GAME PREVIEW - CHICAGO WOLVES AT IOWA WILD 11.9.14
Nov 9, 2014Chicago Wolves (7-2-2-0, 16 Points) at Iowa Wild (2-9-0-0, 4 points)
The Iowa Wild concludes a three-game home stand with a visit from the Chicago Wolves. Chicago and Iowa played their first game of the season last night at Wells Fargo Arena, with the Wolves taking a 4-2 decision. The two teams will meet eight times this season after playing in 10 games last year. Over the summer, Iowa was shifted to the West Division and is no longer a Midwest Division rival of the Wolves. Iowa finished with a record of 4-3-1-2 against Chicago in 2013-14, including a 2-2-0-1 record at Wells Fargo Arena. Chicago went 6-1-1-2 overall, including a 3-0-1-1 record at Iowa.
Iowa is 1-5-0-0 at home this season, having been outscored 23-13 by the visitors. Iowa has suffered four straight defeats after two straight wins. Chicago has won four of its last five games. The Wolves are 3-2-0-0 away from home. Chicago has outscored the home team 17-16 on the road.
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
vs. Chicago 11/9 3:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio
at Milwaukee 11/12 7:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio
vs. Oklahoma City 11/14 7:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio – MC22
vs. Oklahoma City 11/15 7:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio
at Rockford 11/21 7:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio
Transactions:
11.6.14 Delete – D Nicholas Rioux (released from PTO)
11.7.14 Add – D Corbin Baldwin (recalled from Alaska – ECHL)
Last Time Out
The Iowa Wild were defeated by the Chicago Wolves 4-2 in front of 6,263 fans at Wells Fargo Arena on Saturday night. After heading into the second period tied 1-1, forward Shane Harper and defenseman Brent Sopel each scored in the middle period for Chicago, pushing the Wolves lead to 3-1. The Wild pulled within a goal early in the third period when rookie forward Zack Mitchell scored his third goal of the season. An empty-net goal by forward Pat Cannone at the end of the third sealed the victory for Chicago. Iowa forward Marc Hagel also found the back of the net on Saturday, tallying his team-leading fifth goal of the season. Chicago goalie Matt Climie made 32 saves on 34 shots to protect the win. Iowa goalie John Curry stopped 25 of 28 shots in the loss.
Iowa Wild
Through the 11 games of the season, forward Jordan Schroeder leads the team in scoring with four goals and seven assists for 11 points. Schroeder also leads Iowa with six power-play assists, as well as 34 shots on goal. Center Tyler Graovac is tied for second on the team in scoring with seven points off one goal and six assists. Counting the last ten games of the 2013-14 season, the second-year pro has 17 points in his last 21 AHL games. Forward Michael Keranen is tied for second in scoring with three goals and four assists totaling seven points. He leads all Wild rookies in points and shots (24). Prior to his NHL call-up, defenseman Jon Blum was fourth with a goal and four assists in seven games. Fellow blueliner Danny Syvret has a goal and two assists for three points in nine games. Ryan Walters has four points in his last four games.
Goalies John Curry and Johan Gustafsson man the Iowa Wild crease. Curry is 0-4-0 with a 3.72 GAA and a .885 SV% with Iowa. Johan Gustafsson is 2-5-0 with a 3.49 GAA and a .891 SV %.
Iowa’s power play is ranked 19th at 16.0%, while the penalty kill sits 25th at 76.8%.
Notables –
· Iowa forward Marc Hagel has five goals in his last five games.
Chicago Wolves
In the Chicago Wolves first 11 games this season, forward Jeremy Welsh leads the team in total points and goals with five goals and four assists for nine points. Welsh split time between the Utica Comets and the Vancouver Canucks last season, where he tallied eight goals and seven assists in 68 games played. In his sophomore season, forward Ty Rattie is tied with Welsh in goals this year, but trails by two assists for seven points. As a rookie, Rattie led Chicago in total points with 31 goals and 17 assists for 48 points in 72 games played. Three-year AHL veteran Rob Bordson spent last season with the Adirondack Phantoms, netting 11 goals and 14 assists to match his career high in points (25) in 75 games played. Now with the Wolves, the forward has found the back of the net three times with five assists for eight points in 11 games played in the 2014-15 campaign. Forward Pat Cannone has scored three goals and five assists for eight points in 11 games played this season. Cannone is now starting in his second year with Chicago after scoring 16 goals and 18 assists for 34 in 59 games played last year.
Playing in six games this season, goalie Matt Climie (5-1-0) is posting a 2.25 GAA and a 0.904 SV% in 427:19 minutes. Goalie Jordan Binnington (2-1-0) is posting a 2.00 GAA and a 0.912 SV% in 240:18 minutes in four games played this year.
The Wolves’ power play is ranked 14th in the AHL 17.0%. Chicago’s team penalty kill is also sits at 11th in AHL at 85.7%.