COMPLETE NUTRITION GAME PREVIEW VS GRAND RAPIDS 2.10.17
Feb 10, 2017
Grand Rapids Griffins (30-13-1-2, 63 points) at Iowa Wild (24-19-5-1, 54 points)
Iowa continues a three-game home stand after a 2-1 overtime loss Wednesday at home to Cleveland. The defeat ended the Wild’s six-game winning streak, but extended the team’s current points streak to nine games (6-0-3-0), one short of the team record of 10 set during the 2013-14 season. Iowa has points in 13 of its last 14 games (10-1-3-0), by far the best stretch of hockey in team history. The Griffins visit Des Moines for the first of two straight at Wells Fargo Arena. Grand Rapids is coming off a 4-1 win over Manitoba at home on Wednesday. They have three wins in the last four games.
Grand Rapids and Iowa have met 28 times over the course of AHL history. Iowa is 6-19-3-0 all-time against Grand Rapids, including a 2-8-3-0 mark at home. The Griffins are 22-5-0-1 against the Wild all-time, including an 11-2-0-0 mark at Wells Fargo Arena. The two teams will meet eight times this season. Iowa is 2-3-1-0 in the season series, while Grand Rapids is 4-1-0-1.
Iowa is 9-12-3-1 at home this season and 6-1-3-0 over the last 10 outings. The Wild has been outscored by the road teams 73-61 this season. The Griffins are 13-6-1-0 on the road and 6-4-0-0 over the last ten games. Grand Rapids has outscored the home teams 64-46.
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
vs. Grand Rapids 2/10 7:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio / MC22
vs. Grand Rapids 2/11 7:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
at San Diego 2/14 9:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
at Ontario 2/15 9:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
vs. Cleveland 2/19 3:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
Transactions:
2.8.17: Delete – D Gustav Olofsson – recalled by Minnesota (NHL)
2.8.17: Add – D Mike Reilly – assigned by Minnesota (NHL)
2.9.17: Add – RW Alex Tuch – assigned by Minnesota (NHL)
2.9.17: Delete – F Tyler Sikura – released from PTO
Last Time Out
The Iowa Wild were defeated by the Cleveland Monsters 2-1 in overtime in front of 3,713 fans on Wednesday night at the Wells Fargo Arena. Monsters defenseman Dean Kukan scored with 1:08 left in regulation to tie the game and defenseman Jaime Sifers gave Cleveland the win at 1:45 of OT. Despite the overtime loss, Iowa’s point streak extends to nine games (6-0-3-0) and the team has points in 13 of its last 14 games (10-1-3-0). Wild goalie Alex Stalock stopped 32 of 34 shots in the loss. Monsters goalie Brad Thiessen stopped 17 of 18 shots in the win. Zack Mitchell scored the lone goal for the Wild.
Iowa Wild
Through the first 49 games of the regular season, right wing Teemu Pulkkinen leads the club with 14 goals and 31 points in 39 games played. Pulkkinen also leads the team in power-play goals (4), first goals (5), game-winning goals (4) and shots (126). Veteran center Pat Cannone, as well as rookies Mario Lucia and Alex Tuch, are all tied for second in scoring with 22 points each. Cannone has 16 assists and six goals in 46 games played. Tuch has 11 goals and 11 assists for 22 points in 36 games played. Lucia has nine goals and 13 assists. Gustav Olofsson, currently in Minnesota, is fifth in scoring with 21 points. He has five goals and 21 points to lead all defensemen in scoring in 45 games played.
Veteran Alex Stalock and Steve Michalek split time in net for Iowa. Stalock is 15-10-5 with a 2.45 GAA and a .919 SV%. Michalek is 9-9-1 with a 2.53 GAA and a .922 SV%.
Iowa’s power play sits 17th in the league after going 30-for-175 (17.1%). The Wild’s penalty kill sits 15th after stopping 148-of-180 (82.2%).
Grand Rapids Griffins
Through 46 games this season, Ben Street, a veteran center, leads the Griffins with 38 points and is second on the team with 23 assists in 41 outings. Second-year forward Matt Lorito is second on the team lead with 37 points in 37 games played. His 12 goals and 25 assists are among the team’s best. Center Tomas Nosek is second with 14 goals and is third in points with 35 over 35 games. Right wing Martin Frk is first on the team with 16 goals and fourth overall with 31 points in 39 games played. Right wing Mitch Callahan is fifth on the team in points with 30 points in 45 games played. Robbie Russo leads all defensemen in scoring with 26 points in 46 games played.
Eddie Pasquale, Jimmy Howard and Cal Heeter split time in net for Grand Rapids. Heeter is 7-2-0 with a 2.11 GAA and a .932 SV%. Pasquale is 11-4-3 with a 2.19 GAA and a .924 SV%. Howard is on a conditioning stint and is 1-1-0 with a 3.35 GAA and a .870 SV %.
Grand Rapids’ power play sits best in the league after going 55-for-200 (27.5%). The Griffins penalty kill sits 11th after stopping 130 of 157 (82.8%).