GAME PREVIEW - IOWA WILD AT GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 1.11.14
Jan 10, 2014Iowa Wild (15-14-2-2, 34 points) at Grand Rapids Griffins (24-10-1-2, 51 points)
Saturday’s game is the fifth of ten meetings this season between Iowa and Grand Rapids. The two teams played at Van Andel Arena for the first time this season last night, with Iowa taking a 3-2 decision. Prior to Friday, every game of the season series had been in Des Moines, with the Griffins taking each game by one goal. The Griffins have outscored the Wild 9-7. Grand Rapids is 3-1-0-0 against Iowa, while the Wild is 1-2-1-0 against the Griffins in the season series. The two teams will meet next in March for another pair of games at Van Andel Arena.
Iowa has played in four straight games decided by one goal. The team has points in 13 of the last 16 outings (9-3-2-2). The Wild has a record of 8-3-1-2 on the road and has outscored the opposition 45-39 away from home. Iowa is 6-1-1-2 over the last ten outings and 7-7-1-2 against the Midwest Division.
The defending champs lead the Western Conference with 51 points, third best among all AHL teams. Grand Rapids is 13-5-0-1 at home this season, outscoring the visiting teams 68-43. The Griffins are 15-8-0-1 against the Midwest Division.
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
at Grand Rapids 1/10 6:00 PM CT KXNO 1460 / iHeart Radio
at Hamilton 1/11 3:00 PM CT KXNO 1460 / iHeart Radio
vs. Toronto 1/15 7:05 P.M. KXNO 1460 / iHeartRadio
Latest Transactions:
1/11 – Add Taylor Matson (recalled from Orlando – ECHL)
1/8 – Add forward Justin Mercier (signed PTO from Idaho – ECHL)
1/8 – Add forward Jim McKenzie (signed PTO - from Quad City – CHL)
1/6 – Add defenseman Nicholas Rioux (signed PTO – from Quad City – CHL)
Last Time Out:
The Iowa Wild defeated the Grand Rapids Griffins 3-2 in front of 7,285 fans at Van Andel Arena on Friday night. Wild Captain Jake Dowell scored off a rebound with 4:12 remaining in the third period to break a 2-2 tie and Iowa killed off a late Grand Rapids power play to beat the defending Calder Cup champs for the first time this season. Iowa goalie Johan Gustafsson stopped 41 shots for a season high. Iowa now has points in 13 of the last 16 games (9-3-2-2) and moves above .500 for the first time since Nov. 9. Raphael Bussieres and Carson McMillan also scored. Grand Rapids goalie Tomas McCollum stopped 23 of 26 in defeat.
Iowa Wild
After 33 games, defenseman Brian Connelly leads the team in scoring with 19 points in 31 appearances. Connelly has a team-high 18 assists, including a team-leading eight on the power play. Fellow point leaders, defenseman Jonathon Blum and forward Erik Haula are on recall to the NHL’s Minnesota Wild. Haula had nine goals and 17 points in 24 games played. Blum posted four goals and 17 points in 31 games. Forward Brett Bulmer returned from Minnesota on Sunday. He is the team leader in goals (10) and second in shots (67). He was injured on Jan. 6 at Milwaukee and remains out. Also on recall, forward Jason Zucker had eight goals and 13 points in 22 games with Iowa. Center Zack Phillips adds five goals and 15 points in 32 games. Forwards Carson McMillan (14 points) and Warren Peters (12 points) round out the top scorers.
Goalies Johan Gustafsson and John Curry man the nets for Iowa. Darcy Kuemper is on recall to Minnesota. Johan Gustafsson is 6-5-1 with a 2.85 GAA and a .906 SV %. Curry is 2-1-1 with a 2.17 GAA and a .930 SV%.
Iowa is 23-for-145 (15.9 %) on the power play and has allowed 28 power-play goals against on 144 attempts (80.6%) The Wild is 26th in the AHL with a 2.46 goals per game average and the team sits 13th with a 2.72 goals against average.
Notables –
· Defenseman Brian Connelly registered his 200th career AHL point on Friday.
· Iowa has the #2 power play in the AHL on the road (24.6%), but the lowest in the league at home (10.2%).
Grand Rapids Griffins
Forwards Tomas Jurco and Teemu Pulkkinen lead the Griffins in scoring with 30 points each. Right wing Tomas Jurco has 12 goals and 30 points in 31 games played. Pulkkinen is tied for first with 30 points in 37 games. Pulkkinen (13) and Mitch Calahan (14) currently lead the team in goals. Center Cory Emmerton is also among the team leaders with 17 assists and 27 points in 29 games played. Veteran Jeff Hoggan (10g, 11a=21 pts) defenseman Ryan Sproul (7g,14a=21 pts) are also among the team leaders in points. Defenseman Adam Almquist leads the team with 19 assists.
Goalie Tom McCullom is taking the majority of time in the Grand Rapids net while Petr Mrzek is in Detroit. Mrazek went 10-2-1 with a 2.09 GAA and a .927 SV%. McCullom is 14-7-1 with a 2.26 GAA and a .922 SV %. Rookie Jared Coreau has made three appearances, going 0-2-0 with a 4.01 GAA and a .860 SV%.
Grand Rapids is seventh in the league on the power play, going 32-for-166 (19.3%). The Griffins penalty kill has allowed 24 goals on 170 chances (85.9%). The team averages 3.45 goals per game while allowing 2.38 per game.