GAME PREVIEW - IOWA WILD AT TORONTO MARLIES 2.7.15
Feb 7, 2015Iowa Wild (17-29-1-1, 36 points) at Toronto Marlies (18-18-9-0, 45 points)
Iowa continues a stretch of four straight on the road with stops in Adirondack, Hamilton and Toronto. Iowa makes its third stop on the trek after two straight wins to begin the trip. This marks Iowa’s first and only visit to Toronto during the regular season. The two teams will meet for the second time this year in Des Moines on Apr. 14. The two clubs only met twice in 2013-14, splitting the season series with the home team taking each decision. Iowa is 1-1-0-0 all time against Toronto, including a 1-0-0-0 mark at Ricoh Coliseum. Toronto is 1-0-0-1 all time, including a 0-0-0-1 mark at home.
Iowa is 9-14-1-1 on the road this season, having been outscored 86-65 by the home teams. The 86 goals is the second highest total for road goals allowed in the AHL. Iowa is coming off a 5-3 win at Hamilton on Friday. The team has posted back-to-back wins seven times this season and will attempt the first three-game winning streak of the season on Saturday. Iowa is 4-6-0-0 over the last ten games, while Toronto is 4-3-3-0. The club is winless over the last three games (0-2-1-0). The Marlies are 9-8-5-0 at home, having been outscored the visitors 56-51. Toronto is coming off a 4-3 overtime loss at Lake Erie on Friday.
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
at Toronto 2/7 2:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
at Hamilton 2/10 6:30 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
vs Texas 2/13 7:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio
vs Texas 2/14 7:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio / MC 22
vs Oklahoma City 2/15 4:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio
Transactions:
2.3.15 – Delete – F Jordan Schroeder (recalled by Minnesota - NHL)
2.5.15 – Add – F Olivier Archambault (recalled from Alaska - ECHL)
2.5.15 – Add – F Ryan Walters (recalled from Alaska - ECHL)
2.5.15 – Add – F Joe Perry (signed PTO – from Quad City Mallards – ECHL)
2.7.15 – Add – D Joe Stejskal (signed PTO – from Gwinnett Gladiators – ECHL)
Last Time Out
The Iowa Wild defeated the Hamilton Bulldogs 5-3 in front of 3,745 fans on Friday night at Copps Coliseum. Iowa defenseman Jon Blum scored twice, and forwards Brady Brassart, Zack Phillips and Kurtis Gabriel also added tallies as the Wild ended Hamilton’s six-game winning streak. Iowa goalie Darcy Kuemper stopped 23 of 26 Bulldogs’ shots for his second straight win. Hamilton goalie Joey MacDonald suffered the defeat with 20 saves on 24 shots.
Iowa Wild
Through 48 games this season, forwards Michael Keranen and Tyler Graovac are the team’s leading scorers. Graovac leads the team in goals with 16 tallies and is first with 34 points in 45 games. Keranen is second on the team in scoring with 31 points and is first with 23 assists in 47 games. Recalled Tuesday, forward Jordan Schroeder was third on the club in points with 10 goals and 18 assists for 28 points in 35 games played. Right wing Marc Hagel is third among active skaters with a career-high 23 points in 39 games played. Rookie Zack Mitchell is fourth among active skaters with 13 goals and 22 points in 48 games played. Defenseman Jon Blum is the leader in points from the blueline. He has eight goals and 22 points in 38 games played. Veteran center Brett Sutter is also among the team leaders with 18 points in 44 games played.
Goalies Darcy Kuemper, 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 8-10-0 with a 2.78 GAA and a 0.917 SV%. Darcy Kuemper is 2-2-0 with a 2.74 GAA and a .910 SV %.
Iowa’s power play is ranked 15th at 16.8%, while the penalty kill sits 30th at 77.3%.
Notables –
· Wild center Tyler Graovac surpassed the team record for points in a season with an assist at Adirondack on Wednesday.
· Iowa left wing Zack Mitchell needs one goal to tie Erik Haula’s team mark for most goals by a rookie.
· Jon Blum surpassed the team record for goals in a season by a defenseman with his 8th goal on Friday in Hamilton.
Toronto Marlies
Through the first 45 games this season, rookie forward Connor Brown leads the Toronto Marlies in scoring with 12 goals and 21 assists for 33 points. This mark is second among all first-year skaters. Suiting up in 40 games this year, forward Spencer Abbott is second on the team in scoring off seven goals and 15 assists for 22 points. Forwards Greg McKegg and Sam Carrick are tied for third on the Marlies in points with 18. In 33 games, McKegg has netted eight goals and tallied 10 assists. Carrick has scored three goals and accumulated 15 helpers in 37 games played. Forwards Matt Frattin (12g-5a) and Josh Leivo (4g-9a) are also among the team leaders in scoring. Rookie defenseman Viktor Loov leads all Toronto blueliners in scoring with 14 points in 44 games played.
Playing in 23 games this season, goalie Christopher Gibson (9-11-3) is posting a 2.54 GAA and a 0.918 SV%. Rookie goalie Antoine Bibeau (8-7-5) is posting a 2.58 GAA and a 0.917 SV% in 20 games played this year.
Toronto’s power play is ranked 28th in the AHL at 12.3%, while its penalty kill is 26th at 80.6%.