GAME PREVIEW - TEXAS STARS AT IOWA WILD 10.24.15

Oct 24, 2015

Medis Kit - HERE

Texas Stars (4-1-0-0, 8 points) at Iowa Wild (1-3-1-1, 4 points)

Iowa hosts Texas this weekend for a pair of games on Saturday and Sunday, being the first two of four meetings this season. This marks the Stars only visit to Iowa this season. The other two games will be in Texas on Mar. 2 and Mar 4. The Wild is coming off a 3-2 loss at Rockford on Wednesday night. Texas dropped its first game of the season on Wednesday, 1-0 decision at home to Stockton. The two teams played eight times in 2014-15, with the Stars taking six of the eight meetings. The Stars have beaten the Wild in 11 of the 14 all-time meetings, holding a 6-1-0 record in Des Moines. Texas won all four meetings at Wells Fargo Arena last year and has taken seven straight dating back to the 2013-14 season.

Iowa is still looking for its first home win of the season with a 0-1-1-1 record at Wells Fargo Arena. In 2014-15, Iowa was 10-26-1-1 at home, being outscored 123-86, while Texas holds a 3-0-0 record on the road this season. After Saturday, the Wild will play 10 of the next 12 games at home. The Stars held a 20-13-5-0 record on the road in 2014-15, outscoring opponents 113-106. Texas currently sits on top of the Pacific Division with eight points through 10 games.

Upcoming Games:

Team                           Date    Time               Radio / TV

Texas                            10/24  7:00 PM CT    KXNO / iHeartRadio/Mediacom 22

Texas                            10/25  3:00 PM CT    KXNO / iHeartRadio

at Rockford                  10/30   7:00 PM CT    KXNO / iHeartRadio

vs. Milwaukee              10/31   7:00 PM CT    KXNO / iHeartRadio

vs. Rockford                 11/1     5:00 PM CT    KXNO / iHeartRadio

Transactions:

10.23.15 – Add – C Andrew Yogan – signed PTO

10.23.15 – Delete – F Tanner Eberle – assigned to Quad City (ECHL)

10.23.15 – Delete – F Olivier Archambault – assigned to Quad City (ECHL)

Last Time Out

The Iowa Wild were defeated by the Rockford IceHogs 3-2 in front of 1,874 fans at the BMO Harris Bank Center on Wednesday night. Rockford’s Tanner Kero took advantage of a bad bounce in the Iowa zone, scoring with 4:51 left in regulation and breaking a 2-2 tie. Kero led the Icehogs with two goals and one assist. Rockford goalie Michael Leighton made 16 saves as the Hogs snapped a three-game losing skid. Despite making 36 saves on 39 shots, Iowa goalie Jeremy Smith remained winless this season. Wild forward Christoph Bertschy and defenseman Maxime Fortunus each scored in the loss.

Iowa Wild

Forwards Jordan Schroeder (1g,3a) and Brady Brassart (2g-2a-4pts) lead the team in points through six games. Three different skaters are tied for third on the team with three points each. Schroeder leads the team with three assists. Brassart and rookie Christoph Bertschy are tied for the team lead with two goals each. Forward Michael Keranen leads the squad with 15 shots on goal.

Goalie Jeremy Smith (0-3-1) is among the league leaders with 155 saves through four games. He has a 3.23 GAA and a .923 SV%. Leland Irving has made two appearances, going 1-0-1 with a 1.42 GAA and a .958 SV%.

Iowa is 3-for-22 (13.6%) on the power play and 21-for-26 (80.8%) on the penalty kill.

Notables:

·       Wild Captain Maxime Fortunus faces his former team for the first time. He played for Texas from 2009-15, leading the Stars to a Calder Cup in 2014. He was Captain from 2012-15.

Texas Stars

Texas finished second in the West Division last season and earned a playoff berth for the third consecutive year. The Stars won the Calder Cup in 2013-14 but were bounced from the 2014-15 playoffs in the first round.

Rookie forward Devin Shore (6-1-7) leads the Stars in scoring. Shore’s six goals is good enough for second most in the AHL. Center Greg Rallo (4-2-6) and defenseman Esa Lindell (1-5-6) also sit atop the team in points through five games. Captain Travis Morin has four assists in five games.

Maxime Lagace and John Muse split time in net for Texas. Lagace (2-1-0) has a 1.68 GAA and .948 SV% in three starts. John Muse (2-0-0) has two victories in two tries for the Stars, posting a 3.48 GAA and .889 SV%.

Texas is 5-for-23 (21.7%) on the power play and 18-for-22 (81.8%) on the penalty kill. 

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