GAME PREVIEW - IOWA WILD AT ROCKFORD ICEHOGS 10.30.15
Oct 30, 2015Iowa Wild (2-4-1-1, 6 points) at Rockford IceHogs (4-3-0-1, 9 points)
Iowa and Rockford meet for the second of 12 meetings this season. Each team will host six games this season, including the next meeting at Iowa on Nov. 1. Rockford claimed the first meeting 4-2 at home on Oct. 21. Iowa is coming off a 4-1 loss at home to Texas on Sunday. The Hogs are coming off a 2-1 shootout loss at home to Charlotte on Tuesday night. The two teams played eight times in 2014-15, with Rockford taking six of the eight meetings. The Hogs were 3-1-0-0 at home last year against the Wild, outscoring the visitors 15-6. Overall, Rockford is 13-5-0-1 in 19 all-time meetings, including a 7-2-0-1 mark at the BMO Harris Bank Center. Iowa is 6-12-1-0 all-time and 3-6-1-0 in Rockford.
Iowa is 1-2-0-0 on the road this season, having been outscored 7-4 on the road. The Wild is 2-2-1-0 over its last five games. In 2014-15, Iowa was 13-23-1-1 on the road, outscored by the home teams 122-86. After Friday, Iowa plays five straight at home and nine of the next ten at Wells Fargo Arena. The IceHogs have points in four straight (3-0-0-1) after snapping a three-game losing skid on Oct. 21. The team is 2-2-0-1 this season, with a 19-12 scoring margin. Last year, Rockford was 24-9-4-1 on home ice, outscoring the visitors 121-92.
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
at Rockford 10/30 7:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
vs. Milwaukee 10/31 7:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
vs Rockford 11/1 5:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
vs. Milwaukee 11/5 10:30 AM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
vs. Lake Erie 11/7 7:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
Transactions:
10.23.15 – Delete – F Olivier Archambault – assigned to Quad City (ECHL)
10.23.15: Delete – F Tanner Eberle – assigned to Quad City (ECHL)
10.23.15: Add – C Andrew Yogan - Signed PTO
10.25.15: Add – LW Kellan Lain - Signed PTO
Last Time Out
The Iowa Wild were defeated by the Texas Stars 4-1 in front of 3,612 fans at Wells Fargo Arena on Sunday. The Stars broke open a 1-1 tie midway through the second period and expanded their lead by three before regulation expired. Forwards Travis Morin, Devin Shore, Remi Ellie, and Justin Dowling each scored in the road win. Texas goalie John Muse saved 29 of 30 shots for his fifth career victory against Iowa. Winger Matt Carey tallied the lone Wild goal, his second of the season. Wild goalie Jeremy Smith made 37 saves on 41 shots in the loss.
Iowa Wild
Rookie winger Christoph Bertschy leads the Wild in scoring with six points in eight games, including a team-leading four assists. Bertschy is tied for sixth in the AHL rookie-scoring race. Forwards Jordan Schroeder and Michael Keranen are tied for second in team scoring with five points each. In seven games, Schroeder has two goals and three assists. In eight games, Keranen has two goals and three assist. Center Brady Brassart (2g-1a-3 pts) and defenseman Mike Reilly are tied for fourth in scoring with three points each.
Goalie Jeremy Smith (0-4-1) is among the league leaders with 192 saves through five games played. He has a 3.38 GAA and a .919 SV%. Leland Irving has made three appearances, going 2-0-1 with a 1.60 GAA and a .951 SV%. He is sixth in the AHL for goals against average.
Iowa ranks 23rd after going 4-for-31 (12.9%) on the power play. The team is 30-for-35 (85.7%) on the penalty kill - 10th in the AHL.
Notables:
· Forward Jordan Schroeder is set to play in his 198th AHL game.
· Left wing Kellan Lain is expected to make his Iowa debut this weekend.
Rockford IceHogs
Rockford is missing leading scorer Tanner Kero, who was recalled to Chicago on Tuesday. He left after potting six goals and totaling eight points in seven games. Left wing Jeremy Morin is the team’s active leader in points with six in seven games played off two goals and four assists. Center Mark Dano is second with five assists and six points in eight games. Ryan Hartman, who placed third on the team in points with five in eight games, was recalled to Chicago on Friday. Ville Pokka leads all defenseman in points with four assists in eight games.
Rockford goalie Michael Leighton (4-2-1) has started the last four games, going 3-0-1-0. For the season, Leighton has posted 2.82 goals against average and a .904 SV %. Mark Visentin has played in one game, going 0-1-0 with a 7.02 GAA and a .767 SV %.
Rockford sits 28th in the league after going 3-for-35 (8.6%) on the power play. The Hogs is 34-for-44 (77.3%) on the penalty kill placing 25th in the league.