GAME PREVIEW - OKLAHOMA CITY BARONS AT IOWA WILD 2.15.15
Feb 15, 2015Oklahoma City Barons (30-13-3-3, 66 points) at Iowa Wild (17-33-1-1, 36 points)
Iowa concludes a three-game home stand, with its third visit this year from Oklahoma City. The Barons claimed the last meeting, a 5-4 victory on Nov. 15 at Wells Fargo Arena. Iowa Wild plays Oklahoma City for the fifth time this season. The teams played four games in the month of November, as each club hosted a pair of games. The Barons lead the season series with a 3-1-0-0 mark, including a 1-1-0-0 record at Iowa. The Barons have outscored the Wild 16-13. They play a total of eight games this season, including two more in OKC and three at Wells Fargo Arena. The Barons and Wild played four times last season, with OKC taking the final three meetings by outscoring Iowa 11-8. OKC is 6-2-0-0 all-time against Iowa, including a 2-2-0-0 mark at WFA. Iowa is 2-4-1-1 versus OKC all time, going 2-2-0-0 at home.
Iowa is 8-17-0-0 at home this season, having been outscored 75-52 by the visitors. Iowa is coming off a 2-0 loss at home to Texas on Saturday night. The team continues a stretch of three games over the next three days, all at home. Iowa is 2-8-0-0 over the last ten games, while OKC is 4-4-1-1. The Barons are 16-8-2-1 on the road, outscoring the home teams 80-72. The Barons have one win over the last five games and two wins over the last seven. The club is 18-3-2-1 when scoring first.
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
vs Oklahoma City 2/15 4:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio / MC 22
at Charlotte 2/18 6:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
at Charlotte 2/19 6:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
at Milwaukee 2/21 7:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio
vs. Grand Rapids 2/24 7:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio
Transactions:
2.7.15 – Add – D Joe Stejskal (signed PTO – from Gwinnett Gladiators – ECHL)
2.8.15 – Delete – G Darcy Kuemper (recalled by Minnesota - NHL)
2.8.15 – Add – G Johan Gustafsson (recalled from Alaska – ECHL)
2.10.15 – Add – D Joel Chouinard (signed PTO – Toledo – ECHL)
2.10.15 – Delete – F Stu Bickel (recalled by Minnesota - NHL)
2.11.15 – Delete – F Stephane Veilleux (recalled by Minnesota - NHL)
2.11.15 – Add – F Brett Sutter (assigned by Minnesota – NHL)
2.11.15 – Add – F Greg Wolfe (signed PTO – from Alaska – ECHL)
2.12.15 – Add – D Collin Bowman (signed PTO – from Colorado – ECHL)
2.12.15 – Add – D Christian Folin (assigned by Minnesota – NHL)
Last Time Out
The Iowa Wild were defeated by the Texas Stars 2-0 in front of 9,107 fans on Saturday night at Wells Fargo Arena. Texas goalie Jussi Rynnas made 25 saves in the victory, recording his fourth shutout this season. Forwards Greg Rallo and Brendan Ranford each scored for the Stars in the road win. Despite stopping 20 of 22 shots, Iowa goalie Johan Gustafsson recorded the loss.
Iowa Wild
Through 52 games this season, forwards Michael Keranen and Tyler Graovac are the team’s leading scorers. Graovac leads the team in goals with 16 tallies and is first with 34 points in 49 games. Keranen is second on the team in scoring with 32 points and is first with 23 assists in 51 games. Recalled to Minnesota, forward Jordan Schroeder was third on the club in points with 10 goals and 18 assists for 28 points in 35 games played. Right wing Marc Hagel is third among active skaters with a career-high 24 points in 43 games played. Rookie Zack Mitchell is fourth among active skaters with 14 goals and 23 points in 52 games played. Defenseman Jon Blum is the leader in points from the blueline. He has eight goals and 22 points in 42 games played. Veteran center Brett Sutter is also among the team leaders with 18 points in 48 games played.
Goalies Johan Gustafsson, John Curry and Josh Harding (injured) man the Iowa Wild crease. Harding is 0-1-1 with a 3.37 GAA and a .920 SV%. John Curry is 8-12-0 with a 2.77 GAA and a 0.917 SV%. Gustafsson is 7-17-0 with a 3.34 GAA and a .896 SV %.
Iowa’s power play is ranked 22nd at 15.6%, while the penalty kill sits 30th at 77.6%.
Notables –
· Among all rookies, Iowa forward Kurtis Gabriel is second with 11 major penalties and second in PIMs with 97.
· Iowa left wing Zack Mitchell has tied Erik Haula’s team mark for most goals by a rookie (14).
· Edmonton announced in late January the team will be moved from OKC to Bakersfield, CA as part of Pacific Division.
Oklahoma City Barons
In the first 49 games this season, forwards Andrew Miller and Jason Williams are among the team leaders in points. Miller has 17 goals and 20 assists for 37 points in 45 games played. Miller is first in goals and tied for fourth in helpers. Williams is second in goals and tied for second in assists. Matt Ford is third in points with 33 in 43 games played. Ford has missed the last two games. Defenseman Brad Hunt is fourth on the team with 32 points in 35 games played. He ranks seventh in the AHL in scoring by a defenseman. The team is without Anton Lander (31 points in 29 games), Ryan Hamilton (29 points in 32 games) and Iiro Pakarinen (17 goals, 28 points in 39 games played.
The Barons have two goalies, led by Laurent Brossoit (14-9-2), who has a 2.53 GAA and a .920 SV%. Goalie Tyler Bunz (0-0-0) was recently reassigned by Edmonton from Wichita (ECHL). Bunz was 6-10-1 with a 2.97 GAA and a .901 SV%. The Oilers have recalled goalie Richard Bachman (14-4-3) with a 2.30 GAA and .921 SV %.
Oklahoma City’s power play is ranked eighth at 18.6%, while the penalty kill ninth at 85.3%.