GAME PREVIEW - STOCKTON HEAT AT IOWA WILD 1.17.16
Jan 17, 2016Stockton Heat (13-16-1-2, 29 Points) at Iowa Wild (10-25-2-3, 25 Points)
The Wild and Heat meet for their first of two meetings of the season. The two teams have never played each other in franchise history. This is the first season in Stockton for the Heat, having been relocated from Adirondack after the 2014-15 season. Iowa and Adirondack split the season series 1-1-0-0, with the Heat winning the only game at Wells Fargo Arena 2-1. Iowa posted a 4-0 win at Adirondack in February of 2015. In 2013-14, the franchise was in Abbotsford, BC, where it posted three wins in four outings against Iowa.
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Iowa is 4-13-2-2 at home this season, having been outscored 65-42 by the visitors. Iowa is 5-5-0-0 over its last ten games. The Wild have won five of its last eight games. Iowa is coming off a 2-1 overtime victory over the San Jose Barracuda on Saturday night.
The Heat is 5-10-1-2 on the road this season, having been outscored 64-43 by opponents. They are 4-5-1-0 in its last 10 games played. Stockton is coming off a 3-0 loss on the road to the Rockford IceHogs on Saturday evening.
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
vs. Stockton 1/17 5:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
at Rockford 1/22 7:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
at Rockford 1/23 7:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
vs. Chicago 1/26 7:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
vs. Charlotte 1/29 7:00 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
Transactions:
1.9.16: Add – D Tyson Strachan assigned by Minnesota (NHL)
1.17.16: Add – D Mike Reilly - assigned by Minnesota (NHL)
Last Time Out
The Iowa Wild defeated the San Jose Barracuda 2-1 in overtime in front of a record crowd of 12,445 fans at Wells Fargo Arena on Saturday night. Wild defenseman Gustav Olofsson scored at 1:14 of overtime, lifting Iowa past San Jose. Iowa goalie Jeremy Smith made 25 saves on 26 shots in the victory. Forward Jordan Schroeder scored as well for the Wild. Despite the loss, San Jose goalie Aaron Dell stopped 45 of 47 shots. Forward Trevor Parkes scored the lone Barracuda goal.
Iowa Wild
Forward Grayson Downing leads the team with 22 points in 23 games. Forward Christoph Bertschy is second on the team in scoring with 20 points in 37 games. Bertschy leads the team in assists with 16. Right wing Zack Mitchell leads the team in goals with 12 and is third on the team in points with 18 in 39 games played. Mike Reilly leads all defensemen with 18 points in 32 games. Forwards Michael Keranen and Jordan Schroeder are both tied for fifth on the team with 17 points.
Goalie Jeremy Smith is 4-12-2 in 19 appearances. He has a 2.98 GAA and a .911 SV%. Leland Irving has made 23 appearances, going 6-13-3 with a 2.63 GAA and a .917 SV%.
Iowa ranks 22nd after going 19-for-130 (14.6%) on the power play. The team is 106-for-130 (81.5%) on the penalty kill – 23rd in the AHL.
Notables –
● Iowa held an attendance of 12,445 in Saturday night’s win, breaking a franchise and state record for largest crowd to watch a hockey game. It surpasses the previous record of 12,136 fans set by the Iowa Chops in 2009.
● Iowa set a new franchise record for shots in a game with 47 on Saturday night, surpassing the 45 shots the team posted in Utica on Feb. 5, 2015.
Stockton Heat
Center Derek Grant leads the team with 16 goals and 24 points in 23 games played. Forwards Freddie Hamilton and Kenny Agostino are tied for second on the team in scoring with 21 points. Forwards Drew Shore and Turner Elson lead the team in assists with 14 and are tied for third in scoring with 18 points. Defenseman Jakub Nakladal leads all blueliners with 14 points in 30 games played.
Stockton has three active goalies on the roster. Joni Ortio (7-8-0) has made 16 appearances, posting a 3.41 GAA and a .892 SV%. Kevin Poulin is 3-1-2 and holds a .918 SV% and 2.50 GAA in seven appearances. Poulin has started three of the last four games for the Heat. Rookie Jon Gillies (2-3-1) has posted two shutouts in seven appearances, posting a .920 SV% and a 2.31 GAA.
Stockton is 25-for-158 on the power play and sits 18th at 15.8%. The Heat is 106-for-129 on the penalty kill and ranked 20th at 82.2%.