GAME PREVIEW - CHICAGO AT IOWA 11.13.13
Nov 13, 2013Media Kit - HERE
Chicago Wolves (6-6-0-1, 13 points) at Iowa Wild (6-5-0-0, 12 points)
The Iowa Wild begins a six-game homestand with the Chicago Wolves. The Wild returns home after splitting two games in Rockford over last weekend. The Wild is coming off a 5-2 win over the IceHogs on Saturday night. Iowa improved to 3-1-0-0 on the road with the win. The Wild is 3-4-0-0 at home this season, having been outscored by the visitors 23-16 at Wells Fargo Arena. Iowa is 5-5-0-0 over the last ten games.
Chicago is coming off a 2-1 win at Charlotte on Saturday. The team is 5-2-0-1 on the road this season, outscoring their opponents 22-18. The Wolves are 1-4-0-0 at home this year. Chicago is looking for its third straight win on Wednesday. The Wolves are 4-5-0-1 over their last ten outings.
The Wolves and the Wild will meet a total ten times during the season. Iowa claimed the first ever meeting on Oct. 27, a 5-4 shootout win in Des Moines. After Wednesday’s game, Iowa will make its first of five visits to Allstate Arena on Wed. Nov. 27.
Minnesota's AHL Affiliate was in Houston for the 2012-13 season, going 40-26-5-5 (90 points / .592 %). The Aeros met the Wolves twice last season, splitting the set with the home team winning each game. Over the last five years, Houston was 11-14-0-1 against Chicago, including a 7-6-0-0 mark at home.
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
vs. Chicago 11/13 7:05 PM iHeart Radio
vs. San Antonio 11/15 7:05 PM KXNO 1460 / iHeart Radio
vs. Milwaukee 11/16 7:05 PM KXNO 1460 / iHeart Radio
Latest Transactions:
11/12 – Add Mike Rupp (conditioning loan – Minnesota NHL)
11/6 – Add Carson McMillan (assigned by Minnesota – NHL)
11/3 – Add defenseman Corbin Baldwin (recalled from loan to Quad City – CHL)
Last Time Out:
The Iowa Wild defeated the Rockford IceHogs 5-2 in front of 4,082 fans at the BMO Harris Bank Arena on Saturday night. Five different goal scorers and four-power play goals helped the Wild end its three-game losing skid and move a game above .500. Defenseman Brian Connelly helped lead the charge with three power-play assists. Iowa’s penalty kill was also pivotal in the victory, stopping six of seven extra man advantages, including three consecutive 5-on-3 IceHogs’ power plays in the second period. Forwards Taylor Matson, Stephane Veilleux, Brett Bulmer and Warren Peters also scored, as the Wild improved to 3-1-0-0 on the road this season. Defenseman Jonathon Blum also scored and added an assist in the victory. Iowa goalie Johan Gustafsson made 32 saves for the win. Rockford goalie Antti Raanta suffered the loss with 14 saves.
Iowa Wild
After 11 games, defenseman Brian Connelly leads the team in scoring with ten points (all assists). Connelly set an Iowa season mark with three power-play assist on Saturday in Rockford. Left wing Jason Zucker is tied for second on the team with eight points in nine games played. He is tied with Brett Bulmer for the team lead in goals at four. Forward Erik Haula is also tied for second in scoring with eight points in 11 games played. Haula is also tied for second on the club with five assists. Center Warren Peters is also among the team leaders in points with six in seven games played. Forwards Carson McMIllan, Zack Phillips and Kris Foucault are also among the team leaders with six points each. Defenseman Jonathon Blum is second among blueliners in points with six in 11 games played.
Goalies Johan Gustafsson and Darcy Kuemper man the nets for Iowa. Kuemper is 3-4-0 on the season. In seven appearances, he has a 2.93 GAA and a .912 SV%. Gustafsson is 3-1-0 with a 2.45 GAA and a .920 SV %.
Iowa is 12-for-53 (22.6 %) on the power play and has allowed 11 power-play goals against on 60 attempts (81.7%) The Wild is 15th in the AHL with a 2.91 goals against average and the team sits 12th with a 2.82 goals per game average.
Notables –
· Forward Mike Rupp has played in 199 AHL games. He also has played in 597 NHL games.
· Center Warren Peters needs four assists to reach 100 for his AHL career.
Chicago Wolves
The Wolves experienced numerous changes after a 37-30-5-4 season and missing the playoffs by seven points. The team switched affiliations and partnered with St, Louis, ending their allegiance to the Vancouver Canucks.
Veteran forwards Corey Locke and Marc Mancari lead Chicago in scoring. Locke has a team-high seven assists and ten points in 12 games played. Mancari has four goals and seven points in 12 games. He is also tied with Shane Harper and David Shields, each with seven points this season.
Goalies Matt Climie and Jake Allen split time in net for the Wolves. Allen has appeared in ten games, going 6-3-1 with a 2.29 GAA and a.928 SV%. Matt Climie is 0-3-0 on year, sporting a 3.73 GAA and a .880 SV%.
The Wolves are 8-for-66 (12.1%) on the power play this year. Despite the slow start on the extra man advantage, Chicago’s penalty kill has killed off 58 of 66 (87.9%) penalties. The Wolves average 2.46 goals per game and allow 2.77 per game.