COMPLETE NUTRITION GAME PREVIEW VS CHICAGO 11.18.16
Nov 17, 2016 Chicago Wolves (5-8-1-0, 11 Points) at Iowa Wild (5-8-0-1, 11 points)
Iowa welcomes Chicago for the final game of six straight at home. The team closes out the lengthy home stand after going 1-3-0-1 through the first five games of the stand. Iowa is coming off a 3-1 loss at home to Rockford on Wednesday night in Des Moines. The Wolves are coming off 4-2 loss in Cleveland on Saturday night. The same two teams will faceoff in Chicago on Saturday night. The game at Allstate Arena marks the beginning of a seven-game road trip for Iowa.
Iowa is 4-7-0-1 at home this season, while Chicago is 3-4-1-1 on the road. Iowa has dropped four straight (0-3-0-1) and is 3-6-1-0 over the last ten games. The Wolves are 5-3-1-1 over their last ten outings.
As far as rivalries go, the Wild has played the Wolves nearly as much as any other team in the AHL. Friday marks the
31st meeting between the two clubs. Iowa is 8-17-2-3 all-time against Chicago, including a 2-10-1-2 mark all-time in Des Moines. The Wolves are 22-4-2-2 against the Wild all-time, including a 9-4-1-1 mark at Wells Fargo Arena. The two teams will meet ten times this season.
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
vs. Chicago 11/18 7:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio / MC22
at Chicago 11/19 7:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
at Manitoba 11/22 7:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
at Manitoba 11/23 7:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
at Charlotte 11/26 5:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
Transactions:
11.10.16: Add – D Scott Czarnowczan (signed PTO)
11.14.16: Add – F Christoph Bertschy - assigned by Minnesota (NHL)
11.17.16: Delete – G Adam Vay - assigned to Quad City (ECHL)
Last Time Out
The Iowa Wild were defeated by the Rockford IceHogs 3-1 in front of 3,457 fans on Wednesday night at Wells Fargo Arena. Rockford’s Ville Pokka, Tanner Kero and Sam Carrick each scored a power-play goal to help the IceHogs defeat the Wild for the first time this season. IceHogs goalie Lars Johansson stopped 26 of 27 shots in the win. Wild forward Teemu Pulkkinen scored the only goal for Iowa on a power play. Wild goalie Steve Michalek stopped 31 of 34 shots in the loss.
Iowa Wild
Through the first 15 games of the regular season, veteran forward Jordan Schroeder leads the team in scoring with four goals and five assists for nine points in 12 games played. Defenseman Mike Reilly has one goal and six assists for seven points in eight games. He remains on recall to Minnesota. Defenseman Gustav Olofsson is tied for first in scoring with nine points and he leads the team lead with seven assists. Rookie Alex Tuch is third on the team in points with eight in 15 games played. Forwards Colton Beck (2g-5a), Teemu Pulkkinen (3g, 4a) and Mario Lucia (3g,4a) also rank among the team’s scoring leaders.
Veteran Alex Stalock and Steve Michalek split time in net for Iowa. Stalock is 1-5-0 with a 4.46 GAA and a .865 SV%. Michalek is 4-4-1 with a 3.09 GAA and a .920 SV%.
Iowa’s power play sits 15th in the league after going 12-for-68 (17.6%). The Wild’s penalty kill sits 25rth after stopping 48 of 63 (76.2%).
Notables –
● Chicago has gone 12 straight games without a regulation loss at Iowa.
Chicago Wolves
Veteran defenseman Brad Hunt leads his club in scoring with 14 points in 13 games played. He leads all AHL defenseman in points and is first in goals (4). He also ranks second in the league among defensemen with 10 assists. Overall, Hunt is ninth best in the AHL in points. Center Ivan Barbashev is second on the team with 11 points in 13 games played. Barbashev leads his club with six goals and is tied for third in assists with five. Left wing Kenny Agostino is third overall in points with nine in 13 games played. Agostino is tied for second in goals and tied for third on the Wolves with five assists. Center Landon Ferraro (3g,5a), forward Wade Megan (4g,3a) and defenseman Vince Dunn (1g,5a) round out the Wolves top scorers.
Goalies Pheonix Copley and Jordan Bennington share time in net for Chicago. Bennington sees the majority of time and is 3-3-1 with a 2.73 GAA and a .914 SV %. Copley is 1-2-1 with a 2.22 GAA and a .927 SV %.
Chicago’s power play is 14th, going 12-for-68 (18.2%). The Wolves are 15th on the penalty kill, stopping 43 of 51 (84.3%).