COMPLETE NUTRITION GAME PREVIEW AT CLEVELAND 12.16.16
Dec 16, 2016
Iowa Wild (11-13-2-1, 25 points) at Cleveland Monsters (12-11-1-1, 25 Points)
Iowa and Cleveland meet for the third time this season on Friday, the second meeting of the year at the Quicken Loans Arena. Iowa fell 4-3 in overtime at Cleveland on Wednesday. The Wild will return to Cleveland for two more on Feb. 3 and 4, with the Monsters next visit to Iowa is scheduled for Feb. 8. In all, Iowa plays Cleveland 12 times this season.
Over the course of history, the Wild and the Monsters have met a total of 18 times. Cleveland leads the all-time series with a 9-5-2-2 record, including a 4-2-1-2 mark at Quicken Loans Arena. Iowa is 9-7-1-1 all-time, including a 5-3-1-0 mark in Ohio. Iowa is 5-4-2-0 on the road this season and 5-3-2-0 over the last 10 outings. The Wild has outscored the home teams 32-27 this season. Cleveland is 7-5-1-0 at home and 7-3-0-0 over the last ten games. The Monsters have won four straight after defeating Iowa on Wednesday. Cleveland has been outscored by the road teams 32-29 at home.
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
at Cleveland 12/16 6:00 PM CT KXNO/ iHeartRadio
vs. Manitoba 12/18 3:00 PM CT KXNO/ iHeartRadio
vs. Manitoba 12/19 7:00 PM CT KXNO/ iHeartRadio
vs. Rockford 12/26 7:00 PM CT KXNO/ iHeartRadio
at Milwaukee 12/28 7:00 PM CT KXNO/ iHeartRadio
Transactions:
12.5.16: Add – D Gustav Olofsson and F Zack Mitchell – assigned by Minnesota (NHL)
12.13.16: Delete – F Teemu Pulkkinen– recalled by Minnesota (NHL)
Last Time Out
The Iowa Wild were defeated by the Cleveland Monsters 4-3 in overtime in front of 4,782 fans at Quicken Loans Arena on Wednesday night. Despite erasing a two-goal deficit after one period play and forcing overtime, Iowa fell 2:37 into extra session after T.J. Tynan scored a power-play goal for the win. The Wild still picks up a point in the defeat, with goals from defenseman Mike Reilly, as well as forwards Nick Saracino and Alex Tuch. Iowa goalie Alex Stalock (7-8-1) suffered the loss with 22 saves. Cleveland goalie Anton Forsberg (7-6-1) stopped 26 of 29, helping the Monsters to their fourth straight win.
Iowa Wild
Through the first 26 games of the regular season, forward Jordan Schroeder leads the team in scoring with 12 assists and 17 points in 21 games played. Schroeder’s 12 assists are first on the team. Recently recalled to Minnesota, veteran right wing Teemu Pulkkinen placed second in scoring with eight goals and seven assists at the time of his departure. Pulkkinen is also tied with rookie Alex Tuch and veteran center Pat Cannone for third in scoring. Cannone has four goals and is second with 11 assists in 27 games played. Tuch is second on the team with seven goals and has 15 points in 27 outings. Defenseman Gustav Olofsson is next in scoring with 12 points, he leads all defensemen in points with three goals and nine assists in 25 games. Forward Colton Beck (3g-8a) and defenseman Mike Reilly (2g,8a) also rank among the team’s scoring leaders.
Veteran Alex Stalock and Steve Michalek split time in net for Iowa. Stalock is 7-7-2 with a 2.88 GAA and a .904 SV%. Michalek is 4-6-1 with a 3.09 GAA and a .914 SV%.
Iowa’s power play sits 22nd in the league after going 18-for 109 (16.5%). The Wild’s penalty kill sits 20th after stopping 89 of 111 (80.2%).
Notables –
● Since Nov. 18, Iowa has killed off 42 of the last 49 penalties – 85.7%.
● After posting two points in his first ten games, Iowa’s Pat Cannone has 12 points (2g-10a) in his last 15 outings.
Cleveland Monsters
Right wing Daniel Zaar leads the Monsters in scoring 18 points in 25 games played. He is third in goals with seven and second on the squad with 11 assists. T.J Tynan is second in scoring with 17 points in 25 games played. He leads the Monsters with 13 assists. Center Alex Broadhurst is third in scoring with six goals and 10 assists for 16 points in 24 games played. On recall to Columbus, right wing Oliver Bjorkstrand is fourth in scoring with eight goals and four assists for 12 points in 19 games played. Left wing Markus Hannikainen is sixth overall in points with 11 in 18 games played. Hannikainen scored a hat trick at Iowa on Oct. 25. He is tied in goals with eight with Bjorkstrand. Left wing Sonny Milano (4g,8a) and right wing Aaron Pulushaj (3g,8a) are also among the team’s leading scorers.
Anton Forsberg has seen the majority of time between the pipes for the Monsters. Forsberg is 8-6-1 in 17 appearances, while posting a 2.47 GAA and a .923 SV%. Joonas Korpisalo has played in eight games, going 4-3-1 with a 3.28 GAA and a .883 SV%. Brad Thiessen is 0-2-0 with a 3.10 GAA and a .900 SV %.
Cleveland’s power play is 19th, going 16-for-95 (16.8%). The Monsters are 10th on the penalty kill, stopping 101 of 121 (83.5%).