GAME PREVIEW - CHICAGO WOLVES AT IOWA WILD 3.26.16
Mar 26, 2016Chicago Wolves (29-30-5-3, 66 Points) at Iowa Wild (21-37-4-4, 50 Points)
Iowa and Chicago meet for the 10th of 12 meetings this season. Chicago claimed the last meeting, a 3-2 decision on last night at Wells Fargo Arena. The two teams meet next on Apr. 15 in Des Moines and close out the season on Apr. 16 in Chicago. The Wolves are 6-2-1-0 this season against the Wild, which is 3-5-1-0 this season. Iowa is 8-15-2-2 all-time against Chicago and 2-9-1-1 at Wells Fargo Arena. Chicago leads the all-time series with an 19-4-2-2 record, including an 11-0-1-1 mark in Des Moines. The Wolves have posted ten straight wins at Wells Fargo Arena. The streak began with a 4-1 Wolves win on April 11, 2014 in Des Moines.
Iowa is 9-18-3-2 at home this season, having been outscored 100-75 by the visiting teams. The Wild is 3-6-1-0 over the last ten and 16-15-2-1 since Dec. 26. The Wild is coming off a 3-2 loss at home to Chicago on Friday. Iowa is playing its third home game over the last 31 days. The team wrapped up a stretch of nine games out of ten on the road before returning home Friday. Iowa is winless in five straight (0-4-1-0), having been outscored 20-8 and going 16-of-26 (61.5%) on the penalty kill.
Chicago is 10-17-4-2 on the road this season, bested by the home teams 115-78. The Wolves are 3-5-1-1 over the last ten games played. The team is coming off a 7-3 loss at home to Charlotte on Wednesday, its second straight defeat. The team has one road win in the last seven attempts.
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
vs. Chicago 3/26 12:30 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio
vs. Manitoba 3/30 7:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio
vs. Manitoba 4/1 7:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio
at Rockford 4/2 7:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio
at San Antonio 4/8 7:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio
Transactions:
3.24.16: Add – F Alex Petan – signed (ATO)
3.25.16: Add – F Chase Lang – signed ATO (ATO)
Last Time Out
The Iowa Wild were defeated by the Chicago Wolves 3-2 in front of 5,811 fans at Wells Fargo Arena on Friday night. A power-play goal from Wolves defenseman Andre Benoit with 1:32 left in regulation served as the difference maker, extending Chicago’s winning streak in Des Moines to 10 games. Defenseman Hubert Labrie and forward Jeremy Welsh added a goal each in the Wolves victory. Goalie Jordan Binnington stopped 21 of 23 shots in the win. Iowa forward Brady Brassart and defenseman Christian Folin scored a goal each in the Wild loss. Goalie Steve Michalek made 26 saves on 29 shots in the defeat.
Iowa Wild
Forwards Grayson Downing, Zack Mitchell and Christoph Bertschy lead Iowa in scoring. Mitchell leads the team with 20 goals and with 36 points in 61 games played. Downing has 35 points off 17 goals and 18 assists in 47 games played. Recently called up to the NHL, forward Jordan Schroeder was third in scoring with 34 points and was second on the team with 20 assists in 40 games played. Bertschy leads the team with 21 assists and is fourth in scoring with 31 points in 63 games played. He also leads the team with 154 shots on goal. Iowa’s offensive leader from the blueline is Maxime Fortunus with six goals and 17 points in 66 games played. Mike Reilly is in Minnesota (21 points) and All-star defenseman Gustav Olofsson (17 points) is injured.
Leland Irving has split time with Steven Michalek in net for Iowa. Leland Irving has made 35 appearances, going 10-19-5 with a 2.77 GAA and a .912 SV%. Rookie Steve Michalek is 6-4-0 with a 2.51 GAA and a .917 SV %.
Iowa ranks 21st after going 34-for-221 (15.7%) on the power play. The team is 169-for-212 (79.6%) on the penalty kill – 28th in the AHL.
Notables –
● Forwards Alex Petan and Chase Lang made their pro debuts on Friday, as did Chicago’s Bryce Gervais.
Chicago Wolves
Center Pat Cannone, right wings Danny Kristo and Ty Rattie, as well as defensemen Jordan Schmaltz and Andre Benoit, lead the Wolves in scoring. Cannone is first in assists with 28 and has 20 goals for 49 points in 65 games played. Kristo is tied for first on the team with 21 goals and second overall in points with 44 in 62 games played. Rattie, who has pent some time in St. Louis, has 13 goals and 24 assists for 37 points in 53 games played. Schmaltz has 27 assists and 32 points in 64 games played. Benoit has eight goals and 24 assists for 32 points in 63 games played. Right wing Jordan Caron is third on the team in goals with 15.
Jordan Binnington and Pheonix Copley split time in net for Chicago. Binnington (16-14-5) has made 36 appearances, posting a 2.88 GAA and a .905 SV%. Copley (12-15-3) has played in 33 games, holding a 2.83 GAA and .905 SV%.
Chicago is 41-for-272 on the power play and sits 25th at 15.1%. The Wolves penalty kill sits 29th at 79.3%, going 219-for-276.