COMPLETE NUTRITION GAME PREVIEW VS ROCKFORD 12.26.16
Dec 26, 2016 Rockford IceHogs (10-13-2-3, 25 points) at Iowa Wild (13-14-2-1, 29 points)
Iowa and Rockford meet for only the second time this season, as the Wild wraps up a three-game home stand on Monday. The two teams met twice this season, splitting a pair of games in Des Moines, including the last meeting – a 3-1 win for the Hogs at Wells Fargo Arena on Nov. 16. The Wild enters the game after falling 2-1 to Manitoba at home last Monday. The loss ended Iowa’s four-game point streak (3-0-1-0). Rockford picked up its third straight win with a 6-2 besting of Chicago on Dec. 21.
As far as rivalries go, the Wild has played the IceHogs more than any other team in AHL history with the 33rd meeting on Monday. Iowa is 10-21-1-0 all-time against Rockford, including a 5-12-0-0 mark all-time in Des Moines. The IceHogs are 22-6-2-2 against the Wild all-time, including a 12-4-1-0 mark at Wells Fargo Arena. The two teams will meet ten times this season.
Iowa is 7-10-0-1 at home this season and 5-4-1-0 over the last 10 outings. Iowa has points in four of its last five games. The Wild has been outscored by the road teams 54-46 this season. The Hogs are 3-8-1-1 on the road and 3-4-1-2 over the last ten games. Rockford has been outscored by the home teams 41-23.
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
vs. Rockford 12/26 7:00 PM CT KXNO/ iHeartRadio
at Milwaukee 12/28 7:00 PM CT KXNO/ iHeartRadio
at Rockford 12/30 7:00 PM CT KXNO/ iHeartRadio
vs. Chicago 12/31 3:00 PM CT KXNO /iHeartRadio
at Grand Rapids 1/4 6:00 PM CT KXNO/ iHeartRadio
Transactions:
12.24.16: Add – F Jordan Schroeder / F Pat Cannone – assigned by Minnesota (NHL)
Last Time Out
The Iowa Wild were defeated by the Manitoba Moose 2-1 in front of 3,677 fans on Monday night at Wells Fargo Arena. Moose forward Kyle Connor scored the game-winning goal with 1:13 left in regulation, breaking Manitoba’s six-game winless streak. Moose goalie Eric Comrie stopped 21 of 22 shots in the win. Wild goalie Steve Michalek stopped 21 of 23 shots in the defeat. Chase De Leo also scored a goal for the Manitoba win. Teemu Pulkkinen scored the only goal for the Wild as Iowa saw its four-game points streak snapped.
Iowa Wild
Through the first 30 games of the regular season, forward Jordan Schroeder leads the team in scoring with 12 assists and 18 points in 25 games played. Schroeder’s 12 assists are tied for first on the team. Right wing Teemu Pulkkinen is second on the club with eight goals and 17 points in 20 games played. Rookie Alex Tuch and veteran center Pat Cannone are tied for third in scoring with 16 points each. Cannone is tied for the team lead with 12 assists and has a point in three of his last four games. Tuch has seven goals and nine assists for 16 points in 30 games played. He ranks in the top 20 for all AHL rookies in points. Defenseman Gustav Olofsson is next in scoring with 12 points and he leads all defensemen in points with three goals and nine assists in 28 games. Forward Colton Beck (3g-9a) and defenseman Mike Reilly (3g,9a) also rank among the team’s scoring leaders.
Veteran Alex Stalock and Steve Michalek split time in net for Iowa. Stalock is 8-7-2 with a 2.76 GAA and a .907 SV%. Michalek is 5-7-1 with a 2.85 GAA and a .915 SV%.
Iowa’s power play sits 18th in the league after going 20-for-120 (16.7%). The Wild’s penalty kill sits 16th after stopping 99-of-121 (81.8%).
Notables –
● Forward Jordan Schroeder played in his 100th game for Iowa on Dec. 19. He is 2nd on the team’s all-time scoring list with 80 points.
Rockford IceHogs
Leading scorer Tanner Kero was recently recalled to Chicago, leaving with seven goals and 20 points in 28 games played. Kero was first in goals and second in assists. Right wing Spencer Abbott and veteran forward Mark McNeill, are also among the team leaders in points. McNeill is first with 14 assists and his 19 points in 28 games played lead all active Hogs. Abbott has six goals and 15 points in 26 games played. Cam Shilling leads all defensemen in points with 12 in 28 games played. He is tied for second on the team with six goals scored.
Goalies Lars Johansson and Mac Carruth share time in net for Rockford. Johansson sees the majority of time and is 7-7-1 with a 2.59 GAA and a .911 SV %. Carruth is 3-5-3 with a 3.12 GAA and a .893 SV %.
Rockford’s power play is 21th, going 19-for-123 (15.4%). The Hogs are 22nd on the penalty kill, stopping 85 of 107 (79.4%).