GAME PREVIEW - IOWA WILD AT SAN ANTONIO RAMPAGE 12.4

Dec 3, 2013

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Iowa Wild (7-11-0-0, 14 points) at San Antonio Rampage (10-10-0-1, 21 points)

The Iowa Wild continues a six-game road trip with its first visit to the AT&T Center for a meeting with West Division foe San Antonio. It marks the second game of six straight on the road for Iowa. The team picked up a win last Wednesday in Chicago, taking a 3-1 decision over the Wolves. The win ended a six-game losing skid for Iowa. The Wild is 4-1-0-0 on the road this year, outscoring the home clubs 19-9 this season. The Wild also plays a pair of games at both, Texas (Austin) and Abbotsford prior to returning home on Dec. 15 for Rockford. Iowa is 2-8-0-0 over the last ten outings and 4-5-0-0 against the West Division.

San Antonio is coming off a 3-1 loss at Oklahoma City on Saturday night. The team is 7-4-0-0 at home this season, having outscored their opponents 35-27. The club is 6-1-0-0 over the last seven games on home ice. Four of the team’s last six wins have come by way of a shootout. San Antonio is 6-4-0-0 over its last ten games and 4-3-0-0 against the Midwest division.

The Rampage and Wild meet a total of six times during the season. San Antonio took the first meeting, besting Iowa 5-2 at Wells Fargo Arena on Nov. 15. The Rampage returns to Wells Fargo Arena on Dec. 21 and Mar. 16. Minnesota's AHL Affiliate was in Houston for the 2012-13 season, going 40-26-5-5 (90 points / .592 %). The Aeros met the Rampage 12 times last season, with Houston going 8-3-0-1.  The old rivals met 54 times in Texas over the last five years. Houston was 32-15-4-3 against San Antonio, including a 14-10-2-1 mark at the AT&T Center.

Upcoming Games:

Team                  Date          Time               Radio / TV

at San Antonio     12/4           7:00 PM           iHeart Radio

at Texas              12/6           7:30 PM           KXNO 1460 / iHeart Radio

at Texas              12/7           7:00 PM           KXNO 1460 / iHeart Radio

Latest Transactions:

12/2 – Add forward Josh Caron (recalled from Orlando – ECHL)

12/1 – Add forward Jason Zucker (assigned – Minnesota – NHL)

11/29 – Delete forward Erik Haula (recalled - Minnesota – NHL)

11/29 – Delete goalie John Curry (assigned to Orlando – ECHL)

11/28 – Add goalie Darcy Kuemper (assigned – Minnesota – NHL)

Last Time Out:

The Iowa Wild defeated the Chicago Wolves 3-1 in front of 4,526 fans at Allstate Arena on Wednesday night. Arriving 90 minutes prior to faceoff, freshly assigned goalie Darcy Kuemper and right wing Jason Zucker were critical in Iowa ending its six-game losing skid. Zucker scored twice and Kuemper stopped 32 shots to lead Iowa to victory. The Iowa goalie ended a personal five-game losing skid with the victory. Veteran forward Stephane Veilleux also scored as Iowa improved to 4-1-0-0 on the road this season. Chicago goalie Jake Allen made 19 saves in the loss.

Iowa Wild

After 18 games, defenseman Brian Connelly leads the team in scoring with 11 points (all assists). He did not dress in either of the last two games. Left wing Jason Zucker is second on the team in scoring with 10 points in 13 games played. Zucker is tied with winger Brett Bulmer for the team lead in goals. Defenseman Jonathon Blum is third on the team in scoring with nine points in 18 games played. His seven assists trail only Connelly. Second-year forwards Bulmer and Zack Phillips round out the scoring with eight points each. Bulmer has at least a point in three of his last four games. Phillips has three goals and five assists in 18 games played.

Goalies Johan Gustafsson and Darcy Kuemper man the nets for Iowa. Kuemper is 4-7-0 in 11 appearances, posting a 2.78 GAA and a .914 SV%. Johan Gustafsson is 3-3-0 with a 2.62 GAA and a .910 SV %.

Iowa is 15-for-85 (17.6 %) on the power play and has allowed 15 power-play goals against on 87 attempts (82.8%) The Wild is last in the AHL with a 2.22 goals against average and the team sits 11th with a 2.72 goals per game average.

Notables –

·        Iowa has allowed the first goal in eight of the last ten games. The team is 6-2-0-0 when scoring first.

·        The Wild road power play is best in the AHL, converting eight of 24 chances (33.3%)

San Antonio Rampage

The Florida Panthers named Tom Rowe head coach of San Antonio in early November. He is 6-4-0-0.

Rookie center Vincent Trocheck leads his club in scoring with nine goals and nine assists for 18 points in 21 games played. He is joined by veteran forwards Greg Rallo and Bobby Butler. Butler has six goals and 14 points in 20 games played. Rallo has five goals and 13 points in 21 games played. Defenseman Colby Robak leads all blueliners with eight assists and 10 points in 20 games played.

Goalies Dov Grumet-Morris and Jacob Markstrom split time in net for the Rampage. Grumet-Morris has appeared in seven games, going 1-5-1 with a 2.69 GAA and a.913 SV%. Markstrom is 4-3-0 on year, sporting a 2.25 GAA and a .930 SV%.

The Rampage is 12-for-101 (11.9%) on the power play this year. Despite the slow start on the extra man advantage, San Antonio’s penalty kill is 97 of 114 (85.1%) penalties. The Rampage average 2.71 goals per game and allow 2.76 per game. 

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