GAME PREVIEW - ROCKFORD ICEHOGS AT IOWA WILD 12.27.15
Dec 27, 2015Rockford IceHogs (18-7-2-3, 41 Points) at Iowa Wild (6-22-2-3, 17 Points)
Iowa and Rockford meet for the seventh of 12 meetings this season. Each team will host six games this season, including the next meeting in Des Moines on Jan. 10. Rockford has taken the first six meetings of the year, including a 2-1 decision in Rockford on Dec. 11. The IceHogs have shutout the Wild twice this season, outscoring Iowa 20-8 in the season series. Overall, Rockford is 18-5-0-1 in 24 all-time meetings, including a 9-3-0-0 mark at the Wells Fargo Arena. Iowa is 6-17-1-0 all-time and 3-9-0-0 at home. The Hogs have taken the last nine meetings dating back to Jan. 16, 2015.
Iowa is 2-12-2-2 at home this season, having been outscored 60-36 by the visitors. Iowa is 3-6-1-0 over its last ten games. The Wild is winless in its last 12 games (0-10-1-1) at Wells Fargo Arena. The team record for games without a point stands at 14, set during the 2014-15 season. 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 win on the road against the Chicago Wolves
Rockford is 11-3-1-1 on the road this season, outscoring the home teams 56-42. The IceHogs are 6-2-1-1 over the last ten games played. The team is coming off a 2-1 shootout loss at home to Milwaukee on Saturday night.
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
vs. Rockford 12/27 5:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
at Manitoba 12/31 4:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
at Manitoba 1/1 7:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
at Milwaukee 1/9 7:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
vs. Rockford 1/10 7:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
Transactions:
12.21.15: Add / Delete D – Austin Coldwell – signed PTO / released – Quad City (ECHL)
12.22.15: Add – D Mike Reilly - assigned by Minnesota (NHL)
12.26.15: Add – D Guillaume Gelinas – recalled from Quad City (ECHL)
Last Time Out
The Iowa Wild defeated the Chicago Wolves 2-1 in front of 6,720 fans at Allstate Arena on Saturday night. Wild goalie Jeremy Smith made 26 saves on 27 shots in the victory. Iowa forward Grayson Downing scored his eighth goal of the season, helping the Wild defeat the Wolves for the first time of the season. Defenseman Joe Finley added a goal for the Wild. Wolves goalie Pheonix Copley made 25 saves on 27 shots in the loss. Wolves forward Evan Trupp scored the lone goal for Chicago.
Iowa Wild
Forwards Christoph Bertschy and Michael Keranen have moved into a tie for the team lead in points. Keranen has five goals and 11 assists in 28 games played, tied for the lead in scoring with 16 points. He has six assists in his last seven games. Bertschy leads the team with 12 assists and is tied for first with 16 points in 29 games played. Right wing Zack Mitchell leads Iowa in scoring with ten goals and is second with 15 points in 32 games played. Center Grayson Downing has 14 points in 16 games played. Center Jordan Schroeder has 13 points in 18 games played. Mike Reilly leads all defensemen in points with 14. He has four goals and 10 assists in 29 games played.
Goalie Jeremy Smith (2-10-2) in 15 appearances. He has a 3.19 GAA and a .908 SV%. Leland Irving has made 20 appearances, going 4-12-3 with a 2.68 GAA and a .916 SV%.
Iowa ranks 24th after going 15-for-115 (13.0%) on the power play. The team is 96-for-117 (82.1%) on the penalty kill – 23rd in the AHL.
Notables –
● Century Club – Kurtis Gabriel played in his 100th game for Iowa Saturday, Michael Keranen is next at #98.
Rockford IceHogs
Left wing Jeremy Morin is the team’s leading scorer with 20 points in 26 games played. Former Iowa Captain Jake Dowell also has 19 points in 28 games played. He leads the team with 13 assists. Right wing Ryan Hartman is third on the team in scoring with 18 points in 27 games. He leads the club in goals with 10. The team is missing Bryan Bickell (14 pts) and Dennis Rasmussen (14 points). Ville Pokka leads all defensemen in scoring with 16 points in 30 games played. He leads the team with six power-play assists.
The IceHogs have two active goalies on the roster. Michael Leighton (15-4-3) has made 23 appearances, posting a 2.41 GAA and .922 SV%. Mark Visentin (3-3-2) holds a 2.46 GAA and .914 SV% through eight games.
Rockford is 17-for-118 on the power play and sits 21st at 14.5%. The IceHogs penalty kill sits 18th at 82.8%, going 102-for-123.