GAME PREVIEW - IOWA WILD AT ROCKFORD ICEHOGS 12.26.14
Dec 26, 2014Iowa Wild (9-18-1-1, 20 points) at Rockford IceHogs (18-9-3-1, 40 points)
Iowa returns from the holiday break with two straight on the road, starting with a visit to Rockford. The two teams last met on Dec. 16, as Iowa posted a 5-1 victory – ending an eight-game losing skid to the IceHogs that dated back to the 2013-14 season. The Wild and Hogs have met four times this season, with Rockford three of the four games by a combined score of 16-12, The Wild has visited the IceHogs twice falling in regulation and claiming a point in overtime. Rockford and Iowa meet eight times this season after playing in 10 games last year. Iowa is 5-8-1-0 all-time against Rockford, including a 2-4-1-0 at Rockford. The Hogs are 9-4-0-1 all-time, with a 5-1-0-1 mark at the BMO Harris Bank Center.
Iowa is 4-8-1-1 on the road this season, having been outscored 48-39 by the home teams. The team is coming off a 5-1 defeat at home on Sunday to the Chicago Wolves. The Wild is 4-5-0-1 over the last 10 games, while the IceHogs are 3-5-2-0. Rockford is 8-3-2-0 at home, outscoring the visitors 42-37. The team returns home from a six-game road trip that saw the team go 2-2-2-0. The Hogs are 2-4-2-0 over their last eight. The Hogs are coming off a 3-1 loss at Oklahoma City on Sunday.
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
at Rockford 12/26 7:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio
at Grand Rapids 12/27 6:00 PM (CT) KXNO / iHeartRadio
vs. Milwaukee 12/29 7:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio / MC 22
at Rochester 1/2 6:05 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
at Utica 1/3 6 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
Transactions:
12.18.14 - Add – G John Curry (assigned by Minnesota – NHL)
12.18.14 – Add / Delete – G Parker Milner (signed PTO / released)
12.22.14 – Delete – G John Curry (recalled by Minnesota – NHL)
Last Time Out
The Iowa Wild were defeated by the Chicago Wolves 5-1 in front of 4,912 fans on Sunday at Wells Fargo Arena. Forward John McCarthy scored twice and tallied one assist in the road win. Forwards Rob Bordson, Shane Harper and Colin Fraser also scored for the Wolves. Chicago goalie Jordan Binnington made 25 saves on 26 shots in the victory. Rookie forward Zack Mitchell scored the Wild’s lone goal. Iowa goalie Johan Gustafsson stopped 22 of 26 shots in the defeat.
Iowa Wild
Through the 29 games of the season, forwards Tyler Graovac, Michael Keranen and Jordan Schroeder are the team’s leading scorers. Graovac is first on the team with 10 goals and is third in assists with 12 for 22 points in 29 games this season. Keranen is second on the team in scoring with 21 points. He leads the team with 16 assists in 29 games. Schroeder is third on the squad with five goals and 18 points in 23 games played. Center Brett Sutter is fourth on the team with 15 points off six goals and nine assists in 28 games played. Forwards Zack Phillips (13 pts) and Marc Hagel (12 pts) are also among the team leaders. Jon Blum leads all defensemen with four goals and 13 points in 24 games played.
Goalies Johan Gustafsson, John Curry and Josh Harding man the Iowa Wild crease. Harding is 0-1-1 with a 3.37 GAA and a .920 SV%. Curry is 4-6-0 with a 3.02 GAA and a 0.911 SV%. Johan Gustafsson is 5-11-1 with a 3.26 GAA and a .898 SV % in Iowa.
Iowa’s power play is ranked 21st at 15.0%, while the penalty kill sits 26th at 79.3%.
Notables –
· Last time these two teams met on Dec. 16 in Des Moines, Iowa saw numerous team records broken and set numbers among the AHL season highs. Rockford’s 25 third period shots is the most allowed in Iowa history, to go along with the 59 shots allowed in the game. Johan Gustafsson set the new team mark for most saves in one period with 25. Iowa has set AHL highs for shots against in a game, as well as one period.
· Iowa’s streak of 19 straight penalty kills came to an end on Sunday vs. Chicago. Team went eight games without allowing a power-play goal.
Rockford IceHogs
In the first 31 games of this season, defenseman TJ Brennan, as well as forwards Garrett Ross and Phillip Danualt lead Rockford in points. Brennan is first on the team with 18 assists and 25 points in 31 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. Ross has a team-high 11 goals and is second on the team with 20 points in 29 games played. Ross leads the team with a +17 each. Danualt is tied for second on the team with 15 assists and he is third on the team with 19 points in 26 games played. Rookie forward Teuvo Teravainen is also among the team leaders with 19 points in 29 games played. Forward Mark McNeill is second on the team with nine goals and has accumulated 18 points in 18 games played. Patrick Regin has suited up 26 times for Rockford, scoring five times and totaling 15 points.
Playing in 16 games this season for Rockford, goalie Michael Leighton (7-6-2) is posting a 2.44 GAA and a .912 SV%. Returning from Chicago, goalie Scott Darling (8-3-2) is posting a 2.19 GAA and .928 SV% in 13 games played for the IceHogs this year.
Rockford’s power play is ranked 20th at 15.3%, while the penalty kill sits fifth at 86.2%.