COMPLETE NUTRITION GAME PREVIEW AT GRAND RAPIDS 11.4.16
Nov 4, 2016 Iowa Wild (4-4-0-0, 8 Points) at Grand Rapids Griffins (4-3-0-0, 8 Points)
Iowa continues along its first road trip of the season, after a 3-2 win to begin the trip in Milwaukee on Saturday. Friday marks the first visit of the season for Iowa to Grand Rapids. The team will venture to Milwaukee on Saturday prior to heading home on Sunday. Iowa and Grand Rapids will meet for the second of eight meetings this season. The Griffins took the series opener by defeating the Wild 4-3 on Oct. 18 at Wells Fargo Arena.
Overall, this marks the 24th meeting between the clubs, as Grand Rapids leads the all-time series mark with a record of 19-4-0-0, including a 9-2-0-0 record at home. The Wild is 4-17-2-0 all-time with a 2-9-0-0 record at Van Andel Arena. The
Grand Rapids is coming off a 3-0 loss at Charlotte on Saturday, the team’s second straight defeat.
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
at Grand Rapids 11/4 6:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
at Milwaukee 11/5 6:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
vs. Rockford 11/6 5:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
vs. Charlotte 11/10 10:30 AM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
vs. Charlotte 11/11 7:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
Transactions:
10.30.16: Add – F Teemu Pulkkinen – assigned by Minnesota (NHL)
10.30.16: Delete – G Adam Vay – assigned to Quad City (ECHL)
11.1.16: Delete – Forwards Christoph Bertschy, Jordan Schroeder and Tyler Graovac - recalled by Minnesota (NHL)
11.2.16: Delete – D Guillaume Gelinas – assigned to Quad City (ECHL)
11.2.16: Delete – D Scott Czarnowczan – released from PTO
Last Time Out
The Iowa Wild defeated the Milwaukee Admirals 3-2 in front of 6,458 fans at UWM Panthers Arena on Saturday night. Rookie center Sam Anas potted a second-period rebound and Iowa’s defense shutdown the Admirals to spoil Milwaukee’s home opener. Iowa goalie Steve Michalek made 36 saves on 38 shots to pick up the team’s first road win of the year. Jordan Schroeder and Colton Beck also scored as Iowa swept the weekend series with the Admirals. Milwaukee goalie Jusse Saros took his first loss of the year with 15 saves on 18 shots. Admirals Adam Payerl and Matt White scored in the defeat.
Iowa Wild
Through the first eight games of the regular season, veteran forward Jordan Schroeder leads the team in scoring with four goals and three assists for seven points in eight games. He was named the AHL Player of the Week and then recalled to Minnesota earlier this week. Defenseman Mike Reilly has one goal and five assists for six points in four games. He is tied for seventh in scoring for all AHL defensemen in scoring. After posting back-to-back multi point games, forward Colton Beck is third on the team with five points. He has two goals and three assists in seven games played. Five other skaters are tied for fourth on the team in points with four points apiece. Rookie forwards Mario Lucia (1g,3a), Alex Tuch (4a), Sam Anas (2g-1a), and Adam Gilmour (1g-3a) also rank among the top scorers on the team.
Veteran Alex Stalock and rookie Steve Michalek split time in net for Iowa. Stalock is (1-4-0) with a 4.28 GAA and a .871 SV%. Michalek is 3-0-0 with a 2.37 GAA and a .933 SV%.
Iowa’s power play sits 9th in the league after going 9-for-41 (22.0%). The Wild’s penalty kill sits 17th after stopping 29 of 35 (82.9%).
Notables –
● Wild forward Jeff Hoggan served as Captain of the Griffins each of the last four seasons. Forward Teemu Pulkkinen also played for the Griffins previously. Both are expected to make their return to Van Andel Arena.
Grand Rapids Griffins
Through seven games this season, left wing Anthony Mantha leads the team in scoring with seven goals in seven games. He recorded a hat trick against Iowa on Oct. 18. Right wing Mitch Callahan is next in scoring with two goals and four assists for six points in seven games. Center Matt Lorito is tied for second in points with six off one goal and five assists in seven games. Nathan Paetsch is tied with Eric Tangradi for fourth on the team in scoring with four points apiece. Paetsch leads all Griffins defensemen in points.
Jared Coreau and Eddie Pasquale split time in net for Iowa. Coreau is (4-2-0) with a 2.18 GAA and a .926 SV%. Pasqualle is 0-1-0 with a 2.03 GAA and a .933 SV%.
Grand Rapids’ power play sits 14th in the league after going 6-for-33 (18.2%). The Griffins penalty kill sits 25th after stopping 20 of 26 (76.9%).