GAME PREVIEW - IOWA WILD AT MILWAUKEE ADMIRALS 3.11.16
Mar 11, 2016Iowa Wild (21-33-3-4, 49 Points) at Milwaukee Admirals (36-20-3-0, 75 Points)
Iowa and Milwaukee meet for the sixth of eight meetings this season. The two teams will meet again on Sunday in Des Moines. After splitting the first two games of the series, the Admirals have taken the last two, including a 2-1 SOW at home on Feb. 21 – the last encounter. Milwaukee is 4-1-1-0 this year, while Iowa is 2-2-1-1. The Admirals lead the all-time series, posting a 15-6-2-1 record over the previous three seasons. Milwaukee is 6-6-0-0 all-time at home, where Iowa is 6-4-0-2 all-time at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. The Wild has a 9-11-2-1 mark in 22 all-time meetings against the Admirals.
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Iowa is 12-17-0-2 on the road this season, having been outscored 86-64 by the home clubs. The Wild is 6-3-0-1 over the last ten and 16-11-1-1 since Dec. 26. The Wild is coming off a 4-2 win at Manitoba on Wednesday night. Iowa is looking for its first four-game winning streak in team history. The team wraps up a season high seven-game road trip before returning home on Sunday to host Milwaukee.
Milwaukee is 21-10-0-0 at home this season, outscoring the visitors 94-81. The Admirals are 5-5-0-0 over the last ten games played. The team is coming off a 5-2 loss at Rockford on Sunday. The Admirals will play in Chicago on Saturday and close out the weekend in Des Moines on Sunday.
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
at Milwaukee 3/11 7:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
vs. Milwaukee 3/13 5:00 PM CT KXNO/ iHeartRadio
at Stockton 3/18 9:30 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
at San Jose 3/19 8:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
vs. Chicago 3/25 7:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
Transactions:
3.7.16: Add – F Jared Knight– recalled from Quad City (ECHL)
3.11.16: Add – G Steve Michalek - assigned from Minnesota (NHL)
3.11.16: Delete – F Jordan Schroeder – recalled from Minnesota (NHL)
Last Time Out
The Iowa Wild defeated the Manitoba Moose 4-2 in front of 6,735 fans at The MTS Centre on Wednesday night. The Wild scored four times in the games first 29:43 of play and cruised to its first three-game winning streak of the season. Captain Maxime Fortunus led the charge with a goal and two assists for three points, as Iowa posted to its fifth straight win over Manitoba this season. Center Rob Bordson posted a multi-point night as Iowa improved to 3-3-0-0 on its current seven-game road trip. Iowa goalie Steve Michalek picked up the win, finishing with 18 saves. Moose goalie Connor Hellebuyck made 14 saves on 18 shots and was pulled in the second period, taking the loss.
Iowa Wild
Forwards Grayson Downing, Zack Mitchell, Jordan Schroeder and Christoph Bertschy lead Iowa in scoring. Mitchell leads the team with 20 goals and with 36 points in 59 games played. Downing has 34 points off 16 goals and 18 assists in 43 games played. Forward Jordan Schroeder is third in scoring with 34 points and is second on the team with 20 assists in 40 games played. Bertschy leads the team with 21 assists and is fourth in scoring with 30 points in 58 games played. He also leads the team with 137 shots on goal. Iowa’s offensive leader from the blueline is Maxime Fortunus with six goals and 17 points in 61 games played. Mike Reilly is in Minnesota (21 points) and All-star defenseman Gustav Olofsson (17 points) is injured.
Leland Irving and Steven Michalek split time in net for Iowa. Leland Irving has made 32 appearances, going 10-17-4 with a 2.66 GAA and a .915 SV%. Rookie Steve Michalek is 6-2-0 with a 2.13 GAA and a .931 SV %.
Iowa ranks 19th after going 33-for-207 (15.9%) on the power play. The team is 156-for-190 (82.1%) on the penalty kill – 18th in the AHL.
Notables –
● Iowa goes for its first four-game winning streak this season. Three is the longest winning streak in team history, accomplished five times in three seasons.
Milwaukee Admirals
Left Wing Kevin Fiala currently sits first tied for first on the team in scoring with 35 points in 51 games played. Fiala is tied for second in assists with 23 and tied for fourth in goals with 12. Rookie Max Gortz is tied for first in points and second in assists. Gortz has 12 goals and 23 assists for 35 points in 51 games played. Center Frederick Gaudreau is among the team leaders in scoring off 34 points in 58 games played, scoring 14 goals and adding 20 assists. Defensemen Trevor Murphy and Taylor Aronson lead the Admirals blueliners in scoring. Aaronson has a team high 24 assists and 28 points in 50 games. Murphy has 26 points off 17 assists and nine goals in 43 games played.
Rookie Jussi Saros (20-6-0) holds a 2.34 GAA and a .918 SV% in 27 appearances. Marek Mazanec (16-14-3) has played in 33 games this season, posting a 2.42 GAA and .914 SV%
Milwaukee is 46-for-239 and sits 7th at 19.2%. The Admirals are 183-for-214 and sits 7th at 85.5%.