GAME PREVIEW - GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS AT IOWA WILD 12.13.15
Dec 13, 2015Grand Rapids Griffins (12-8-0-1, 25 points) at Iowa Wild (4-19-1-3, 12 Points)
Iowa and Grand Rapids meet for the third of eight meetings this season. Iowa fell 5-1 in the last meeting at GR on Nov. 25. The Griffins have outscored the Wild 10-3. After Sunday, the Wild hosts the Griffins on Feb. 12 for the next meeting. The Griffins have dominated the all-time series by going 14-2-0-0 in 16 all-time meetings. Grand Rapids is 7-0-0-0 in Des Moines, while Iowa is 0-6-1-0 at Wells Fargo Arena. Iowa is 2-13-1-0 all-time against the Griffins. Dating back to 2013-14, Grand Rapids has taken the last nine meetings over Iowa. The Wild’s last win in the series came on Mar. 8, 2014 – a 3-1 win at Van Andel Arena.
Iowa is 2-10-1-2 at home this season, having been outscored 51-30 by the visitors. Iowa is 1-8-0-1 over its last ten games. The Wild is winless in its last nine games (0-8-0-1) at Wells Fargo Arena. Iowa’s last home victory was a 3-2 overtime win against the Milwaukee Admirals on Oct. 31. Iowa is coming off a 2-1 loss at Rockford on Friday.
Grand Rapids is 3-4-0-1 on the road, outscored by the home teams 25-24. The Griffins are 10-0-0-0 over the last ten games played after posting an AHL season high ten straight wins heading into Sunday’s game. Grand Rapids is coming off a 4-1 win at Rockford on Saturday night.
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
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
vs. San Antonio 12/21 7:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
at Chicago 12/26 7:00 PM KXNO / iHeartRadio
Transactions:
12.9.15: Add – D Mike Reilly - assigned by Minnesota (NHL)
12.9.15: Delete – D Tyson Strachan - recalled by Minnesota (NHL)
12.9.15: Delete – F Mike Aviani– released PTO
12.11.15: Add – F Rob Bordson – signed PTO – Adirondack (ECHL)
12.12.15: Add – C Tyler Graovac - assigned by Minnesota (NHL)
Last Time Out
The Iowa Wild were defeated by the Rockford IceHogs 2-1 on Friday night in front of 3,914 fans at the BMO Harris Center. Despite a 38-save effort from Iowa goalie Leland Irving the Wild were edged by the IceHogs after former Iowa Captain Jake Dowell scored the eventual game-winning goal 7:32 into the third period. Rockford goalie Mark Visentin grabbed the win, carrying a shutout into the last ten minutes of the game and finishing with 22 saves on 23 shots. IceHogs left wing Garret Ross led the charge, scoring a goal and setting up the game-winner for the team’s fifth straight win. Iowa forward Colton Beck scored the team’s lone goal, his first career AHL tally.
Iowa Wild
Right wing Zack Mitchell leads Iowa in scoring with eight goals and 13 points in 27 games played. He has eight points in his last eight games. Center Grayson Downing remains out with an injury. He has 12 points in 13 games played. Forward Michael Keranen has five goals and seven assists in 23 games played. Right wing Christoph Bertschy is first on the team with nine assists and is tied for second with 12 points in 25 games played. Center Jordan Schroeder has eight points in 12 games played. Mike Reilly leads all defensemen in points with nine. He has two goals and seven assists in 24 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 17 appearances, going 3-10-3 with a 2.68 GAA and a .919 SV%.
Iowa ranks 28th after going 11-for-94 (11.7%) on the power play. The team is 80-for-99 (80.8%) on the penalty kill – 25th in the AHL.
Notables –
● Center Tyler Graovac is expected to make his Iowa season debut on Sunday.
Grand Rapids Griffins
Veteran left wing Eric Tangradi leads Grand Rapids in scoring with 20 points in 21 games played. He is first on the team with 12 goals, including two against Iowa. Center Andy Miele is second on the club in points with 18, including a team high 14 assists in 21 games played. Center Andreas Athanasiou is third on the club with seven goals and 14 points 17 games played. After posting three points in Saturday in Rockford, left wing Anthony Mantha now has nine assists and 12 points in 16 games played. Right wing Mitch Callahan ranks among the team leaders with seven goals and 11 points in 21 games played. Ryan Sproul leads all defensemen in points with 10 in 21 games.
The Griffins have split the goaltending through 21 games this season. Tom McCollum (6-6-0) has made 10 appearances, posting 2.53 GAA and .924 SV%. Jared Coreau (8-2-1) holds a 2.10 GAA and .933 SV% through 12 appearances.
Grand Rapids is 13-for-93 on the power play and sits 21st at 14.0%. The Griffins penalty kill 79-for-92 and 9th at 85.9%.