WILD RESILIENT IN 4-3 OT WIN
Dec 15, 2015Iowa Scores three in the Third, Mitchell Wins it in OT
CHARLOTTE, NC– The Iowa Wild (5-19-2-3, 14 points) defeated the Charlotte Checkers (13-11-1-0, 27 points) 4-3 in overtime on Tuesday evening in front of 3,579 fans at Bojangles Arena. After erasing a two-goal deficit and an additional one-goal deficit, both in the third period, Iowa’s Zack Mitchell beat Charlotte goalie Drew MacIntyre 2:12 into overtime, giving Iowa the come-from-behind road victory. Led by Jordan Schroeder’s two third-period goals, Iowa put three on the board in the final frame to force overtime. Iowa goalie Leland Irving (4-10-3) made 21 saves, helping the club break a four-game winless skid. Forward Christoph Bertschy added a goal for Iowa, as the team snapped an eight-game losing streak to Charlotte. Charlotte goalie Drew MacIntyre (9-10-0) stopped 25 of 29 shots. Iowa remains in Charlotte for a rematch on Dec. 17 against the Checkers at 6 PM CT.
The Checkers claimed a 1-0 with the opening period’s only goal at 11:07. With Iowa on a power play, Charlotte counter attacked for the shorthanded strike and the game’s first lead. Defenseman Rasmus Rissanen sprung center Derek Ryan up through center ice. Ryan carried the puck into the Charlotte zone and slipped a low pass to Michal Jordan. The Checkers defenseman slipped a backhand shot past Leland Irving for the 1-0 lead and his first goal of the season.
In the second period, the Checkers expanded their lead to 2-0 at 11:25 of the period. Pressing in the Iowa zone, defenseman Keegan Lowe blasted a shot to the Iowa net and Irving made the save. Center Justin Shugg poked the rebound back to the blueline for Rissanen. The Charlotte defenseman ripped a shot to the Iowa net, that slipped through traffic and past Irving for his first goal of the year.
Iowa Wild carved into the Charlotte lead at 7:16 of the third period off a power-play goal by Christoph Bertschy. Center Tyler Graovac and right wing Marc Hagel each had a hand in the goal. Graovac found Bertschy to the side of the Charlotte net and he snapped a wrist shot past Drew MacIntyre for his fourth goal of the year and a 2-1 Checkers lead. Iowa charged back 1:18 later to tie the game 2-2 after Jordan Schroeder scored his fifth goal of the season. Center Brett Sutter set up the goal with help from defenseman Gustav Olofsson. The Checkers regained the lead with 3:03 left in the game. Ryan carried the puck into the Wild zone along the right-wing wall. Ryan flipped the puck to the Iowa net and left wing Brock McGinn redirected the puck past Irving. His 10th goal of the year made it 3-2 Charlotte. Iowa pulled the goalie late in the period in favor of the extra attacker. Olofssona and forward Michael Keranen worked the puck to Schroeder, who beat MacIntyre with a one-timer, his second goal of the night and sixth of the season for the 3-3 tie.
After killing off a Checkers power play, Iowa moved in offensively. Defenseman Zach Palmquist started the rush with an outlet pass to Keranen. The Wild winger found Zack Mitchell, who carried the puck into the Charlotte zone and zipped a shot past MacIntyre 2:12 into overtime. His team-leading 10th goal of the season gave Iowa its second overtime win of the year.
After a second game in Charlotte on Thursday at 6 PM CT, Iowa returns home again on Sunday, Dec. 20 to play San Antonio at 3 p.m. Sunday’s game features the “Teddy Bear Toss”, benefitting the pediatric unit at Mercy Hospital. Iowa hosts a holiday movie watch party following the game, courtesy of More 104. After the game, fans can stick around to enjoy the movie “Elf” on the big screen, starring Will Ferrell. The game includes the Subway/Star 102.5 Combo Pack as well. The teams will rematch on Monday, Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. Monday’s game includes free parking (until the Iowa Events Center lots are full) sponsored by HITS 99.9. The game also includes a ticket special for fans that bring their student ID’s and buy a defense-preferred ticket, receiving a second ticket for only $0.99 courtesy of HITS 99.9.
Fans may purchase single-game tickets multiple ways, either through the team's website – www.Iowawild.com, the Wells Fargo Arena box office or participating Hy-Vee food stores. Tickets are available online at www.Iowawild.com under the single game tickets tab. The Wells Fargo Arena box office is open Monday – Friday from 10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. and closed on Sunday. For Saturday game days, the box office will open at 10 a.m. For Sunday game days the box office will open at 12 p.m. Fans may also purchase tickets by calling 1-844-55-HYVEE or by visiting participating Hy-Vee food stores locations in the greater Des Moines area. Those interested may also visit www.hy-veetix.com. Fans interested in buying full season, or smaller season packages may call the Iowa Wild front office at 515-564-8700.
The Iowa Wild 2015-16 season is presented by Mercy Medical Center, it runs from October through April. Fans may purchase seats to see any of the team’s 38 regular season home games at Wells Fargo Arena. Season tickets to see the Wild play its 2015-16 season at Wells Fargo Arena start at just $9 per game. For more information on tickets, including ticket plans and group seating, please contact the Wild ticket office by calling 515-564-8700 or go to www.iowawild.com.
Follow the Iowa Wild on Twitter @IAWILD or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/iawild.
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