GAME PREVIEW - IOWA WILD AT CHARLOTTE CHECKERS 11.29.15
Nov 29, 2015owa Wild (3-16-1-2, 9 Points) at Charlotte Checkers (10-9-0-0, 18 Points)
Iowa and Charlotte meet for the fourth time this season, concluding a two-game set at Bojangles Arena. Charlotte posted a come from behind 7-4 win on Saturday night at home. In the first two meetings of the season, the Checkers swept a pair of games opening weekend at Wells Fargo Arena in October. Iowa has an all-time mark of 4-10-0-1 versus the Checkers, including a 3-4-0-0 mark in Charlotte. The Checkers have taken the last seven meetings, dating back to Feb. 19, 2015. Charlotte is 11-4-0-0 all-time against Iowa, including a 4-3-0-0 record at home. The teams will meet eight times this year.
Iowa is 1-7-0-0 on the road this season, having been outscored 30-12 by the home teams. Wild is mired in a franchise record 12-game winless skid, going 0-11-0-1 over the last 12 games and getting outscored 45-21 during that span. Six of the losses have been one-goal defeats. The Wild have scored three or more goals only five times this season. Iowa continues a six-game road trip on Sunday in Charlotte. The team has dropped the last six road games and has suffered nine straight regulation losses overall.
Charlotte is 3-4-0-0 at home this season, having been outdueled by the visiting teams 20-18. The Checkers are 5-5-0-0 over their last ten games played. After starting the year on a three-game winning streak, the team is 7-9-0-0 since, including four losses in the last seven games. The team was 19-16-2-1 at home last season, outscored by the visitors 105-94. Charlotte has moved from the Time Warner Cable Arena in downtown Charlotte to Bojangles Arena across town.
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
at Charlotte 11/29 12:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
at Lake Erie 12/3 6:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
at Lake Erie 12/4 6:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
vs. Chicago 12/8 7:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio
at Rockford 12/11 7:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio
Transactions:
11.24.15: Add – F Raphael Bussieres - recalled from Quad City (ECHL)
11.27.15: Add – F Colton Beck - signed PTO from Idaho (ECHL)
11.28.15: Add – D Christian Folin - assigned by Minnesota (NHL)
11.29.15: Add – D Gustav Olofsson – assigned by Minnesota (NHL)
11.29.15: Add – LW Kurtis Gabriel - assigned by Minnesota (NHL)
Last Time Out
The Iowa Wild were defeated by the Charlotte Checkers 7-4 in front of 6,117 fans on Saturday at Bojangles Arena. Trailing 4-1 heading into the third period, Charlotte rattled off six goals in the final frame, handing Iowa a three-goal defeat. The Checkers scored four goals in the first 6:41 of the third period to complete the comeback and move in front of Iowa for good. Five Charlotte skaters registered a multi-point game and goalie Drew MacIntyre picked up the win with eight saves on nine shots. Iowa surrendered two separate three-goal leads en route to seeing its’ franchise record winless streak extended to 12 games. Iowa goalie Jeremy Smith was pulled 6:41 into the third period after stopping 18 of 23 and giving up the lead. Forwards Brady Brassart and Grayson Downing, as well as defenseman Christian Folin each scored in the team’s ninth straight regulation loss.
Iowa Wild
Forwards Michael Keranen, Grayson Downing and Christoph Bertschy lead the team in points. Keranen leads the team with 10 points and is tied for the lead with five goals in 18 games played. Rookie center Grayson Downing has tied for the team lead in scoring, despite missing the first 12 games of the season with an injury. The young centerman has six goals and 10 points in ten games played. Bertschy is tied for the team lead with seven assists and he places third with nine points in 20 games played. Defensemen Mike Reilly is tied for the team lead with seven assists and tied for third with nine points in 22 games. Forward Zack Mitchell is fifth with eight points each.
Goalie Jeremy Smith (1-9-1) in 12 appearances. He has a 3.33 GAA and a .908 SV%. Leland Irving has made 12 appearances, going 2-7-2 with a 2.91 GAA and a .914 SV%.
Iowa ranks 30th after going 7-for-81 (8.6%) on the power play. The team is 70-for-85 (82.4%) on the penalty kill – 16th in the AHL.
Notables –
● Center Grayson Downing has a point in six straight games – tying the franchise record set by Tyler Graovac.
Charlotte Checkers
Center Derek Ryan is first on the team in points with 16 in 19 games played. He leads Charlotte with eight goals and is third overall in shots on goal. Right wing Phil Di Giuseppe is second in scoring with 14 points in 19 games played. He is tied for second on the team in goals with six and places second overall in assists with eight. Defenseman Trevor Carrick is third on the team with 12 points in 19 games. He is second in the AHL for goals by a defenseman with six.
Goalies Drew MacIntyre and Rasmus Tirronen share the crease in Charlotte. MacIntyre is 6-8-0 with a 3.20 GAA and a .885 SV %. Tirronen is 4-1-0 with a 3.01 GAA and a .878 SV %.
Charlotte ranks 6th after going 18-for-84 (21.4%) on the power play. The team is 73-for-89 (82.0%) on the penalty kill – 18th in the AHL.