GAME PREVIEW - TEXAS STARS AT IOWA WILD 2.14.15
Feb 14, 2015Texas Stars (22-16-10-1, 55 points) at Iowa Wild (17-32-1-1, 36 points)
Iowa continues a three-game home stand, with its second straight game versus Texas. The Stars make their second visit to Wells Fargo Arena this season, after taking a 3-1 decision Friday night in Des Moines. Iowa and Texas have played four times this season, with the Stars claiming the last encounter. Texas has taken eight of the last nine games of the season series. The two clubs will play eight times this year, with three of the final four games at Wells Fargo Arena. The Stars own the all-time series with an 8-2-0-0 record against the Wild, including a 3-1-0-0 record in Des Moines. The Wild is 2-6-1-1 all-time against Texas, including a 1-3-0-0 mark at home.
Iowa is 8-16-0-0 at home this season, having been outscored 73-52 by the visitors. Iowa is coming off a 3-1 loss at home to Texas on Friday night. The team continues a stretch of three games over the next three days, all at home. Iowa is 2-8-0-0 over the last ten games, while Texas is 6-2-1-1. The Stars are 9-11-4-0 on the road, outscored by the home teams 73-64. The club is 17-4-6-1 when scoring first.
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
vs Texas 2/14 7:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio
vs Oklahoma City 2/15 4:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio / MC 22
at Charlotte 2/18 6:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
at Charlotte 2/19 6:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
at MIlwaukee 2/21 7:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio
Transactions:
2.7.15 – Add – D Joe Stejskal (signed PTO – from Gwinnett Gladiators – ECHL)
2.8.15 – Delete – G Darcy Kuemper (recalled by Minnesota - NHL)
2.8.15 – Add – G Johan Gustafsson (recalled from Alaska – ECHL)
2.10.15 – Add – D Joel Chouinard (signed PTO – Toledo – ECHL)
2.10.15 – Delete – F Stu Bickel (recalled by Minnesota - NHL)
2.11.15 – Delete – F Stephane Veilleux (recalled by Minnesota - NHL)
2.11.15 – Add – F Brett Sutter (assigned by Minnesota – NHL)
2.11.15 – Add – F Greg Wolfe (signed PTO – from Alaska – ECHL)
2.12.15 – Add – D Collin Bowman (signed PTO – from Colorado – ECHL)
2.12.15 – Add – D Christian Folin (assigned by Minnesota – NHL)
Last Time Out
The Iowa Wild were defeated by the Texas Stars 3-1 in front of 6,680 fans on Friday at Wells Fargo Arena. Forward Greg Rallo scored twice and forward Justin Dowling also score for the victory. Texas goalie Jussi Rynnas made 35 saves on 36 shots in the road win. Olivier Archambault spoiled Rynnas’ shutout, scoring with 54 seconds left in the third period. Iowa goalie John Curry stopped 19 of 22 shots in the loss.
Iowa Wild
Through 51 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 48 games. Keranen is second on the team in scoring with 32 points and is first with 23 assists in 50 games. Recalled to Minnesota, 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 24 points in 42 games played. Rookie Zack Mitchell is fourth among active skaters with 14 goals and 23 points in 51 games played. Defenseman Jon Blum is the leader in points from the blueline. He has eight goals and 22 points in 41 games played. Veteran center Brett Sutter is also among the team leaders with 18 points in 47 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 8-12-0 with a 2.77 GAA and a 0.917 SV%. Gustafsson is 7-16-0 with a 3.39 GAA and a .896 SV %.
Iowa’s power play is ranked 19th at 16.1%, while the penalty kill sits 30th at 77.8%.
Notables –
· Among all rookies, Iowa forward Kurtis Gabriel is second with 11 major penalties and fourth in PIMs with 85.
· Iowa left wing Zack Mitchell has tied Erik Haula’s team mark for most goals by a rookie (14).
Texas Stars
2013-14 AHL regular season and Calder Playoffs MVP, Travis Morin leads the Stars with 40 points in 39 games played. He has 25 assists and 15 goals for Texas. Morin is ninth in the AHL scoring race and he has a team-high 17 power-play points. Left wing Brendan Ranford is second on the club with 35 points in 49 games played. He is second among the Stars with 23 assists. Rookie forward Derek Hulak has emerged as a team-scoring leader with 28 points in 45 games. Hulak is tied for third on the team with 12 goals. Forwards Greg Rallo and Justin Dowling are also among the team leaders in points. Rallo has 16 goals and 12 assists for 28 points in 46 games. Dowling has 11 goals and 16 assists for 27 points in 38 games played. Derek Meech and Max Fortunus lead all defensemen in points with 24 each.
Goalies Jussi Rynnas takes the bulk of time in net for Texas. He shares time with newly acquired Henrik Kiviaho. Rynnas was in the Finnish Elite League last season. He is 15-4-6 with a 2.56 GAA and a .919 SV%. Kiviaho has yet to make his AHL debut.
Texas’ power play is ranked 6th at 19.0%, while the penalty kill sits second at 87.5%.