GAME PREVIEW - TORONTO MARLIES AT IOWA WILD 4.14.15

Apr 13, 2015

MEDIA KIT - HERE

Toronto Marlies (36-27-9-0, 81 points) Iowa Wild (23-45-2-2, 50 points)

Iowa closes out the regular season home schedule on Tuesday with the Toronto Marlies. The club finishes the regular season with one final home game on Tuesday and two road games in Oklahoma City this weekend. This mark’s Toronto’s lone visit to Iowa this season. The two teams last met on Feb. 7, a 5-1 victory for the Marlies at Ricoh Coliseum. Toronto and Iowa met twice in 2013-14, splitting the season series with the road team taking each decision. Iowa is 1-1-1-0 all time against Toronto, including an 0-0-1-0 mark at Wells Fargo Arena. Toronto is 2-0-0-1 all time, including a 1-0-0-0 mark at Iowa.  

Iowa is 10-25-1-1 at home this season, having been outscored 122-80 by the visiting teams. The Wild is coming off a 1-0 loss at Chicago on Sunday. Iowa has two wins over the last 17 home games. The Wild is 2-7-1-0 over the last 10 games, while the Marlies are 7-3-0-0. Toronto is 16-14-4-0 on the road, having been outscored by the home teams 103-85. The team is coming off a 5-1 win at home over Rochester on Saturday. Toronto is 9-3-0-0 over the last 12 games. The team needs four points to clinch a berth in the Calder Cup playoffs.

Upcoming Games:

Team                          Date    Time               Radio / TV

vs. Toronto                    4/14      7:00 PM             KXNO/ iHeartRadio

at Oklahoma City          4/17      7:00 PM             KXNO/ iHeartRadio

at Oklahoma City          4/18      7:00 PM             KXNO/ iHeartRadio

END OF REGULAR SEASON

Transactions:

3.30.15 – Delete – D Christian Folin (recalled by Minnesota - NHL)

3.30.15 – Add – D Zach Palmquist (signed ATO)

3.31.15 – Delete – D Benjamin Dieude-Fauvel (released PTO)

4.10.15 – ADD – D Dylan Labbe (signed ATO)

Last Time Out

The Iowa Wild were defeated by the Chicago Wolves 1-0 in front of 6,416 fans on Sunday at Allstate Arena. Chicago goalie Jordan Binnington stopped 16 Iowa shots for the shutout, helping his club clinch a berth in the Calder Cup playoffs. Wolves forward Pat Cannone picked up the game’s lone goal in the second period. Despite getting outshot 33-16 for the game, Iowa was always within striking distance due to 32 saves by goalie John Curry, who suffered the defeat.

Iowa Wild

Through 73 games this season, forward Tyler Graovac is the team’s leading scorer with 46 points. He leads the team in goals with 21 tallies and is first in points after playing in 70 games played. Michael Keranen is second on the team in scoring with 37 points and is first with 27 assists in 67 games. Rookie Zack Mitchell is second among active skaters with 17 goals and is tied for third with 34 points in 73 games played. Defenseman Jon Blum is the leader in points from the blueline. He has ten goals and is tied for third on the team with 34 points in 63 games played. Right wing Marc Hagel is fifth among active skaters with a career-high 32 points in 64 games played. Veteran center Brett Sutter is also among the team leaders with 28 points in 68 games played.

Goalies Johan Gustafsson and John Curry man the Iowa Wild crease. John Curry is 13-21-2 with a 2.61 GAA and a .919 SV%. Gustafsson is 8-21-0 with a 3.46 GAA and a .893 SV %.

Iowa’s power play is ranked 23rd at 14.4%, while the penalty kill sits 30th at 76.3%.

Notables –

·      Iowa has outscored the opposition 17-12 in April, including two shutouts over the five games.   

·      Rookie Grayson Downing has four assists in his last four games.

·      Toronto is 21st in the AHL averaging 2.65 goals per game and Iowa is 28th at 2.30.

·      Toronto is 13th defensively allowing 2.72 goals per game and Iowa is 27th at 3.19.

Toronto Marlies

Through the first 72 games this season, rookie forward Connor Brown leads the Toronto Marlies in scoring with 20 goals and 40 assists for 60 points. This mark is tops among all first-year skaters in points and assists. Suiting up in 70 games this year, forward Brandon Leipsic is second on the team in scoring off 14 goals and 37 assists for 51 points. Defenseman T.J. Brennan is also among the team leaders and among the AHL leaders among defensemen in points with 47 over 69 games played. Right wing Matt Frattin is fourth on the club with 24 goals and 43 points in 55 games played for the Marlies. Center Byron Froese is fifth in team scoring with 16 goals and 21 assists for 37 points in 45 games played.

Playing in 43 games this season, goalie Christopher Gibson (22-17-3) is posting a 2.46 GAA and a 0.919 SV%. Rookie goalie Antoine Bibeau (13-10-5) is posting a 2.74 GAA and a 0.912 SV% in 29 games played this year.

Toronto’s power play is ranked 29th in the AHL at 13.1%, while its penalty kill is 28th at 78.7%.

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