GAME PREVIEW - ROCKFORD ICEHOGS AT IOWA WILD 1.22.15
Jan 22, 2015Rockford IceHogs (23-13-4-2, 52 points) at Iowa Wild (15-23-1-1, 32 points)
Iowa concludes a three-game homestand with a visit from the IceHogs. The two teams last met on Jan. 16, as Rockford posted a 4-0 shutout at home. The Wild and Hogs have met six times this season, with Rockford winning four of the six games by a combined score of 21-14, The IceHogs have visited the Wild twice, going 1-1-0-0. Iowa is 2-3-1-0 overall in the season series. The Wild is 6-9-1-0 all-time against Rockford, including a 3-4-0-0 at home. The Hogs are 10-5-0-1 all-time, with a 4-3-0-0 mark at Wells Fargo Arena.
Iowa is 8-11-0-0 at home this season, having been outscored 57-46 by the visitors. The team is coming off a 4-3 OT win at home over Lake Erie on Sunday. Iowa has back-to-back wins for the sixth time this season and is still looking for its first three-game winning streak of the season. The Wild is 5-5-0-0 over the last 10 games, while the IceHogs are 5-3-1-1. Rockford is 13-7-1-1 on the road, outscoring the home teams 59-45. The Hogs are coming off a 4-1 loss at home to Chicago on Monday.
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
vs. Rockford 1/22 7:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio / MC22
at Milwaukee 1/23 7:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio
at Grand Rapids 1/24 6:00 PM (CT) KXNO / iHeartRadio
vs Grand Rapids 1/29 7:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio
vs. Hamilton 1/30 7:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio
Transactions:
1.18.15 – Delete – F Curt Gogol (reassigned to Alaska – ECHL)
1.18.15 – Add – D Jon Blum (assigned by Minnesota - NHL)
1.18.15 – Add – F Jordan Schroeder (assigned by Minnesota - NHL)
1.19.15 – Delete – D Nicholas Rioux (released – returns to Quad City - ECHL)
1.20.15 – Add – F Ruslan Fedotenko (signed PTO)
1.20.15 – Delete – F Olivier Archambault (assigned to Alaska - ECHL)
1.21.15 – Add – D Matt Dumba (assigned by Minnesota - NHL)
Last Time Out
The Iowa Wild defeated the Lake Erie Monsters 4-3 in overtime in front of 6,331 fans on Sunday at Wells Fargo Arena. With the game tied 3-3 in overtime, forward Tyler Graovac scored on a penalty shot, lifting the Wild past the Monsters. Forwards Jason Gregoire and Marc Hagel, as well as defenseman Jonathon Blum, each also scored for Iowa in win. Iowa goalie John Curry made 33 saves on 36 shots in the win. Forwards Colin Smith, Andrew Agozzino and Sam Henley scored for the Monsters. Lake Erie goalie Reto Berra stopped 28 of 32 shots in the loss.
Iowa Wild
Through 40 games this season, forwards Michael Keranen and Tyler Graovac are the team’s leading scorers. Keranen leads the team lead in scoring with 28 points and is first with 22 assists in 40 games. Graovac leads the team in goals with 13 tallies and is second with 27 points in 37 games. Forward Jordan Schroeder is third on the club in points with 10 goals and 15 assists for 25 points in 29 games played. Right wing Marc Hagel is fourth among active skaters with a career-high 20 points in 31 games played. Rookie Zack Mitchell is fourth among active skaters with 10 goals and 18 points in 40 games played. Defenseman Jon Blum is the leader in points from the blueline, he has five goals and 17 points in 30 games played. Veteran center Brett Sutter is also among the team leaders with 16 points in 36 games played.
Goalies Johan Gustafsson, John Curry and Josh Harding (injured) man the Iowa Wild crease. Harding is 0-1-1 with a 3.37 GAA and a .920 SV%. John Curry is 8-7-0 with a 2.72 GAA and a 0.918 SV%. Johan Gustafsson is 7-15-1 with a 3.36 GAA and a .898 SV %.
Iowa’s power play is ranked 17th at 15.6%, while the penalty kill sits 29th at 78.9%.
Notables –
· Iowa Captain Stephane Veilleux played in his 900th career game on Sunday, while Jon Blum played his 300th AHL game. Tyler Graovac also became the second player to reach 100 career games with Iowa.
· Defenseman Danny Syvret has played in 597 AHL games.
Rockford IceHogs
Through 42 games of this season, defenseman TJ Brennan, as well as forwards Garrett Ross and Phillip Danualt, leads Rockford in points. Brennan is first on the team with 23 assists and 31 points in 42 games played. Brennan was the AHL’s leading scorer among defenseman in 2013-14 and was awarded the Eddie Shore trophy for league’s most outstanding defenseman. Ross has a team-high 13 goals and is second on the team with 24 points in 36 games played. Ross leads the team with a +19. Forward Mark McNeill is second on the team with 12 goals and has accumulated 23 points in 29 games played. Danualt is tied for second on the team with 17 assists and he is tied for third on the team with 23 points in 37 games played. On NHL call up, rookie forward Teuvo Teravainen had 23 points in 33 games played. Patrick Regin has suited up 37 times for Rockford, scoring five times and totaling 20 points.
Playing in 23 games this season for Rockford, goalie Michael Leighton (10-7-4) is posting a 2.11 GAA and a .929 SV%. Goalie Scott Darling (10-6-2) is posting a 2.25 GAA and .927 SV% in 18 games.
Rockford’s power play is ranked 20th at 15.2%, while the penalty kill sits fifth at 87.1%.