IOWA MAKES HISTORY WITH 6-1 VICTORY AGAINST COLORADO
Oct 27, 2018-Greenway nets fourth hat trick in team history as Wild sets record for longest home winning streak-
DES MOINES, IOWA – Forward Jordan Greenway recorded the fourth hat trick in team history as Iowa Wild (5-2-0-0; 10 pts.) defeated Colorado Eagles (4-2-2-0; 10 pts.) by a score of 6-1. With the win, Iowa set a new franchise record for longest home winning streak as well as the most wins ever in the month of October.
Greenway notched his first goal in an Iowa Wild sweater just 85 seconds into the game. From behind the net, forward Cal O’Reilly sent a pass to Greenway who was to the left of the slot. Greenway corralled the pass with his skate and kicked the puck to his stick. He then rifled a shot over the glove of goaltender Pavel Francouz (13 saves) to give the Wild a 1-0 lead. Forward Luke Kunin began his three-point night with a helper on the goal.
Greenway’s second goal of the game came at 15:50 in the opening frame. Receiving a pass from Kunin below the goal line, Greenway cycled back up the zone to the right faceoff dot. He then turned and put a shot on net, beating Francouz in the process. The Wild took a 2-1 lead on the play and defenseman Ryan Murphy notched his 100th career AHL point with a secondary assist.
Midway through the second period, Greenway made hats rain from the rafters as he potted his third goal of the game. Greenway carried the puck into the offensive zone and snapped a shot on net. The rebound went to O’Reilly, who fed Greenway on the back door. The 2015 second-round draft pick buried the puck into the open net, completing his hat trick at 8:31 in the middle frame.
Greenway’s three-goal game was the fourth in Wild history and the first since Kunin recorded a hat trick against Rockford on March 28, 2017. Kunin also recorded an assist on the play, his third of the night.
Colorado recorded its only goal of the game at 7:45 in the first period as forward Sheldon Dries roofed a puck over the shoulder of Andrew Hammond (25 saves). The score marked Dries’ first goal of the season, with assists going to forward Andrew Agozzino and Logan O’Connor.
Greenway’s second goal gave Iowa the 2-1 lead through the first period, with the Wild outshooting the Eagles 11-7.
Defenseman Louie Belpedio recorded his first professional goal with his tally at 1:28 in the second period. Forward Mike Liambas won a puck battle on the right boards and worked the puck back to defenseman Brennan Menell on the blueline. Menell went D-to-D to Belpedio, who walked to the left circle before firing a puck on net. His shot snuck under the glove Francouz for the score.
O’Reilly netted his second goal of the season with a power-play tally at 5:22 in the second period. With the power-play offense set up, defenseman Eric Martinsson distributed the puck to O’Reilly on the point. O’Reilly stepped up to the top of the left circle and blasted a slap shot top shelf, giving Iowa a 4-1 lead.
Greenway’s third goal midway through the second gave Iowa the 5-1 lead, prompting the visitors to make a goaltending change. Replacing Francouz was goaltender Spencer Martin (nine saves), who played the remaining 31:27.
The Wild carried its 5-1 to the end of the second period, outshooting the Eagles 24-19 during the first 40 minutes of the game.
At 8:15 in the final frame, forward Justin Kloos etched Iowa’s fifth consecutive goal. Forward Mason Shaw forced a turnover at the offensive blueline and immediately entered the Colorado zone. Quick passing by Shaw, Kloos and forward Will Bitten led to Kloos with an open net. He launched a one-timer far post for his third goal of the season. With his assist, Bitten recorded his first career professional point.
Iowa closed out the game without incident, notching the team’s fifth consecutive home win while outshooting Colorado 28-26.
With the win, Iowa extended the AHL’s longest home winning streak to five games. The Wild’s 4.71 goals per game is the best mark in the league and the team’s 28 goals scored at home and five wins at home are also the highest in the AHL. Iowa finished the game 2-for-4 on the power play, improving to 37 percent, five points better than the next best team.
The Wild embarks on the team’s first 3-in-3 as it travels to Grand Rapids for a Friday night tilt against the Griffins. Puck drop is at 6:00 p.m.
The Iowa Wild 2018-19 season is presented by Mercy Medical Center and runs from October through April. For more information, please contact the Wild office by calling 515-564-8700 or by visiting www.iowawild.com.