COMPLETE NUTRITION GAME PREVIEW VS GRAND RAPIDS 2.11.17
Feb 11, 2017Grand Rapids Griffins (30-14-1-2, 63 points) at Iowa Wild (25-19-5-1, 56 points)
Iowa concludes a three-game home stand after a 4-2 win on Friday night at home over Grand Rapids. The win tied a team record for a points streak at 10 games (7-0-3-0), Iowa has points in 14 of its last 15 games (11-1-3-0. (.833)), by far the best stretch of hockey in team history. Over the course of the last 15 games, Iowa has outscored the opposition 40-24. The Griffins visit Des Moines for the second of two straight at Wells Fargo Arena, the final regular season meeting between the two teams.
Grand Rapids and Iowa have met 29 times over the course of AHL history. Iowa is 7-19-3-0 all-time against Grand Rapids, including a 3-8-3-0 mark at home. The Griffins are 22-6-0-1 against the Wild all-time, including an 11-3-0-0 mark at Wells Fargo Arena. Iowa is 3-3-1-0 in the season series, while Grand Rapids is 4-2-0-1.
Iowa is 10-12-3-1 at home this season and 7-0-3-0 over the last 10 outings. The Wild has been outscored by the road teams 75-65 this season. The Griffins are 13-7-1-0 on the road and 6-4-0-0 over the last ten games. Grand Rapids has outscored the home teams 66-50.
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
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
vs. Cleveland 2/20 7:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
Transactions:
2.9.17: Add – RW Alex Tuch – assigned by Minnesota (NHL)
2.9.17: Delete – F Tyler Sikura – released from PTO
2.10.17: Delete – F Alex Petan – released from PTO
Last Time Out
The Iowa Wild defeated the Grand Rapids Griffins 4-2 on Friday night in front of 7,087 fans at Wells Fargo Arena. Rookie Alex Tuch led the charge with a goal and two assists. Wild goalie Steve Michalek made 31 saves for his 10th win of the season, also his fourth straight victory. Right wing Teemu Pulkkinen, as well as defensemen Mike Reilly and Max Fortunus, added goals as Iowa improved to 10-12-3-1 at home this season. Griffins Evgeny Svechnikov and Martin Frk each scored in the road defeat, while goalie Eddie Pasquale stopped 26 of 29.
Iowa Wild
Through the first 50 games of the regular season, right wing Teemu Pulkkinen leads the club with 15 goals and 32 points in 40 games played. Pulkkinen also leads the team in power-play goals (4), first goals (5), game-winning goals (4) and shots (131). Rookie Alex Tuch is second on the team in scoring with 12 goals and 13 assists for 25 points in 35 games played. Veteran center Pat Cannone and rookie Mario Lucia are tied for third in scoring with 22 points each. Cannone has 16 assists and six goals in 47 games played. Tuch has 12 goals and 13 assists for 25 points in 35 games played. Lucia has nine goals and 13 assists in 41 games. 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 10-9-1 with a 2.50 GAA and a .923 SV%.
Iowa’s power play sits 17th in the league after going 31-for-179 (17.3%). The Wild’s penalty kill sits tied for 13th after stopping 152-of-184 (82.6%).
Notables
· Rookie Alex Tuch has seven points in his last three games. Over that stretch he is a +7.
Grand Rapids Griffins
Through 47 games this season, Ben Street, a veteran center, is among the Griffins scoring leaders with 38 points and is second on the team with 23 assists in 42 outings. Second-year forward Matt Lorito leads the team with 26 assists and is tied for the team lead in scoring with 38 points in 38 games. Center Tomas Nosek is third in points with 36 over 37 games played. He is third on the team with 14 goals. Right wing Martin Frk is first on the team with 17 goals and fourth overall with 32 points in 40 games played. Right wing Mitch Callahan is fifth on the team in points with 30 points in 46 games played. Robbie Russo leads all defensemen in scoring with 26 points in 47 games played.
Eddie Pasquale 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 11-5-3 with a 2.23 GAA and a .923 SV%.
Grand Rapids’ power play sits best in the league after going 55-for-204 (27.0%). The Griffins penalty kill sits tied for 13th after stopping 133 of 161 (82.6%).