COMPLETE NUTRITION GAME PREVIEW VS TEXAS 1.20.17

Jan 20, 2017

MEDIA KIT - HERE

Texas Stars (19-15-1-2, 41 points) at Iowa Wild (18-19-3-1, 40 points)
Iowa plays the third of four straight at home with a visit from the Texas Stars. This weekend marks the only visit from Texas this season and the first two games of the season series. The Wild is coming off a 3-2 overtime loss at home to Grand Rapids on Wednesday.  Iowa is winless in two after four straight wins. The Stars posted a 4-3 win over Manitoba at home on Wednesday night. Texas has posted back-to-back wins heading into Friday.

Overall, this marks the 19th meeting between the clubs, as Texas leads the all-time series with a record of 13-3-2-0, including a 7-2-0-0 record on the road. The Wild is 5-11-1-1 all-time with a 3-4-1-1 record at Wells Fargo Arena.

Iowa is 8-12-1-1 at home this season and 4-5-1-0 over the last 10 outings. The Wild has been outscored by the road teams 66-55 this season. The Stars are 8-9-1-1 on the road and 4-5-0-1 over the last ten games. Texas has been outscored by the home teams 70-66.

Upcoming Games:
Team                                      Date      Time              Radio / TV
vs. Texas                                    1/20     7:00 PM CT   KXNO / iHeartRadio / MC22
vs. Texas                                    1/21     7:00 PM CT   KXNO / iHeartRadio
at Grand Rapids                         1/25     6:00 PM CT   KXNO / iHeartRadio
at Rockford                                1/27     7:00 PM CT   KXNO / iHeartRadio
at Rockford                                1/28     7:00 PM CT   KXNO / iHeartRadio

Transactions:
1.19.17: Delete – D Mike Reilly – recalled to Minnesota (NHL)
1.19.17: Delete – G Adam Vay – assigned to Quad City (ECHL)
1.19.17: Add – F Tyler Sikura – Signed PTO

Last Time Out
The Iowa Wild were defeated by the Grand Rapids Griffins 3-2 in overtime in front of 3,857 fans on Wednesday night at Wells Fargo Arena. Grand Rapids forward Martin Frk scored a power-play goal 1:34 into overtime, lifting the Griffins past Iowa. Forwards Tyler Bertuzzi and Ben Street also scored as the Griffins erased a 2-0 deficit with 8:55 remaining in the third. Iowa goalie Alex Stalock stopped 37 of 40 as his three-game winning streak came to an end. Griffins’ goalie Cal Heeter stopped 23 of 25. Wild forward Sam Anas and defenseman Gustav Olofsson each had a goal in the defeat.

Iowa Wild
Through the first 41 games of the regular season, right wing Teemu Pulkkinen leads the club with 12 goals and 26 points in 31 games played. Pulkkinen also leads the team in power-play goals (4), first goals (5), game-winning goals (3) and shots (107). Veteran center Pat Cannone is second in scoring with 21 points, off 16 assists and five goals in 38 games played. Rookie Alex Tuch is tied for third in scoring with 18 points in 32 games played. Tuch has eight goals and 10 assists. Center Grayson Downing is fifth in scoring with 17 points off six goals and 11 assists in 38 games played. Tuch and Downing are both currently out with an injury. Gustav Olofsson has five goals and 16 points to lead all defensemen in scoring. Rookie Mario Lucia and forward Christoph Bertschy are tied for seventh in points with 15 each.

Veteran Alex Stalock and Steve Michalek split time in net for Iowa. Stalock is 12-10-3 with a 2.67 GAA and a .911 SV%. Michalek is 6-9-1 with a 2.76 GAA and a .916 SV%.

Iowa’s power play sits 22nd in the league after going 26-for-156 (16.7%). The Wild’s penalty kill sits 18th after stopping 126-of-156 (80.8%).

Notables –
●       The Texas Stars franchise is the former Iowa Stars franchise that played in Des Moines from 2005-08.

Texas Stars
Through 37 games this season, forwards Travis Morin and Brendan DeFazio are tied for the team lead in scoring with 29 points each. Morin has 13 goals and 16 assists in 37 outings. DeFazio has 11 goals and 18 assists for 29 points in 37 games. Right wing Matej Stransky leads the club in goals with 15 and he places third on the team with 27 points in 37 games played. Julius Honka leads the Stars defense in points with 21 in 30 games played off five goals and 16 assists. Center Justin Dowling (5g,15a), left wing Remi Ellie (6g,13a) and center Jason Dickinson (6g-12a) also rank among the Stars scoring leaders.

Landon Bow and Maxime Legace split time in net for Texas. Bow is 6-4-0 with a 3.13 GAA and a .898 SV%. Legace is 11-9-3 with a 3.29 GAA and a .894 SV%.

Texas’ power play sits 17th best in the league after going 25-for-144 (17.4%). The Stars penalty kill sits 30th after stopping 132 of 175 (75.4%). 

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