GAME PREVIEW - MILWAUKEE ADMIALS AT IOWA WILD 1.31.14
Jan 31, 2014Milwaukee Admirals (20-13-6-3, 49 points) at Iowa Wild (19-16-3-3, 44 points)
Friday’s game is the fifth of ten meetings this season between Iowa and Milwaukee. All but one game of the season series has been in Des Moines, with the Admirals taking the previous four meetings by outscoring the Wild 14-5. Milwaukee has recorded back-to-back shutouts of the Wild and at one point, held Iowa scoreless for 163:17 of play. Iowa made its first visit to Milwaukee on Jan. 6, falling to the Admirals 4-3 in a shootout for the last meeting between the two clubs.
Iowa has points in 19 of the last 24 outings (13-5-3-3 /.667). The Wild has a record of 9-11-2-0 at Wells Fargo Arena, outscored by the opposition in scoring 56-46. Iowa is 5-2-1-2 over the last ten outings and 7-8-1-2 against the Midwest Division. Iowa is 6-1-2-1 over the last nine home games with its only regulation loss coming at the hands of Milwaukee. The Wild has recorded points in six straight. The team is coming off a three-game road trip where it claimed five out of a possible six points. Iowa is coming off a 2-1 overtime win at San Antonio on Saturday night.
The Admirals got off to a 6-0-2-0 start to the season and have posted a 14-13-4-3 mark since. Milwaukee is coming off a 4-3 overtime loss at home to Rockford on Sunday. The team is 7-10-3-3 on the road this season, outscored by the opposition 71-50. Milwaukee is winless over last five road games (0-3-0-2), taking its last road game 4-0 at Iowa on Dec. 29. The Admirals are 4-3-1-2 over their last ten outings and 11-6-4-0 against the Midwest Division.
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
vs. Milwaukee 1/31 7:05 P.M. KXNO 1460 / iHeartRadio
at Chicago 2/1 7:00 P.M. iHeartRadio
vs. Utica 2/5 7:05 p.m. KXNO 1460 / iHeartRadio
Latest Transactions:
1/26 - Delete defenseman Nicholas Rioux (released from PTO - Quad City CHL)
1/23 – Add defenseman Jonathon Blum (returned by Minnesota - NHL)
1/22 – Add goalie Johan Gustafsson (returned by MN – NHL)
Last Time Out:
The Iowa Wild defeated the San Antonio Rampage 2-1 in overtime in front of 7,892 fans at the AT&T Center on Saturday night. Defenseman Kyle Medvec blasted a slapshot past goalie Michael Houser 2:26 into overtime, lifting the Wild over the Rampage and giving the club five out of a possible six points on the three-game road trip. Forward Marc Hagel also scored, as Iowa extended its current points streak to six-games (4-0-1-1). Iowa goalie John Curry stopped 25 of 26 in the overtime win. San Antonio goalie Michael Houser stopped 31 of 33 in defeat.
Iowa Wild
After 41 games, defenseman Brian Connelly leads the team in scoring with 25 points in 39 appearances. Connelly has a team-high 22 assists, including a team-leading 11 on the power play. Defenseman Jonathon Blum, as well as forwards Carson McMillan are tied for second on the team in scoring with 19 points each. Blum has five goals and 14 assists for 19 points in 34 games played. McMillan has nine goals and ten assists for 19 points in 39 games played. Forward Zack Phillips has seven goals and 12 assists for 19 points in 41 games played. Leading goal scorer Brett Bulmer (10) is currently out with an injury. Forward Warren Peters is also among the active skaters in points with 16 (5g/11a). Erik Haula (17 pts.) and Jason Zucker (13 pts) are on NHL recall with Minnesota.
Goalies Johan Gustafsson and John Curry man the nets for Iowa. Darcy Kuemper is on recall to Minnesota. Johan Gustafsson is 8-7-2 with a 2.81 GAA and a .911 SV %. Curry is 4-2-1 with a 1.81 GAA and a .944 SV%.
Iowa is 32-for-180 (17.8%) on the power play and has allowed 35 power-play goals against on 173 attempts (79.8%) The Wild is 25th in the AHL with a 2.51 goals per game average and the team sits 122h with a 2.71 goals against average.
Notables –
· Iowa forward Warren Peters played in his 600th AHL game on Saturday, picking up an assist in a win at San Antonio.
· Wild goalie John Curry has stopped 70 of the last 71 shots.
Milwaukee Admirals
Rookies Colton Sissons and Mikka Salomaki are the team leaders in points for Milwaukee. Sissons was recently recalled to Nashville after leading the team lead in goals with 16 and placing first on the team in points with 28 in 42 games played. Salomaki is tied for the team lead with 16 assists and is second with 27 points in 41 games played. Defenseman Anthony Bitetto is third on the club in scoring, posting nine goals and 25 points in 41 games played. Forward Austin Watson is fourth on the team with 24 points in 42 games played.
Goalies Marek Mazanec, Hannu Toivonen, Scott Darling and Magnus Hellberg man the net for the Admirals. Hellberg is 5-13-1 with a 2.82 GAA and a .911 SV%. Darling has made 15 appearances, going 8-3-0 with a 2.18 goals against average and a .930 SV %. Mazanec has started the last six games. He has a record of 7-3-1 with a 2.33 GAA and a .921 SV%.
The Admirals are 14th in the AHL on the power play, going 36 for 202 (17.8%). Milwaukee is 13th on the penalty kill, allowing 33 power-play goals against on 186 attempts (82.3%). The Admirals are 21st in the AHL with a 2.69 goals per game average and the team sits 13th with a 2.74 goals against average.