GAME PREVIEW - IOWA WILD AT GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 1.24.15
Jan 24, 2015Iowa Wild (15-25-1-1, 32 points) at Grand Rapids Griffins (20-16-3-1, 44 points)
Iowa concludes a stretch of two straight on the road, finishing with a visit to Grand Rapids. The two teams meet for the second time this season. Grand Rapids took the series opener 9-2 at Van Andel Arena on Dec. 27. They will meet six times, including the next game on Jan. 29 in Des Moines. Grand Rapids and Iowa both played in the Midwest Division last season. Iowa was moved to the West over the summer. The Wild is 2-8-1-0 all-time against Grand Rapids, having been outscored 31-15 last year. The Griffins have a four-game winning streak over the Wild dating back to last year. Iowa is 2-4-0-0 all-time at Grand Rapids. The Griffins are 9-2-0-0 all-time, with a 4-2-0-0 mark at the Van Andel Arena.
Iowa is 7-13-1-1 on the road this season, having been outscored 79-53 by the home teams. The Wild is coming off a 4-3 defeat at Milwaukee on Friday. Iowa has recorded back-to-back wins six times this season and has yet to record a three-game winning streak of the season. The Wild is 4-6-0-0 over the last 10 games, while the Griffins are 4-5-0-1. Grand Rapids is 10-7-2-1 at home, outscoring the visitors 67-53. The Griffins are coming off a 5-1 win at home over Utica on Friday. The team ended a four-game losing skid with the win.
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
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
vs. Hamilton 1/31 12:30 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio
at Adirondack 2/3 6:30 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
Transactions:
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)
1.22.15 – Add – D Justin Falk (assigned by Minnesota – NHL)
Last Time Out
The Iowa Wild were defeated by the Milwaukee Admirals 4-3 in front of 11,562 fans on day at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. Forward Austin Watson beat Iowa goalie Johan Gustafsson with 6:37 left in regulation, breaking a 3-3 tie and giving the Admirals their ninth straight win. Iowa scored twice over a 1:16 span early in the third period, erasing a 3-1 deficit and tying the game. Milwaukee goalie Marek Mazenec made 25 saves for the win, his fourth straight. Iowa goalie Johan Gustafsson had 16 saves in the road loss. Center Tyler Graovac led the Wild offensively with his 14th goal and an assist. Rookies Zack Mitchell and Matt Dumba also scored in the defeat.
Iowa Wild
Through 42 games this season, forwards Michael Keranen and Tyler Graovac are the team’s leading scorers. Graovac leads the team in goals with 14 tallies and is first with 29 points in 39 games. Keranen is second on the team in scoring with 28 points and is first with 22 assists in 42 games. Forward Jordan Schroeder is third on the club in points with 10 goals and 15 assists for 25 points in 31 games played. Right wing Marc Hagel is fourth among active skaters with a career-high 21 points in 33 games played. Rookie Zack Mitchell is fourth among active skaters with 11 goals and 20 points in 42 games played. Defenseman Jon Blum is the leader in points from the blueline, he has five goals and 18 points in 32 games played. Veteran center Brett Sutter is also among the team leaders with 16 points in 38 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 8-8-0 with a 2.62 GAA and a 0.922 SV%. Johan Gustafsson is 7-16-1 with a 3.39 GAA and a .896 SV %.
Iowa’s power play is ranked 20th at 15.5%, while the penalty kill sits 29th at 78.4%.
Notables –
· Defenseman Danny Syvret has played in 599 AHL games.
· Since Dec. 1, goalie John Curry is 7-3-0 with a 1.92 G.A.A. with a .942 SV %.
· Griffins forward Teemu Pulkkinen has a point in eight straight games, scoring nine goals and totaling 13 points over that span.
Grand Rapids Griffins
In the first 40 games of this season, second-year Griffin Teemu Pulkkinen leads his team in scoring with 20 goals and 21 assists for 41 points. He is third in the AHL for points and second in the league lead in goals. He is also among the league leaders for shots on goal at 135. Center Andy Miele is second on the team in points with 33 points in 35 games played. He is second on the team with 20 assists. Left wing Mitch Callahan is third on the club with 29 points in 40 games played. He is tied for second in goals (13) and third on the club with 16 assists. Veteran Kevin Porter (19 points) and Landon Ferraro (21 points – 16 goals) are also among the tam leaders in points. Defenseman Nathan Paetsch leads all Grand Rapids blueliners with 16 points in 39 games played.
Playing in 21 games this season for Grand Rapids, goalie Tom McCollum (10-8-3) is posting a 2.33 GAA and a .911 SV%. Goalie Petr Mrazek (3-2-0) is posting a 3.25 GAA and .876 SV% six games played for the Griffins this year. Rookie Jared Coreau is 6-6-1 with a 2.32 GAA and a .923 SV%. He is winless in last six starts after starting 6-1-0.
Grand Rapid’s power play is ranked 12th at 17.1%, while the penalty kill sits 16th at 83.0%.