GAME PREVIEW - TEXAS STARS AT IOWA WILD 11.1.13
Nov 1, 2013Media Kit - HERE
Texas Stars (5-3-2-0, 12 points) at Iowa Wild (4-2-0-0, 8 points)
The Iowa Wild continues a five-game homestand with the Texas Stars on Friday. The Wild are coming off a 3-2 loss at home to Grand Rapids on Sunday. The loss ended the team’s three-game winning streak. Iowa is 2-2-0-0 at home this season, having been outscored 11-10 at Wells Fargo Arena this season. Friday is the first meeting of the season between the Wild and the Stars. The two teams will meet a total of six times throughout the season, including a rematch at Wells Fargo Arena on Saturday night. Iowa will visit Texas on Dec. 6 and Dec. 7. The Stars make their final visit to Des Moines on Jan. 22. Texas will conclude a five-game road swing with two games in Iowa. The Stars are coming off a 3-2 overtime loss at Milwaukee on Wednesday night. Texas is winless in its last three games, going 0-2-1-0 over that span. The Stars are 1-2-2-0 on the road this season, having been outscored 14-10 on the road. The Stars have outscored their opponents 26-9 in five home games.
Minnesota's AHL Affiliate was in Houston for the 2012-13 season, going 40-26-5-5 (90 points / .592 %). The Aeros met the Stars 12 times last season, going 6-4-2-0. Over the last five years, Houston was 26-16-5-1 against Texas, including a 13-8-3-0 mark at home.
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
vs Texas 11/1 7:05 PM KXNO 1460 – iHeart Radio
vs Texas 11/2 7:05 PM KXNO 1460 / Mediacom 22
vs Milwaukee 11/3 4:05 PM KXNO 1460 / iheart Radio
Latest Transactions:
10/31 – Add forward Stephane Veilleux (assigned by Minnesota – NHL)
10/27 – Add goaltender Johan Gustafsson (assigned by Minnesota – NHL)
10/19 – Delete goaltender John Curry (assigned to Orlando – ECHL)
Last Time Out:
The Iowa Wild were defeated by the Grand Rapids Griffins 3-2 in front of 3,825 fans at Wells Fargo Arena on Sunday. Grand Rapids forward Landon Ferraro scored a shorthanded goal with 35 seconds remaining in regulation, breaking a 2-2 tie and elevating the Griffins to victory. Grand Rapids goalie Tom McCollum picked up the win with 26 saves. Iowa goalie Darcy Kuemper suffered the loss with 23 saves, which ended Iowa’s three-game winning streak. Grand Rapids defenseman Nathan Paetsch and forward Luke Glendening also scored in the victory. Iowa center Warren Peters had a goal and an assist, while winger Jason Zucker added a goal.
Iowa Wild
After six games, forwards Carson McMillan, Zack Phillips and Warren Peters lead the team in scoring. McMillan has two goals and four assists for six points in six games. Second-year forward Zack Phillips is second on the team with five points in six games. Phillips has two goals and three assists. Peters has a goal and four assists for five points in his first three games played. Five other Wild skaters are tied for fourth on the team in scoring with four points each. Defenseman Brian Connelly leads all blueliners with four assists in six games played. Left wing Bret Bulmer leads the team with three goals in six games played.
Iowa is 3-for-24 (12.5%) on the power play and has allowed four power-play goals against on 29 attempts (86.2%) The Wild is fourth in the AHL with a 2.33 goals against average and the team sits eighth with a 3.33 goals per game average.
Goalies Johan Gustafsson and Darcy Kuemper man the nets for Iowa. Kuemper improved to 2-2-0 on the season. In three appearances, he has a 2.55 GAA and a .915 SV%. Gustafsson is 2-0-0 with a 1.99 GAA and a .935 SV %.
Notables –
· Defenseman Brian Connelly will play in his 300th AHL game on Friday.
· Iowa has scored the first goal in five of the first six games. Texas has scored the first goal in nine out of ten games, going 5-3-1-0 when scoring first.
Texas Stars
The Texas Stars are the former franchise that used to call Des Moines home – from 2005-08 as the Iowa Stars and from 2008-09 as the Iowa Chops. Forwards Francis Wathier and Toby Peterson both played for the Iowa Stars. Wathier also played for the Chops. The Stars return 17 players from last year’s team, which captured the regular season Western Conference title, going 43-22-5-6 with 97 points. Texas was knocked out in the second round by Oklahoma City.
Veteran center Travis Morin leads the AHL in scoring with eight goals and 11 assists for 19 points in nine games played. Morin is the Stars all-time leader for assists and points. He also ranks among the all-time leaders in games played and goals. Fifth-year Star Colton Sceviour is second on the team with eight goals and 12 points in ten games played. After four years in Milwaukee, Chris Mueller joins the Stars with four goals and nine points in eight gams played.
Goalies Josh Robinson, Christopher Nilstorp and Jack Campbell spit time in net. Nilstorp is 2-5-0 with a 2.87 GAA and a .896 SV %. Campbell is 2-0-0 with a 1.00 GAA and a .956 SV %. Robinson has a shutout in his only appearance.