafsson made 30 saves on 32 shots, recording the home victory. Rookie forward Viktor Arvidsson scored twice in the road loss for the Admirals. Milwaukee goalie Marek Mazenec stopped 25 of 28 shots in the overtime defeat.
Iowa Wild
Through 32 games this season, forwards Tyler Graovac, Michael Keranen and Jordan Schroeder are the team’s leading scorers. Keranen leads the team lead in scoring with 25 points and is first with 20 assists in 32 games. Graovac leads the team in goals with 12 tallies and he is second with 24 points in 31 games this season. Schroeder is third on the squad with nine goals and 22 points in 26 games played. Recalled on Sunday, center Brett Sutter was fourth on the team with 15 points off six goals and nine assists in 30 games played. Forwards Zack Mitchell (14 pts) and Marc Hagel (14 pts) are also among the team leaders. Jon Blum leads all defensemen with four goals and 15 points in 27 games played.
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 5-6-0 with a 2.84 GAA and a 0.917 SV%. Johan Gustafsson is 6-12-1 with a 3.50 GAA and a .892 SV % in Iowa.
Iowa’s power play is ranked 15th at 16.7%, while the penalty kill sits 29th at 79.2%.
Notables –
· Monday night marked the third OT win in Iowa history, the second at home.
· Iowa rookie defenseman Matt Dumba had ten points in 11 games during the month of December.
Rochester Americans
Through the first 33 games this season, forward Phil Varone leads the Rochester Americans in scoring with eight goals and 21 assists for 29 total points. The Canadian native was eighth in the AHL last year in assists with 43, and his 21 this year is good for the team lead. He also has five points the last five games. Suiting up in 32 games this season, forward Tim Schaller is second on the team in points with nine goals and 12 assists for 21 points in 32 games played. The two-year veteran has tallied five points in his last five games, as well. Forward Joel Armia is tied for third on the team in points with 18, off eight goals and ten assists in 23 games. Chad Ruhwedel leads all defensemen on the Americans in scoring, netting seven goals and accumulating 11 assists for 18 points in 33 games played. Forwards Matt Ellis and Zac Dalpe are also among Rochester’s leaders in scoring. Ellis has scored seven goals and compiled six assists for 13 points in 33 games played. In 26 games this season, Dalpe has 11 total points.
Playing in 21 games this season, rookie goalie Andrey Makarow (9-10-1) is posting a 2.65 GAA and a 0.913 SV%. Goalie Nathan Lieuwen (4-9-0) is posting a 3.29 GAA and a 0.883 SV% in 16 games played this year.
Rochester’s power play is ranked 12th in the AHL at 17.4%, while its penalty kill is 17th at 82.9%.