GAME PREVIEW - GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS AT IOWA WILD 4.11.16
Apr 11, 2016Grand Rapids Griffins (44-26-1-1, 90 Points) at Iowa Wild (23-39-5-5, 56 Points)
Iowa and Grand Rapids meet for the eighth and final time this season. Iowa and Grand Rapids last played on Feb. 27 in GR, with the Griffins posting a 3-0 win. The Griffins have outscored the Wild 27-14 this season. The team has dominated the all-time series by going 18-3-0-0 in 21 all-time meetings. Grand Rapids is 9-1-0-0 at Wells Fargo Arena, while Iowa is 1-7-2-0. The Wild is 3-16-2-0 all-time against the Griffins.
Iowa is 10-20-3-2 at home this season, having been outscored 107-82 by the visitors. Iowa is 2-5-2-1 over its last ten games. The Wild is coming off a 4-3 overtime loss at San Antonio on Saturday. The team is 18-17-3-2 since Dec. 26 and has points in four straight games (2-0-1-1).
Grand Rapids is 19-16-0-1 on the road this season, outscoring by the home teams 114-94. The Griffins are 4-6-0-0 over the last ten games played. The team is coming off a 4-3 loss at Chicago on Saturday.
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
vs. Grand Rapids 4/11 7:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio
vs. Rockford 4/13 7:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio
vs. Chicago 4/15 7:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio/ MC22 TV
at Chicago 4/16 7:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio
END OF REGULAR SEASON
Transactions:
4.4.16: Delete – F Zac Dalpe – recalled by Minnesota (NHL)
4.4.16: Delete – D Christian Folin – recalled by Minnesota (NHL)
4.5.16: Add – D Mike Reilly – assigned by Minnesota (NHL)
4.7.16: Add – D Hunter Warner – assigned by Minnesota (NHL)
Last Time Out
The Iowa Wild were defeated by the San Antonio Rampage 4-3 in overtime in front of 7,910 fans at the AT&T Center on Saturday night. Rampage forward Gary Nunn scored 2:20 into overtime, giving his team its seventh straight home win. Rookie Mikko Rantanen forced overtime, scoring his 23rd goal of the year with just over 30 seconds remaining in overtime – the team’s second straight last minute tie against Iowa. San Antonio goalie Reto Berra stopped 25 of 28 shots for the team’s ninth straight win over Iowa. Despite the defeat, Iowa’s line of Colton Beck, Zack Mitchell and Marc Hagel scored all three goals and combined for seven points. Iowa goalie Steve Michalek stopped 25 of 29 in defeat.
Iowa Wild
Forwards Grayson Downing, Zack Mitchell and Christoph Bertschy lead Iowa in scoring. Mitchell leads the team with 21 goals and with 40 points in 66 games played. Downing has 38 points off 19 goals and 19 assists in 52 games played. Bertschy leads the team with 23 assists and is third among active scorers with 34 points in 69 games played. He also leads the team with 181 shots on goal.
Leland Irving has split time with Steven Michalek in net for Iowa. Leland Irving has made 38 appearances, going 11-20-6 with a 2.73 GAA and a .911 SV%. Rookie Steve Michalek is 7-6-0 with a 2.73 GAA and a .907 SV % in 13 appearances.
Iowa ranks 25th after going 36-for-241 (14.9%) on the power play. The team is 205-for-241 (79.7%) on the penalty kill – 29th in the AHL.
Notables –
● Zack Mitchell needs one goal to break Iowa’s single season record for tallies in a season.
Grand Rapids Griffins
Center Andy Miele leads Grand Rapids in scoring with 59 points in 72 games played. Miele is first on the team with 41 assists. Veteran left wing Eric Tangradi is second in scoring with 55 points, tallying 27 goals and 28 assists in 68 games. Forward Mark Zengerle is second on the team with 38 assists and is third in scoring with 46 points in 68 games played. Right wing Martin Frk leads the team with 27 goals and he is fourth on the team with 42 points in 63 games played. Rookie Robbie Russo leads all defenseman in scoring with 39 points in 67 games played. Russo also ranks among the league leaders in plus/minus with a +45.
Jared Coreau (29-14-2) has played the majority of the season for the Griffins, posting a 2.39 GAA and .923 SV% in 46 games played. Tom McCollum (15-10-0) holds a 2.27 GAA and .930 SV% in 27 appearances.
Grand Rapids is 47-for-295 on the power play and sits 21st at 15.9%. The Griffins penalty kill 238-for-284 and 14th at 83.8%.