WILD RIDE THREE-POINT NIGHTS BY GIROUX, MERMIS TO 5-3 VICTORY OVER EAGLES
Dec 28, 2022
DES MOINES, Iowa – Damien Giroux scored his first goal of the season late in the second period before adding the game-winner with 3:22 to play as the Iowa Wild took a 5-3 win over the Colorado Eagles on Wednesday night. Giroux added an assist to reach three points on the evening, while Dakota Mermis had a goal and two assists in his first game wearing the captain’s “C” for Iowa.
The teams traded blows throughout the opening period, with Colorado opening the scoring 3:25 into the contest. Oskar Olausson gave the Eagles a 1-0 lead with a wrister from the right circle over the shoulder of Zane McIntyre (15 saves).
The Wild responded 1:13 later. Joseph Cramarossa and Giroux assisted Mermis, who rifled a shot over Justus Annunen (24 saves) from the blue line.
Another defenseman gave Iowa the lead at 11:22 of the first. After Patrick Curry and Michael Milne combined to set up Turner Ottenbreit at the point, he wired a long shot through traffic to tally his first goal of the season.
Josh Jacobs equalized for Colorado with 4:44 to play in the period with a shot from the left circle that caught the left arm of McIntyre before finding the back of the net.
The Wild led the Eagles 8-7 in shots with the score knotted at 2-2 after one period of play.
Iowa regained the lead with 4:11 to play in the second period with a shorthanded goal. After Cramarossa forced a turnover in the neutral zone, he fed Giroux in the right circle for Giroux’s first goal of the season.
The Wild carried a 3-2 lead and an 18-12 shot advantage into the second intermission.
Colorado tied the game 2:48 into the third period with a power-play goal when Jean-Luc Foudy found Alex Galchenyuk between the circles for a one-time shot along the ice.
Giroux put Iowa on top once again with 3:22 remaining in the third. After Giroux won the faceoff on the left dot, Mermis fired a shot from the point that Giroux redirected past Annunen to give the Wild a 4-3 advantage.
Nick Swaney closed the door for the Wild, scoring an empty-net goal with 1:25 remaining to seal the 5-3 victory. Nic Petan and Mermis picked up assists on Swaney’s goal.
Iowa outshot Colorado 29-18. The Wild went 0-for-3 on the power play while the Eagles were 1-for-2 with the man advantage.
The Wild and the Eagles meet again at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 30 at Wells Fargo Arena.
Iowa Wild hockey is presented by MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center. For more information, please visit www.iowawild.com. Fans can purchase single-game tickets through the team’s website at www.iowawild.com. Group tickets (10 or more), suites, Wild memberships or premium tickets can be purchased by contacting the Iowa Wild Ticket Department at 515-564-8700 or tickets@iowawild.com. The 2022-23 season marks the 10th anniversary of Iowa Wild hockey. Fans can purchase season tickets for the 10th anniversary season at https://www.iowawild.com/wild-365.
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