GAME PREVIEW - GRAND RAPIDS AT IOWA 12.10.17

Dec 10, 2017

MEDIA KIT

Iowa Wild (11-8-5-0; 27 pts.) vs. Grand Rapids Griffins (9-12-0-3; 21 pts.)

Iowa Wild hosts the defending Calder Cup Champion, Grand Rapids Griffins, at 5 p.m. CT on Sunday. In the only other meeting of the season series on November 17, the Wild secured a 4-2 home ice win, a game in which the club never trailed. Three players recorded multiple points in the victory, which at the time was Iowa’s fourth-straight home win overall, a new franchise record. In four-plus seasons of the rivalry, the Wild is just 8-19-3-1 with four of the club’s eight wins coming from Wells Fargo Arena. Dating back to last season, Iowa boasts a five-game point streak (3-0-1-1) against Grand Rapids.

Last Game Recap:

It was déjà vu again for Iowa Wild last night as the club suffered its third straight overtime defeat, a 4-3 loss at home to the San Diego Gulls. Once again, Iowa staked itself to a lead, this time a two-goal, third period advantage before the Gulls eventually tied it and then stunned the home crowd with the overtime winner from forward Ryan White. Wild forward Justin Kloos recorded two points (1g, 1a), while goaltender Niklas Svedberg (30 saves) registered just the second overtime loss of his AHL career as Iowa dropped to 0-2-1-0 all-time versus San Diego.

WILD Notables –

• Center Pat Cannone boasts a seven-game point streak, one game shy of Jordan Schroeder’s franchise record set back in 2016
• The Wild have recorded eight power play goals (in 26 opportunities) over the last six games
• All five of Iowa’s overtime losses have come when scoring first
• Forward Justin Kloos has scored in back-to-back games, while racking up five points in his last six contests overall

GRIFFINS Notables –

• Today marks the third game in three days for Grand Rapids; the Griffins were swept by the Rockford IceHogs in a home-and-home set to kick off the weekend, including last night’s 7-2 road loss
• Forward Dominik Shine, who scored in last night’s defeat, has three points in his last three games
• Grand Rapids has allowed 18 goals in four games this month
• The Griffins won 47 games last season as they reached the playoffs for the fifth straight year

Upcoming Games:

Opponent                              Date   Time              Broadcast

at Grand Rapids                       12/13     6:00 PM CT    KXNO / iHeartRadio

at Milwaukee                            12/15     7:00 PM CT    KXNO / iHeartRadio

at Chicago                               12/16     7:00 PM CT    KXNO / iHeartRadio

at Cleveland                             12/18     6:00 PM CT    KXNO / iHeartRadio

at Cleveland                             12/20     6:00 PM CT    KXNO / iHeartRadio

Recent Transactions:

11.30.17 - ADD Matt Caito (D) – recalled from Rapid City (ECHL)

11.30.17 – DELETE Branden Komm (G) – released from PTO

12.01.17 - ADD Adam Vay (G) – recalled from Rapid City (ECHL)

12.04.17 – DELETE Adam Vay (G) – assigned to Rapid City (ECHL)

12.06.17 – DELETE Joel Eriksson Ek (C) – recalled to Minnesota (NHL)

12.10.17 -  DELETE Jack Walker (F) – assigned to Rapid City (ECHL)