GAME PREVIEW - IOWA WILD AT CHARLOTTE CHECKERS 12.17.15

Dec 17, 2015

MEDIA KIT - HERE

Iowa Wild (5-19-2-3, 15 Points) at Charlotte Checkers (13-11-1-0. 27 points)

Iowa and Charlotte meet for the sixth time this season, concluding a two-game set at Bojangles Arena. Iowa rallied for a 4-3 OT win on Tuesday in Charlotte, ending an eight-game losing skid to the Checkers. Prior to that, Charlotte claimed the first four meetings of the season season. The Wild has points in three of the five games (1-2-0-2). The Wild has an all-time mark of 5-10-0-2 versus the Checkers, including a 4-4-0-1 mark in Charlotte. The Checkers have points in the last nine (8-0-1-0) meetings with the Wild, dating back to Feb. 19, 2015. Charlotte is 12-4-1-0 all-time against Iowa, including a 5-3-1-0 record at home. The teams will meet eight times this year.

Iowa is 3-9-0-1 on the road this season, having been outscored 42-23 by the home teams. The Wild is coming off a 4-3 overtime win at Charlotte on Tuesday. The team will play a pair of road games before returning home on Sunday to host San Antonio for a pair. Iowa is 2-6-1-1 over the last ten games played.

Charlotte is 4-6-1-0 at home this season, having been outdueled by the visiting teams 33-25. The Checkers are 6-3-1-0 over their last ten games played. After starting the year on a three-game winning streak, the team is 10-11-1-0 since, including three losses in the last five games. Charlotte is coming off the OTL at home to Iowa on Tuesday.

Upcoming Games:

Team                          Date    Time              Radio / TV

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

vs. Rockford                 12/27     5:00 PM         KXNO / iHeartRadio

Transactions:

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 defeated the Charlotte Checkers 4-3 in overtime on Tuesday evening in front of 3,579 fans at Bojangles Arena. After erasing a two-goal deficit and a 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 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 stopped 25 of 29 shots.

Iowa Wild

Right wing Zack Mitchell leads Iowa in scoring with ten goals and 15 points in 29 games played. He has nine points in his last nine games. Center Grayson Downing remains out with an injury. He has 12 points in 13 games played. Forward Michael Keranen has five goals and eight assists in 25 games played. Right wing Christoph Bertschy is first on the team with 10 assists and is tied for second with 14 points in 27 games played. Center Jordan Schroeder has 11 points in 14 games played. Mike Reilly leads all defensemen in points with 11. He has three goals and eight assists in 26 games played.

Goalie Jeremy Smith (1-9-2) in 13 appearances. He has a 3.37 GAA and a .905 SV%. Leland Irving has made 18 appearances, going 4-10-3 with a 2.70 GAA and a .917 SV%.

Iowa ranks 24th after going 12-for-96 (12.5%) on the power play. The team is 83-for-102 (81.4%) on the penalty kill – 24th in the AHL.

Notables –

·       Center Tyler Graovac made his Iowa season debut on Sunday. He has two assists in his first two games.

Charlotte Checkers

Center Derek Ryan is first on the team in points with 24 in 25 games played. He leads Charlotte with 14 assists and is third overall in shots on goal. At the time of his NHL recall, right wing Phil Di Giuseppe was second (now 3rd) in scoring with 14 points in 20 games played. Defenseman Trevor Carrick is second on the team with 16 points in 25 games. He is second in the AHL for goals by a defenseman (6) and he is ninth in points by a D-man. Forward Brock McGinn has 10 goals and 13 points in 13 games played. Zach Boychuk has 14 points in 25 games.

Goalies Drew MacIntyre and Daniel Altshuller share the crease after Rasmus Tirronen was reassigned to Florida (ECHL). MacIntyre is 9-9-1 with a 3.07 GAA and a .893 SV %. Tirronen was 4-2-0 with a 3.33 GAA and a .873 SV %. Altshuller was 10-3-0 in Florida (ECHL) with a 1.58 G.A.A. and a .941 SV%.

Charlotte ranks 8th after going 21-for-107 (19.6%) on the power play. The team is 95-for-113 (84.1%) on the penalty kill – 14th in the AHL. 

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