COMPLETE NUTRITION GAME PREVIEW VS. CLEVELAND 2.19.17
Feb 19, 2017 Cleveland Monsters (23-20-2-4, 52 points) at Iowa Wild (25-21-5-2, 57 points)
Iowa returns from a two-game road swing to California, ending with a 3-1 loss at Ontario on Wednesday. Despite the loss, the Wild still has points in 15 of its last 18 games (11-3-3-1, (.722)), by far the best stretch of hockey in team history. However, the Wild is winless in its last three at 0-2-0-1. The Monsters are also mired in a three-game winless (0-2-0-1) skid after falling 4-1 in Rockford on Friday night.
Cleveland and Iowa are locked in a battle for the fourth and final playoff spot in the AHL’s Central Division. Iowa and Cleveland have met 23 times over the course of AHL history. Iowa is 12-7-2-1 all-time against Cleveland, including a 4-4-1-1 mark at home. The Monsters are 10-6-3-3 against the Wild all-time, including a 6-3-1-0 mark at Wells Fargo Arena. The two teams will meet 12 times this season. Iowa is 3-1-2-0 in the season series, while Cleveland is 3-1-1-1.
Iowa is 10-12-3-2 at home this season and 6-2-1-1 over the last 10 outings. The Wild has been outscored by the road teams 79-68 this season. The Monsters are 10-11-0-2 on the road and 4-4-1-1 over the last ten games. Cleveland has been outscored by the home teams 74-63.
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
vs. Cleveland 2/19 3:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
vs. Cleveland 2/20 7:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
at Chicago 2/25 7:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
at Chicago 2/26 3:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
at Rockford 3/4 7:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
Transactions:
2.17.17: Add – F Zack Mitchell – assigned by Minnesota (NHL)
2.18.17: Add – F Ryan Carter – signed PTO
Last Time Out
The Ontario Reign defeated the Iowa Wild 3-1 on Wednesday night at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California. Reign goalie Jack Campbell stopped 20 of 21 shots for win. Former Wild center, Brett Sutter and Sean Backman led the Ontario attack with a goal and an assist each. Teemu Pulkkinen scored the lone Wild goal.
Iowa Wild
Through the first 53 games of the regular season, right wing Teemu Pulkkinen leads the club with 17 goals and 34 points in 43 games played. Pulkkinen also leads the team in power-play goals (4), first goals (5), game-winning goals (4) and shots (141). On recall to Minnesota, rookie Alex Tuch is second on the team in scoring with 12 goals and 13 assists for 25 points in 36 games played. Veteran center Pat Cannone is third, followed by rookie Mario Lucia. Cannone has 17 assists and seven goals in 50 games played. Lucia has nine goals and 13 assists in 43 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 15-11-6 with a 2.49 GAA and a .918 SV%. Michalek is 10-10-1 with a 2.62 GAA and a .920 SV%.
Iowa’s power play sits 16th in the league after going 33-for-188 (17.6%). The Wild’s penalty kill sits 15th in the AHL after stopping 157-of-193 (81.3%).
Notables
· Iowa has points in six straight road games fating back to Jan. 18.
· Ryan Carter is expected to make his Iowa Wild debut on Sunday.
Cleveland Monsters
Center TJ Tynan leads the Monsters with 21 assists and 26 points through 49 games played. He is second on the team with nine power-play points. On recall to Columbus, right wing Oliver Bjorkstrand is tied for first in scoring with a team-high 14 goals and 26 points in 37 games played. Left wing Sonny Milano is second in scoring with 25 points in 40 games played. Milano has 11 goals and 14 assists. Right wing Daniel Zaar is fourth in scoring with eight goals and 15 assists for 23 points in 37 outings. Dean Kukan leads all defensemen in scoring with 16 points in 45 games played.
Goalies Anton Forsberg and Brad Thiessen share time in net for Cleveland. Forsberg is 14-12-2 with a 2.25 GAA and a .927 SV %. Thiessen is 2-3-1 with a 2.00 GAA and a .928 SV %.
Cleveland’s power play is 21st, going 25-for-161 (15.5%). The Monsters are 5th on the penalty kill, stopping 176-of-208 (84.6%).