GAME PREVIEW - CHICAGO WOLVES AT IOWA WILD 12.8.15
Dec 8, 2015Chicago Wolves (10-7-1-2, 23 Points) at Iowa Wild (4-17-1-3, 12 Points)
Iowa and Chicago meet for the second of 12 meetings this season. The Wolves took the first meeting of the year on Nov. 22, a 2-1 decision at Allstate Arena. Chicago hosts Iowa for the next meeting on Dec. 26. The two clubs met eight times in 2014-15, with the Wolves taking seven of the eight. Chicago was 7-1-0-0, including a 3-1-0-0 record at home. The Wild was outscored 25-13 in the season series, posting a 0-4-0-0 record at Wells Fargo Arena. Iowa is 5-10-1-2 all-time against Chicago and 2-6-0-1 at home. Chicago leads the all-time series with a 14-2-1-2 record, including a 7-2-0-1 in Des Moines, IA.
Iowa is 2-9-1-2 at home this season, having been outscored 27-46 by the away teams. Iowa returns home for the first time since Nov. 21. The Wild is winless in its last eight games at Wells Fargo Arena. Its last home victory was a 3-2 overtime win against the Milwaukee Admirals on Oct. 31. Iowa returns from a six-game road trip that saw the team go 1-3-0-1. The team is coming off a 3-1 loss at Lake Erie on Friday.
Chicago is 3-3-1-1 on the road this season, getting outscored 27-23 by the home team. The Wolves are 2-6-1-1 over the last ten games. Chicago is coming off a 3-2 shootout loss at home to Milwaukee on Saturday night. The Wolves have dropped five of their last six decisions.
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
vs. Chicago 12/8 7:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio / MC 22
at Rockford 12/11 7:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio
vs. Grand Rapids 12/13 4:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio
at Charlotte 12/17 6:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
vs. San Antonio 12/20 3:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
Transactions:
12.2.15: Delete – D Mike Reilly - recalled by Minnesota (NHL)
12.3.15: Delete – F Matt Carey – assigned to Quad City (ECHL)
12.6.15: Delete – F Raphael Bussieres – assigned to Quad City (ECHL)
Last Time Out
The Iowa Wild were defeated by the Lake Erie Monsters 3-1 at Quicken Loans Arena. Lake Erie scored three times in the last 7:58 of play, erasing a one-goal deficit and taking a two-goal decision over the Wild. Despite stopping 20 of 22, Iowa goalie Leland Irving was stuck with the loss. Less than six minutes after John Ramage tied the game 1-1, Monsters center Manny Malhotra scored the decisive goal with 2:28 remaining in regulation.
Iowa Wild
Forward Zack Mitchell and forward Grayson Downing are tied for the team lead in points with 12. Downing leads the club with six goals and six assists for 12 points in 12 games. Right wing Christoph Bertschy is first on the team with nine assists and is second with 11 points in 23 games played. Forward Michael Keranen has five goals and five assists in 21 games. Right wing Zack Mitchell has a team-high, seven goals and is tied for first in scoring with 12 points in 25 games played.
Goalie Jeremy Smith (1-9-1) in 12 appearances. He has a 3.33 GAA and a .908 SV%. Leland Irving has made 15 appearances, going 3-8-3 with a 2.63 GAA and a .920 SV%.
Iowa ranks 29th after going 9-for-91 (9.9%) on the power play. The team is 78-for-95 (82.1%) on the penalty kill – 17th in the AHL.
Notables –
● Zack Mitchell has seven points in his last six games.
Chicago Wolves
Defenseman Andre Benoit leads the Wolves in scoring with two goals and 15 assists for 17 points in 20 games. Forward Pat Cannone is second on the team in scoring with six goals and nine assists for 15 points in 18 games. Right wing Ty Rattie leads the Wolves in goals with eight and third in scoring with 14 points in 15 games played. Forward Danny Kristo rounds out the top scorers with seven goals and six assists for 13 points in 20 games.
Wolves goalies Jordan Binnington and Phoenix Copley split time in net. Binnington (6-3-2-0) has made 11 appearances, posting a 2.51 GAA and a .908 SV%. Phoenix Copley (4-4-1-2) has started in nine games, holding a 2.58 GAA and .908 SV%.
Chicago is 14-for-86 on the power play and sits 17th at 16.3%. The Wolves penalty kill sits 12th at 84.6%, going 66-for-78.