GAME PREVIEW - IOWA WILD AT CHICAGO WOLVES 4.16.16
Apr 15, 2016Chicago Wolves (32-35-5-3, 72 Points) at Iowa Wild (24-40-5-6, 59 Points)
Iowa and Chicago meet for the 12th and final time this season. Chicago claimed the last meeting, a 3-2 shootout decision Friday night at Wells Fargo Arena. The two teams close out the season on Apr. 16 in Chicago. The Wolves are 8-2-1-0 this season against the Wild, which is 3-6-1-1 this season. Iowa is 8-16-2-3 all-time against Chicago and 2-10-1-2 at Wells Fargo Arena. Chicago leads the all-time series with a 21-4-2-2 record, including a 13-0-1-1 mark in Des Moines. The Wolves have posted 12 straight wins at Wells Fargo Arena. The streak began with a 4-1 Wolves win on April 11, 2014 in Des Moines.
Iowa is 13-19-2-3 on the road this season, having been outscored 109-79 by the home teams. Iowa is 3-4-1-2 over its last ten games. The Wild is coming off a 3-2 shootout loss to Chicago at home on Friday. The team is 19-18-3-3 since Dec. 26 and has points in six of its last seven games.
Chicago is 19-16-1-1 on the road this season, besting the visitors teams 100-99. The Wolves are 4-6-0-0 over the last ten games played. The team is coming off a 3-2 shootout win at Iowa on Friday. The team has lost five of its last seven games.
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / 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 Chicago Wolves 3-2 in front 10,561 fans at Wells Fargo Arena on Friday night. Wolves defenseman Andre Benoit scored in the sixth round of the shootout, helping Chicago grab the extra point. Forwards Bryce Gervais and Danny Kristo scored a goal each in the Wolves victory. Goalie Pheonix Copley stopped 41 of 43 shots in the win. Iowa goalie Steve Michalek made 24 saves on 26 shots in the defeat. Forwards Scott Sabourin and Zack Mitchell scored a goal each in the Wild loss. Mitchell’s goal breaks the Iowa Wild franchise record for most goals in a season.
Iowa Wild
Forwards Grayson Downing, Zack Mitchell and Christoph Bertschy lead Iowa in scoring. Mitchell leads the team with 22 goals and 42 points in 69 games played. Downing has 40 points off 19 goals and 21 assists in 55 games played. Bertschy leads the team with 24 assists and is third among active scorers with 35 points in 72 games played. He also leads the team with 188 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 7-5-2 with a 2.64 GAA and a .915 SV % in 14 appearances.
Iowa ranks 24th after going 39-for-253 (15.4%) on the power play. The team is 194-fo-243 (80.0%) on the penalty kill – 26th in the AHL.
Notables –
● Zack Mitchell set Iowa’s team record with his 22nd goal of the season on Friday.
● Rookie forward Adam Gilmour made his pro debut on Friday at home,
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 32 and has 20 goals for 52 points in 73 games played. Kristo is first on the team with 24 goals and second overall in points with 48 in 70 games played. Rattie, who has spent some time in St. Louis, has 15 goals and 29 assists for 44 points in 61 games played. Schmaltz has 28 assists and 34 points in 70 games played. Benoit has eight goals and 24 assists for 32 points in 71 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 (15-16-3) has played in 37 games, holding a 2.87 GAA and .906 SV%.
Chicago is 47-for-298 on the power play and sits 23rd at 15.8%. The Wolves penalty kill sits 29th at 79.5%, going 245-for-308.