GAME PREVIEW - ROCHESTER AMERICANS AT IOWA WILD 4.3.15
Apr 3, 2015Rochester Americans (27-35-5-1, 60 points) at Iowa Wild (21-43-2-2, 46 points)
Iowa begins a four-game home stand on Friday with Rochester’s only visit to Des Moines this season. The Wild breaks for Easter and resumes with Texas on Tuesday. Rochester and Iowa plays the second game of the season series after meeting in Rochester on Jan. 2. The Americans claimed the first meeting of the season with a 3-0 shutout at home. 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. Rochester is 3-0-0-0 all-time, while Iowa is 0-2-1-0 all time.
Iowa is 8-23-1-1 at home this season, having been outscored 107-67 by the visiting teams. Iowa is mired in a franchise-record, 14-game winless (0-12-1-1) streak on home ice, dating back to Jan. 18. The Wild is 2-6-1-1 over the last 10 games, while the Americans are 3-6-0-1. Rochester is 10-18-3-1 on the road, having been outscored by the home clubs 112-82. The team has struggled of late with only two wins over the last eight outings. The Amerks are coming off a 5-1 loss at Utica on Wednesday.
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
vs. Rochester 4/3 7:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio
vs. Texas 4/7 7:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio
vs. Rockford 4/9 7:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio
vs. Oklahoma City 4/10 7:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio / MC 22
at Chicago 4/12 4:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio
Transactions:
3.24.15 – Add – F Pavel Jenys (signed ATO)
3.26.15 – Add – F Grayson Downing (signed ATO)
3.30.15 – Delete – D Christian Folin (recalled by Minnesota - NHL)
3.30.15 – Add – D Zach Palmquist (signed ATO)
3.31.15 – Delete – D Benjamin Dieude-Fauvel (released PTO)
Last Time Out
The Iowa Wild were defeated by the Chicago Wolves 3-2 in front of 7,720 fans on Sunday at Allstate Arena. Chicago’s power play connected for a goal in each period and held off the Wild down the stretch for the win. Right wing Ty Rattie and defenseman Brendan Bell factored in all three Wolves power-play goals. Rattie finished with a goal and two assists, while Bell had three assists. Forward Adam Cracknell and defenseman Colton Parayko also scored, as Chicago improved to 6-1-0-0 on the season. Wolves goalie Matt Climie stopped 15 of 17 in the home win. Wild goalie John Curry suffered the defeat with 33 saves. Iowa forwards Marc Hagel and Brett Sutter each scored, as the Wild extended its winless streak to eight games (0-6-1-1-).
Iowa Wild
Through 68 games this season, forward Tyler Graovac is the team’s leading scorer. He leads the team in goals with 20 tallies and is first with 44 points in 65 games played. Michael Keranen is second on the team in scoring with 34 points and is first with 25 assists in 63 games. Right wing Marc Hagel is third among active skaters with a career-high 32 points in 59 games played. Rookie Zack Mitchell is fifth among active skaters with 16 goals and 31 points in 68 games played. Defenseman Jon Blum is the leader in points from the blueline. He has nine goals and 31 points in 58 games played. Veteran center Brett Sutter is also among the team leaders with 25 points in 63 games played.
Goalies Johan Gustafsson and John Curry man the Iowa Wild crease. John Curry is 11-19-2 with a 2.75 GAA and a .915 SV%. Gustafsson is 8-20-0 with a 3.41 GAA and a .895 SV %.
Iowa’s power play is ranked 24th at 14.3%, while the penalty kill sits 30th at 75.0%.
Notables –
· Wild defenseman Jon Blum needs one more point to tie Brian Connelly’s team record for points in a season by a defenseman with 32 in 2013-14. Blum is the team’s all-time leading scorer from the blueline with 60 points in 121 games.
· Rochester is 14th in the AHL averaging 2.84 goals per game and Iowa is 29th at 2.22.
· Rochester is 27th defensively allowing 3.21 goals per game and Iowa is 28th at 3.25.
Rochester Americans
Through the first 68 games this season, forward Tim Schaller is the team’s active leading scorer. Phil Varone left for Buffalo with 43 points in 52 games, abandoning the top spot. Schaller is second on the team with 15 goals and first with 41 points in 59 games played. Aside from Varone, the team is also missing Johan Larsson (37 pts in 41 GP), Mikhail Grigorenko (33 pts in 40 GP), and Zac Dalpe (28 pts in 44 GP). Defenseman Chad Ruhwedel is second on the team among active skaters with 33 points in 66 games played. He ranks 16th among all AHL defensemen in points.
Anthony Peters and Pat Nagle man the net for Rochester. Playing in only four games this season, goalie Anthony Peters (1-3-0) is posting a 3.02 GAA and a 0.915 SV%. Goalie Pat Nagle is (0-1-0) is posting a 3.04 GAA and a 0.929 SV% in one appearance. Matt Hackett (Buffalo), Andrey Makarov (Buffalo) and Nathan Lieuwen (injured) have all seen action with the Amerks this year.
Rochester’s power play is ranked 21st in the AHL at 14.8%, while its penalty kill is 26th at 79.9%.