GAME PREVIEW - ROCKFORD ICEHOGS AT IOWA WILD 1.10.16
Jan 10, 2016Rockford IceHogs (20-9-2-3, 45 Points) at Iowa Wild (9-23-2-3, 23 Points)
Iowa and Rockford meet for the eighth of 12 meetings this season. Each team will host six games this season, including the next meeting in Rockford on Jan. 22. After six IceHogs wins, Iowa took the last meeting, a 3-1 win at home on Dec. 27. The IceHogs have shutout the Wild twice this season, outscoring Iowa 21-11 in the season series. Overall, Rockford is 18-6-0-1 in 25 all-time meetings, including a 9-4-0-0 mark at the Wells Fargo Arena. Iowa is 7-17-1-0 all-time and 4-9-0-0 at home. With a win in the last meeting, Iowa ended a nine-game losing skid to Rockford.
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Iowa is 3-12-2-2 at home this season, having been outscored 61-39 by the visitors. Iowa is 5-4-1-0 over its last ten games. Iowa looks for its first three-game winning streak of the season. The last time the Wild won three straight was from February 27, 2015 – March 6, 2015. After a 4-1 win in Milwaukee on Saturday night, Iowa now has four wins in the last five games.
Rockford is 11-5-1-1 on the road this season, outscoring the home teams 57-47. The IceHogs are 4-4-1-1 over the last ten games played. The team is coming off a 3-2 overtime win at home over Milwaukee on Jan. 2. The IceHogs have been idle since, not having played in eight days. The team is 2-3-1-1 over its last six games.
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
vs. Rockford 1/10 5:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
at Chicago 1/15 7:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
vs. San Jose 1/16 7:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
vs. Stockton 1/17 5:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
at Rockford 1/22 7:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
Transactions:
1.1/1.2.16: Delete / Add – F Jordan Schroeder – recalled / assigned by Minnesota (NHL)
1.9.16: Delete – D Mike Reilly – recalled by Minnesota (NHL)
1.9.16: Delete– D Tyson Strachan – assigned by Minnesota (NHL)
Last Time Out
The Iowa Wild defeated the Milwaukee Admirals 4-1 in front of 6,585 fans at the BMO Harris Bradley Center on Saturday night. Wild forward Zack Mitchell scored twice, leading the Wild to its fourth victory in the last five outings. Iowa goalie Jeremy Smith made 24 saves on 25 shots in the win. Forwards Kurtis Gabriel and Michael Keranen also scored for the Wild in the victory. Admirals goalie Juuse Saros made 30 saves on 34 shots in the defeat.
Iowa Wild
Forwards Christoph Bertschy and Grayson Downing lead the team with 19 points each. Bertschy sets the pace with 15 assists and four goals in 34 games played. Downing is second on the team in goals with 10 and has nine assists in 20 games. Right wing Zack Mitchell leads the team in goals with 12 and is tied for third on the team in points with 18 in 37 games played. On NHL recall to Minnesota, Mike Reilly led all defensemen with 18 points in 32 games at the time of his departure. Winger Michael Keranen is fifth on the team with 17 points in 29 outings. Center Jordan Schroeder has 15 points in 21 games played.
Goalie Jeremy Smith (4-11-2) in 18 appearances. He has a 2.98 GAA and a .911 SV%. Leland Irving has made 21 appearances, going 5-12-3 with a 2.69 GAA and a .915 SV%.
Iowa ranks 22nd after going 18-for-123 (14.6%) on the power play. The team is 101-for-124 (81.5%) on the penalty kill – 23rd in the AHL.
Notables –
● Wild Wing Zack Mitchell played in his 113th straight game for Iowa on Saturday, surpassing Zack Phillips’ mark of 112 straight – which ran from the team’s first game in history until Jan. 13, 2015.
Rockford IceHogs
Right wing Richard Panik joins the Hogs for his first game after Chicago swapped Jeremy Morin for him from Toronto. Panik has nine goals and 16 assists for 25 points in 33 outings. Former Iowa Captain Jake Dowell is second with 22 points in 32 games played. He places second on the team with 15 assists. Ville Pokka leads all defensemen in scoring with 20 points in 34 games played. He is 10th among AHL defenders in points. Right wing Ryan Hartman is fourth on the team in scoring with 18 points in 29 games. He leads the club with 10 goals.
Michael Leighton (16-4-3) has made the majority of the starts with 24 appearances. Leighton has a 2.39 GAA and .922 SV%. Mark Visentin (4-5-2) holds a 2.35 GAA and .914 SV% through 11 games.
Rockford is 18-for-129 on the power play and sits 24th at 14.0%. The IceHogs penalty kill sits 16th at 83.5%, going 116-for-139.