IOWA DOUBLES UP MANITOBA IN 4-2 VICTORY
Apr 1, 2016Iowa Hits Road For Three Straight, Returns Home Apr. 11
DES MOINES, IA – The Iowa Wild (22-39-4-4, 52 points) defeated the Manitoba Moose (23-38-4-5, 55 points) 4-2 in front of 7,571 fans at Wells Fargo Arena on Friday night. Forward Grayson Downing, defensemen Joe Finley, and Dylan Labbe scored a goal each for three unanswered Iowa goals, giving the Wild its sixth victory over Manitoba this season. Wild goalie Leland Irving (11-20-5) stopped 21 of 23 shots in the victory. Moose goalie Connor Hellebuyck (11-14-1) made 35 saves on 38 shots in the defeat. Forwards Dan DeSalvo and Patrice Cormier each scored a goal in the Manitoba loss. Iowa travels to Rockford for a 7 PM faceoff with the IceHogs on Saturday.
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Manitoba center Dan DeSalvo scored 18 seconds into the game, helping the Moose grab an early 1-0 lead. Right wing Darik Angeli picked up the lone assist on the goal. Angeli carried the puck into the offensive zone, wristing a shot towards the net from above the left faceoff circle. The shot ricocheted off DeSalvo and the bouncing puck hopped over goalie Leland Irving’s shoulder for DeSalvo’s third goal of the season. Iowa countered as Wild forward Grayson Downing scored at 4:11 of the period, tying the game 1-1. Defensemen Dylan Labbe and Guillaume Gelinas earned an assist each. Downing found open ice in the offensive zone, corralling a pass from Labbe at the point. He took a slapshot, blowing the puck by goalie Connor Hellebuyck for his 18th goal of the season.
Iowa defenseman Joe Finley scored at 8:38 of the second period, helping the Wild grab its first lead of the game, 2-1. Defenseman Tyson Strachan and forward Mario Lucia tallied an assist each on the goal, giving Lucia his first professional-career point. Strachan fed a pass to Finley at the left point. The six-foot-seven defenseman beat Hellebuyck with a slapshot, scoring his third goal of the season. Wild defenseman Dylan Labbe scored with 33 seconds remaining in the middle period, extending the Iowa lead to 3-1. Forward Christoph Bertschy and rookie Mario Lucia each earned an assist. Bertschy started the play with a heavy forcheck behind the Moose goal. After winning a battle along the boards, he pushed the puck to Lucia. The rookie one-touched a cross-ice pass from the left circle to Labbe at the right circle. Labbe one-timed a slapshot, beating Hellebuyck low on the blocker side for his third goal of the season.
Moose forward Patrice Cormier scored 27 seconds into the third period, cutting the Iowa lead to 3-2. Defenseman Brenden Kichton and forward Chase De Leo tallied an assist each on the power-play goal. Quarterbacking the power play, Kichton corralled the puck at the point. He sent a slapshot through traffic in front of the Iowa net. Standing in front, Cormier got a piece of the puck, sending it past Irving for his 15th goal of the season. Wild forward Christoph Bertschy added an empty-net goal with 1:06 remaining, extending Iowa’s lead to 4-2. Forwad Zac Dalpe tallied the lone assist on the goal. Dalpe fed the puck to Bertschy up the right boards, and he netted the puck from the neutral zone for his 11th goal of the season.
Iowa makes stops in Rockford and San Antonio before returning to Wells Fargo Arena for its final three home games of the regular season. The Wild welcomes Grand Rapids to Des Moines on Monday, Apr. 11 for a 7 p.m. puck drop. Monday’s game offers free parking until the Iowa Events Center lots are full courtesy of HITS 99.9 FM. Students may use their students ID’s to buy a defense preferred ticket and receive a second ticket for $0.99, also sponsored by HITS 99.9 FM. Iowa plays the Rockford IceHogs for the final time on Wednesday, Apr. 13 at 7 p.m. Wednesday features the Jim Beam and NASH FM Guys Night of the season, including drink specials of $5 regular Beam Orchard Twists and $10 for a Beam Orchard Twist in a mason jar. If the Wild wins all fans in attendance receive a ticket to a future Iowa Wild game.
Iowa’s final home game of the season takes place on Friday, Apr. 15 at 7 p.m. against the Chicago Wolves. The Iowa Wild extends its gratitude and thanks with “Fan Appreciation Night”. The first 2,500 fans to the game receives an Iowa Wild team poster sponsored by Renaissance Savery Hotel, Prairie Life Fitness, Edwards, GuideOne Insurance, and Country 96.5. Friday also includes $2 beer night presented by 100.3 The Bus. The “Bring Your Buds Bundle” ticket package is available for purchase, including one ticket, one 16 oz. Bud or Bud Light at the game, one hotdog, one popcorn, $1 off Budweiser or Bud Light 25 oz. can during the Wild game, and one free beer at Carl’s Place. The Wild finishes its season in Chicago on Saturday, Apr. 16.
Fans may purchase single-game tickets multiple ways, either through the team's website – www.Iowawild.com, the Wells Fargo Arena box office or participating Hy-Vee food stores. Tickets are available online at www.Iowawild.com under the single game tickets tab. The Wells Fargo Arena box office is open Monday – Friday from 10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. and closed on Sunday. For Saturday game days, the box office will open at 10 a.m. For Sunday game days the box office will open at 12 p.m. Fans may also purchase tickets by calling 1-844-55-HYVEE or by visiting participating Hy-Vee food stores locations in the greater Des Moines area. Those interested may also visit www.hy-veetix.com. Fans interested in buying full season, or smaller season packages may call the Iowa Wild front office at 515-564-8700.
The Iowa Wild 2015-16 season is presented by Mercy Medical Center, it runs from October through April. Fans may purchase seats to see any of the team’s 38 regular season home games at Wells Fargo Arena. Season tickets to see the Wild play its 2015-16 season at Wells Fargo Arena start at just $9 per game. For more information on tickets, including ticket plans and group seating, please contact the Wild ticket office by calling 515-564-8700 or go to www.iowawild.com.
Follow the Iowa Wild on Twitter @IAWILD or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/iawild.
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