GAME PREVIEW - CHICAGO WOLVES AT IOWA WILD 4.15.16

Apr 15, 2016

Chicago Wolves (31-35-5-3, 70 Points) at Iowa Wild (24-40-5-5, 58 Points)

Iowa and Chicago meet for the 11th of 12 meetings this season. Chicago claimed the last meeting, a 2-1 decision on Mar. 26 at Wells Fargo Arena. The two teams close out the season on Apr. 16 in Chicago. The Wolves are 7-2-1-0 this season against the Wild, which is 3-6-1-0 this season. Iowa is 8-16-2-2 all-time against Chicago and 2-10-1-1 at Wells Fargo Arena. Chicago leads the all-time series with a 20-4-2-2 record, including a 12-0-1-1 mark in Des Moines. The Wolves have posted 11 straight wins at Wells Fargo Arena. The streak began with a 4-1 Wolves win on April 11, 2014 in Des Moines.

Iowa is 11-21-3-2 at home this season, having been outscored 109-86 by the visitors. Iowa is 3-4-2-1 over its last ten games. The Wild is coming off a 2-1 loss to Rockford at home on Wednesday. The team is 19-18-3-2 since Dec. 26 and has points in five of its last six games.

Chicago is 12-19-4-2 on the road this season, bested by the home teams 125-87. The Wolves are 3-7-0-0 over the last ten games played. The team is coming off a 3-1 loss at Milwaukee on Tuesday. The team has lost five of its last six games.

Upcoming Games:

Team                                      Date    Time              Radio / TV

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:

4.7.16: Add – D Hunter Warner – assigned by Minnesota (NHL)

4.13.16: Add – F Adam Gilmour –signed ATO

Last Time Out

The Iowa Wild were defeated by the Rockford IceHogs 2-1 in front of 4,111 fans at Wells Fargo Arena on Wednesday night. The Wild killed off seven straight penalties but IceHogs forward Tyler Motte scored a power-play goal with 5:44 remaining in the game, ending Iowa’s five-game point streak. Rockford received an additional goal from forward Matt Fraser. IceHogs goalie Mac Carruth (15-3-5) made 20 saves on 21 shots in the win. Wild goalie Leland Irving stopped 27 of 29 shots in the loss. Iowa forward Nick Saracino scored the lone Wild goal in the defeat.

Iowa Wild

Forwards Grayson Downing, Zack Mitchell and Christoph Bertschy lead Iowa in scoring. Mitchell leads the team with 21 goals and 41 points in 6 games played. Downing has 39 points off 19 goals and 20 assists in 54 games played. Bertschy leads the team with 24 assists and is third among active scorers with 35 points in 71 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 40 appearances, going 12-21-6 with a 2.64 GAA and a .915 SV%. Rookie Steve Michalek is 7-5-1 with a 2.69 GAA and a .910 SV % in 13 appearances.

Iowa ranks 24th after going 38-for-247 (15.4%) on the power play. The team is 192-for-240 (80.0%) on the penalty kill – 26th in the AHL.

 

Notables –

●       Zack Mitchell needs one goal to break Iowa’s single season record for tallies in a season.

●       Rookie forward Adam Gilmour could make his pro debut over the weekend.

 

Chicago Wolves

Center Pat Cannone, right wings Danny Kristo, Jordan Caron and Ty Rattie, as well as defensemen Jordan Schmaltz and Andre Benoit, lead the Wolves in scoring. Cannone is first in assists with 30 and has 20 goals for 50 points in 72 games played. Kristo is first on the team with 23 goals and second overall in points with 46 in 69 games played. Rattie, who has spent some time in St. Louis, has 15 goals and 29 assists for 44 points in 60 games played. Schmaltz has 28 assists and 34 points in 69 games played. Benoit has eight goals and 24 assists for 32 points in 70 games played. Right wing Jordan Caron is third on the team in goals with 17.

Jordan Binnington and Pheonix Copley split time in net for Chicago. Binnington (16-18-5) has made 40 appearances, posting a 2.87 GAA and a .906 SV%. Copley (14-16-3) has played in 36 games, holding a 2.82 GAA and .907 SV%.

Chicago is 46-for-295 on the power play and sits 22nd at 15.6%. The Wolves penalty kill sits 29th at 79.5%, going 260-for-302.

 

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