GAME PREVIEW - ROCKFORD ICEHOGS AT IOWA WILD 4.9.15
Apr 9, 2015Rockford IceHogs (42-21-5-2, 91 points) at Iowa Wild (22-44-2-2, 48 points)
Iowa continues a four-game home stand on Tuesday with Texas’ final visit to Des Moines this season. Iowa finishes the regular season with three home games and three road games. Iowa continues the home stand, with a visit from their Midwest division rivals. The two teams last met on Jan. 22, as Rockford posted a 1-0 victory, the club’s second straight shutout over Iowa. The Wild has not scored a goal in the last 144:16 of play versus the Hogs. The Wild and Hogs have met seven times this season, with Iowa winning two of the last four games. The Wild has visited the IceHogs four times, going 1-2-1-0 this season. Iowa is 2-4-1-0 overall in the season series. The Wild is 6-10-1-0 all-time against Rockford, including a 3-5-0-0 at home. The Hogs are 11-5-0-1 all-time, with a 5-3-0-0 mark at Wells Fargo Arena.
Iowa is 9-24-1-1 at home this season, having been outscored 113-77 by the visiting teams. The Wild is coming off a 6-4 loss at home to Texas on Tuesday. Iowa has one win over the last 15 home games. The Wild is 1-7-1-1 over the last 10 games, while the Hogs are 8-2-0-0. Rockford is 20-13-1-1 on the road, having outscored the home teams 91-81. The team is coming off a 5-3 win at home over Milwaukee on Tuesday – the team’s third straight win. Rockford is 13-3-1-0 over the last 17 games. The team has clinched a berth in the Calder Cup playoffs.
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
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
vs. Toronto 4/14 7:00 PM KXNO/ iHeartRadio
at Oklahoma City 4/17 7:00 PM KXNO/ iHeartRadio
Transactions:
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 Texas Stars 6-4 in front of 3,136 fans on Tuesday at Wells Fargo Arena. With the game tied 3-3 late in the second period, forward Greg Rallo scored to put the Stars up for good. Forwards Brett Ritchie, Gemel Smith, Devin Shore and Kevin Henderson also scored for Texas in the road win. Texas goalie Jack Campbell made 33 saves on 37 shots in the victory. Forward Jared Knight (1g, 1a) and defenseman Joel Chouinard (2a) each tallied multi-point games for Iowa. Defensemen Jon Blum, as well as forwards Stephane Veilleux and Brett Sutter also scored for Iowa in the loss. Iowa goalie John Curry stopped 31 of 36 shots in the defeat.
Iowa Wild
Through 70 games this season, forward Tyler Graovac is the team’s leading scorer. He leads the team in goals with 21 tallies and is first with 45 points in 67 games played. Michael Keranen is second on the team in scoring with 36 points and is first with 27 assists in 65 games. Right wing Marc Hagel is fourth among active skaters with a career-high 32 points in 61 games played. Rookie Zack Mitchell is tied for fourth among active skaters with 16 goals and 32 points in 70 games played. Defenseman Jon Blum is the leader in points from the blueline. He has ten goals and 33 points in 60 games played. Veteran center Brett Sutter is also among the team leaders with 27 points in 65 games played.
Goalies Johan Gustafsson and John Curry man the Iowa Wild crease. John Curry is 12-20-2 with a 2.74 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 23rd at 14.5%, while the penalty kill sits 30th at 75.5%.
Notables –
· With a goal on Tuesday, Jon Blum surpassed Brian Connelly’s mark of 32 points in a season by a defenseman. Blum is the team’s all-time leading scorer from the blueline with 62 points in 123 games.
· Rookie Grayson Downing recorded his first pro point with an assist on Tuesday.
· Rockford is 12th in the AHL averaging 2.89 goals per game and Iowa is 28th at 2.30.
· Rockford is fifth defensively allowing 2.37 goals per game and Iowa is 28th at 3.24.
Rockford IceHogs
Through 70 games of this season, forwards Garrett Ross and Spencer Abbott lead Rockford in points. Ross is first on the club with 21 goals and tied for the team lead with 42 points in 64 games played. Ross also leads the club with a +21. Abbott shares the scoring lead with 42 points off 16 goals and 26 assists in 60 games played. Abbott played the bulk of the season with Toronto after he was acquired on Feb. 26. He has nine goals and 18 points in only 14 games with Rockford. Second-year center Mark McNeill is third on the team with 40 points in 57 games played. He is second on the team with 20 goals and first with five game-winning goals. Forwards Peter Regin and Phillip Danault are also among the team leaders. Regin has a team-high 29 assists and 39 points in 64 games played. Danault has 25 assists and 36 points in 65 games played. Rookie Ville Pokka leads all active defensemen with 30 points in 64 games played.
Playing in 38 games this season for Rockford, goalie Michael Leighton (19-12-4) is posting a 2.20 GAA and a .921 SV%. Goalie Antti Raanta (7-1-1) is posting a 2.65 GAA and .910 SV% in 10 games played for the IceHogs this year.
Rockford’s power play is ranked 15th at 17.5%, while the penalty kill sits ninth at 85.2%.