GAME PREVIEW - IOWA WILD AT ROCKFORD ICEHOGS 11.21.14
Nov 21, 2014Iowa Wild (4-11-0-0, 8 points) at Rockford IceHogs (11-4-0-1, 23 Points)
The Iowa Wild begins a two-game road trip in Rockford on Friday and will play three games in three days over the weekend. The club visits Rockford and Chicago before returning home on Sunday to host Milwaukee. Rockford and Iowa meet eight times this season after playing in 10 games last year. Rockford took the series opener on Nov. 6, a 5-3 decision over the Wild at Wells Fargo Arena. Over the summer, Iowa was shifted to the West Division and is no longer a Midwest Division rival of the IceHogs. Iowa finished with a record of 4-6-0-0 against Rockford in 2013-14, including a 2-3-0-0 record at Wells Fargo Arena. Rockford went 6-3-0-1 overall, including a 3-2-0-0 record at Iowa. Dating back to last season, the IceHogs have won six straight over the Wild, outscoring them 29-14.
Iowa is 2-4-0-0 on the road this season, having been outscored 20-16 by the home teams. The Wild is coming off a 5-4 defeat to Oklahoma City on Saturday at home. Rockford is 5-2-0-0 at home, while outscoring the visitors 23-19 at the BMO Harris Bank Center. The IceHogs are 8-2-0-0 over the last ten games, while Iowa is 4-6-0-0.
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
at Rockford 11/21 7:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio
at Chicago 11/22 7:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio
vs. Milwaukee 11/23 5:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio
at Rockford 11/26 7:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio
at Texas 11/29 7:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio
Transactions:
11.14.14 Add – D Justin Falk – (assigned by Minnesota – NHL)
11.14.14 Add – F Jordan Schroeder (assigned by Minnesota – NHL)
11.20.14 Delete – F Ryan Walters (assigned to Alaska – ECHL)
11.20.14 Delete – G John Curry (assigned to Quad City – ECHL)
Last Time Out
The Iowa Wild were defeated by the Oklahoma City Barons 5-4 in front of 8,592 fans at Wells Fargo Arena on Saturday night. With the game tied 4-4 late in the third period, a goal from defenseman Brad Hunt lifted the Barons past the Wild. Iowa forward Brett Bulmer broke up a 3-3 tie in the second period, scoring his first goal of the season on a breakaway. But a goal from Oklahoma City forward Curtis Hamilton knotted the game at 4-4 midway through the third. Forwards Joel Rechlicz, Tyler Graovac and Brett Sutter also found the back of the net for the Wild. Forward Anton Lander scored twice and forward Travis Ewanyk scored once for the Barons in the victory. Iowa goalie Johan Gustafsson (4-7-0) made 35 saves on 40 shots in the defeat. Oklahoma City goalie Laurent Brossoit (1-3-0) stopped 29 of 33 shots to preserve the win.
Iowa Wild
Through the 15 games of the season, center Tyler Graovac and winger Jordan Schroeder are the team’s leading scorers with 11 points each off four goals and seven assists. Center Brett Sutter is third on the team with ten points in 15 games. He has three goals and seven assists on the year, including four points in his last five games. Winger Marc Hagel leads the team with six goals and has nine points in 11 games. Hagel has five points in his last five games. Forward Michael Keranen has three goals and six assists totaling nine points in 15 games played. He leads all Wild rookies in points and shots (27).
Goalies Johan Gustafsson and Josh Harding man the Iowa Wild crease. Johan Gustafsson is 4-7-0 with a 3.51 GAA and a .891 SV %. Harding has yet to make his AHL debut.
Iowa’s power play is ranked 17th at 15.7%, while the penalty kill sits 30th at 74.7%.
Notables –
· Iowa has allowed six power-play goals over the last four games.
Rockford IceHogs
In the first 16 games of this season, forwards Mark McNeill and Peter Regin lead the Rockford IceHogs in points. McNeill leads the team with nine goals and has accumulated seven assists for 16 points in 15 games played. Regin has suited up 13 times for Rockford, scoring four times and totaling 12 points. Defenseman TJ Brennan is third on the team with eight assists and 11 points in 14 games played. Brennan was the AHL’s leading scorer among defenseman in 2013-14 and was awarded the Eddie Shore trophy for league’s most outstanding defenseman. Phillip Denault is fourth on the team with seven assists and ten points in 14 games played. Rookie forward Teuvo Teravainen is also among the team leaders with ten points in 14 games played.
Playing in nine games this season for Rockford, goalie Michael Leighton (5-2-1) is posting a 2.32 GAA and a .917 SV%. Goalie Scott Darling (5-2-0) is posting a 1.83 GAA and .935 SV% in seven games played for the IceHogs this year.
Rockford’s power play is ranked 11th at 18.0%, while the penalty kill sits 13th at 84.2%.