GAME PREVIEW - MILWAUKEE ADMIRALS AT IOWA WILD 11.3.13
Nov 3, 2013Media Kit - HERE
Milwaukee Admirals (5-0-2-0, 12 points) at Iowa Wild (5-3-0-0, 10 points)
The Iowa Wild concludes a five-game homestand with the Milwaukee Admirals on Sunday. The Wild is coming off a 5-0 loss to Texas at Wells Fargo Arena on Saturday night. With the loss, Iowa dropped to 3-3-0-0 at home this season, having been outscored by the opposition 18-14. Sunday is the first of ten meetings between the Wild and the Admirals this year. The division rivals will meet again on Saturday, Nov. 16 in Des Moines. Iowa makes its first of five visits to Milwaukee on Monday, Jan. 6. The Admirals are unbeaten in regulation to start the season, going season 2-0-1-0 on the road this year. It is the longest such streak in the AHL and Milwaukee is the last remaining team in the league without a regulation loss. The Admirals have edged their opponents 7-6 on the road this season.
Minnesota's AHL Affiliate was in Houston for the 2012-13 season, going 40-26-5-5 (90 points / .592 %). The Aeros met the Admirals four times last season, going 3-0-1-0. Over the last five years, Houston was 9-11-5-3 against Milwaukee, including a 5-4-4-1 mark at home.
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
vs Milwaukee 11/3 4:05 PM KXNO 1460 / iHeart Radio
at Rockford 11/8 7:00 PM KXNO 1460 / iHeart Radio
at Rockford 11/9 7:00 PM KXNO 1460 / iHeart Radio
Latest Transactions:
11/3 – Add defenseman Corbin Baldwin (recalled from loan to Quad City – CHL)
11/3 – Delete Carson McMillan (recalled by Minnesota – NHL)
11/2 – Delete defenseman Corbin Baldwin (loaned to Quad City – CHL)
10/31 – Add forward Stephane Veilleux (assigned by Minnesota – NHL)
Last Time Out:
The Iowa Wild were defeated by the Texas Stars 5-0 in front of 7,514 fans at Wells Fargo Arena on Saturday night. Stars goalie Allen York (1-0-0) stopped all 26 Iowa shots in his Texas debut, leading the Stars past the Wild. Five different goal scorers lit the lamp for the Stars, who ended a four-game winless skid (0-3-1-0). Iowa goalie Darcy Kuemper (3-3-0) made a season-high 44 saves in the defeat.
Iowa Wild
After eight games, forwards Carson McMillan, Erik Haula, Zack Phillips and Warren Peters lead the team in scoring. McMillan has two goals and four assists for six points in seven games. He was recalled to Minnesota on Sunday. Second-year forward Zack Phillips is among the leaders on the team with six points in eight games. Peters has a goal and four assists for five points in his first five games played. Haula is tied for first in goals with three and he is tied for the lead with six points in eight games. Five other Wild skaters are tied for fourth on the team in scoring with five points each. Defensemen Brian Connelly and Jonathon Blum lead all blueliners, each with five assists in eight games played. Left wing Brett Bulmer is tied for the team lead with three goals in eight games played.
Goalies Johan Gustafsson and Darcy Kuemper man the nets for Iowa. Kuemper is 3-3-0 on the season. In six appearances, he has a 2.89 GAA and a .915 SV%. Gustafsson is 2-0-0 with a 1.99 GAA and a .935 SV %.
Iowa is 6-for-35 (17.1%) on the power play and has allowed seven power-play goals against on 41 attempts (82.9%) The Wild is eighth in the AHL with a 2.63 goals against average and the team sits 12th with a 3.00 goals per game average.
Notables –
· Wild defenseman Jonathon Blum played in 216 games for Milwaukee from 2008-13. Sunday is his first game against his former team.
· Iowa has scored the first goal in six of the first eight games, going 5-1-0-0 when opening the scoring. Milwaukee has scored the first goal twice out of seven games, going 1-0-1-0 when scoring first.
Milwaukee Admirals
The Milwaukee Admirals were 41-28-4-3 last season, falling to Texas in the first round of the 2013 Calder Cup Playoffs (3-1). The Admirals return 15 players from the 2012-13 squad. Milwaukee has the highest winning percentage in the AHL heading into Sunday’s action. The club has also played the fewest games in the league with seven appearances.
Defenseman Anthony Bitetto leads his club in scoring, posting four goals and three assists for seven points in seven games played. Rookie center Colton Sissons is tied for the team lead in goals with four and second on the team in points with six in seven games played. Forwards Taylor Beck, Austin Watson, Simon Moser and Joonas Rask are also among the points leaders with four each.
Goalie Marek Mazanec and Magnus Hellberg have split the starts in net. Mazanec is 4-0-0 with a 1.97 GAA and a .933 SV %. Hellberg was 1-2-0 with a 2.23 GAA and a .913 SV% prior to his recall to Nashville. Scott Darling is in to replace Hellberg, he has yet to make his season debut.
The Admirals are 23rd in the AHL on the power play, going five for 34 (14.7%). Milwaukee is 11th on the penalty kill, allowing six power-play goals against on 36 attempts.