GAME PREVIEW - ROCKFORD ICEHOGS AT IOWA WILD 2.16.14
Feb 16, 2014Rockford IceHogs (25-21-4-3, 57 points) at Iowa Wild (21-18-5-4, 51 points)
Sunday’s game is the eighth of ten meetings this season between Iowa and Rockford. The same two teams met last night, with Rockford winning 5-3 at Wells Fargo Arena. The IceHogs took their second straight meeting after the Wild had claimed the previous four. Iowa and Rockford have matched each other in scoring for the season series 23 goals per side. Iowa and Rockford are both playing three games over three days this weekend.
Iowa has points in 24 of the last 31 outings (15-7-5-4 /.629). The Wild has a record of 10-12-3-1 at home, outscored by the opposition in scoring 70-57. Iowa is 4-2-2-2 over the last ten outings and 9-10-3-2 against the Midwest Division. Iowa is 7-2-3-2 over the last 13 home games with its only regulation loss coming at the hands of Milwaukee and Rockford.
After starting out 7-2-1-0, Rockford has gone 18-19-3-3. The Hogs are 9-13-3-1 on the road this year and 10-13-1-3 against the Midwest Division. Rockford is 7-2-0-1 over the last ten outings and the club has seven wins over the last nine games. Rockford has points in six straight games (5-0-0-1). The IceHogs have won three of their last four road outings.
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
vs. Rockford 2/16 4:05 P.M. KXNO 1460 / iHeartRadio
at Rochester 2/18 6 PM CT KXNO 1460 / iHeartRadio
at Lake Erie 2/21 6:30 PM CT KXNO 1460 / iHeartRadio
Latest Transactions:
2/16 – Add forward Taylor Matson (recalled from Orlando – ECHL)
2/13 – Add forward Riley Brace (recalled from Ontario- ECHL)
2/9 – Delete forward Tyler Murovich (released PTO)
Last Time Out:
The Iowa Wild were defeated by the Rockford IceHogs 5-3 in front of 10,115 fans at Wells Fargo Arena on Saturday night. IceHogs defenseman Adam Clendening broke a 3-3 tie with 7:16 left in regulation to push Rockford past Iowa. Rookie forward Erik Haula scored once and set up two others, as Iowa suffered only its second regulation loss at home in the last 13 outings. Rockford forwards Pierre-Marc Bouchard and Alex Broadhurst each picked up a goal and an assist, helping their team record points in six straight games. IceHogs goalie Jason LaBarbera stopped 33 Iowa shots in the victory. Wild goalie Johan Gustafsson made 34 saves in the loss
Iowa Wild
After 48 games, defenseman Brian Connelly leads the team in scoring with 30 points in 45 appearances. Connelly has a team-high 26 assists, including a team-leading 13 on the power play. With seven points in his last three games, Forward Erik Haula moved into second for the team-scoring race with 24 points in 27 games. Defenseman Jonathon Blum, as well as forward Carson McMillan are also among the top scorers. McMillan has a team-leading 11 goals and 12 assists for 23 points in 42 games played. He is currently out with an injury. Blum has five goals and 19 assists for 24 points in 41 games played. Forward Zack Phillips has nine goals and 13 assists for 22 points in 48 games played. Second in goal scoring, Brett Bulmer (10 goals) is currently out with an injury. Forward Warren Peters is also among the active skaters in points with 18 (7g/11a).
Goalies Johan Gustafsson and John Curry man the nets for Iowa. Darcy Kuemper is on recall to Minnesota. Johan Gustafsson is 8-11-2 with a 3.10 GAA and a .903 SV %. Curry is 6-2-2 with a 1.85 GAA and a .943 SV%.
Iowa is 36-for-206 (17.5%) on the power play and has allowed 38 power-play goals against on 193 attempts (80.3%). The Wild is 25th in the AHL with a 2.54 goals per game average and the team sits 15th with a 2.85 goals against average.
Notables –
· Iowa defenseman Steven Kampfer played in his 200th AHL/NHL game on Saturday.
Rockford IceHogs
Defenseman Adam Clendening leads Rockford in scoring with seven goals and 34 assists for 41 points in 52 games played. He ranks among the top scoring defenseman in the AHL. Jeremy Morin is second on the team with 36 points in 37 games played, including a team-high 16 goals. Forward Alex Broadhurst is third on the club in points with 33 in 52 games. He is also among the team leaders with 12 goals. Center Joakim Nordstrom has 27 points in 43 games. He is third on the Hogs with 14 goals. Forwards Mark McNeill (15g,13a) and Terry Broadhurst (10g,21a), as well as defenseman Klas Dahlbeck (9g,20a) are also among the team leaders. Despite spending significant time in Chicago, forward Brandon Pirri has 17 points in 20 games.
Goalies Kent Simpson and Jason LaBarbera are all in net for Rockford. LaBarbera is 7-6-2 with a 2.76 GAA and a .915 SV%. Simpson is 9-12-1 with a 3.26 GAA and a .902 SV%.
The IceHogs are 12th in the AHL on the power play, going 41 for 221 (18.6%). Rockford is 30th on the penalty kill, allowing 61 power-play goals against on 234 attempts (73.9%). The Hogs sit 10th in the AHL with a 3.04 goals against average and 28th with a 3.30 goals per game average.