GAME PREVIEW - IOWA WILD AT ROCKFORD ICEHOGS 1.23.16
Jan 23, 2016Iowa Wild (11-26-2-3, 27 Points) at Rockford IceHogs (24-10-2-4, 54 Points)
Iowa and Rockford meet for the tenth of 12 meetings this season. Each team will host six games this season, including the next meeting in Rockford on Apr. 2. After Rockford took the first six meetings, Iowa countered with two wins over the last three, including the last meeting – a 4-3 shootout win at Rockford on Friday night. The IceHogs have shutout the Wild twice this season, outscoring Iowa 27-16 in the season series. Overall, Rockford is 19-6-0-2 in 27 all-time meetings, including a 9-2-0-2 mark at home. Iowa is 8-18-1-0 all-time and 5-10-0-0 on the road.
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Iowa is 7-12-0-1 on the road this season, having been outscored 60-42 by the home teams. Iowa is 6-4-0-0 over its last ten games. The Wild is coming off a 4-3 shootout win at Rockford on Friday.
Rockford is 12-5-1-2 at home this season, outscoring the road teams 57-55. The IceHogs are 6-3-0-1 over the last ten games played. The club is 5-1-0-1 over the last seven games, outscoring teams 25-18. Rockford has four wins over the last six games at the BMO Harris Center.
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
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
vs. Charlotte 1/30 12:30 PM CT KXNO / iHeartRadio
ALL Star Break January 31 – February 3
Transactions:
1.18.16: Delete – D Tyson Strachan recalled by Minnesota (NHL)
1.21.16: Delete – F Jared Knight assigned to Quad City (ECHL)
1.21.16: Delete – F Jordan Schroeder - recalled by Minnesota (NHL)
1.23.16: Add – G Steven Michalek recalled Quad City (ECHL)
Last Time Out
The Iowa Wild defeated the Rockford IceHogs 4-3 in a shootout in front of 4,324 fans at the BMO Harris Bank Center on Friday night. The Wild erased three separate one-goal deficits and came from behind to post a five-round shootout victory over the Central Division leaders. All-Star defenseman Gustav Olofsson scored early in the third period to tie the game for the third time and eventually force overtime. Olofsson (1g-1a), forward Colton Beck (1g-1a) and Captain Maxime Fortunus (2a) each tallied two points as Iowa won for the sixth time over the last 11 games. Iowa goalie Leland Irving made 34 saves on 37 shots in regulation and stopped four of five attempts for the shootout win. Iowa forward Michael Keranen was credited with the shootout winner after Irving stopped Bryan Bickell. Center Rob Bordson added a goal as Iowa claimed its second win over Rockford in the last three meetings.
Iowa Wild
Forward Grayson Downing leads the team with 25 points in 25 games. Downing has eight points in his last six games and is second on the team with 14 assists. Right wing Zack Mitchell leads the team in goals with 13 and is second on the team in points with 22 in 42 games played. Forward Christoph Bertschy is third on the team in scoring with 21 points in 39 games. Bertschy leads the team in assists with 17. Mike Reilly leads all defensemen with 18 points in 34 games. The team is without Jordan Schroeder, who had 20 points in 25 games prior to his NHL callup.
Goalie Jeremy Smith is 4-12-2 in 19 appearances. He has a 2.98 GAA and a .911 SV%. Leland Irving has made 25 appearances, going 7-14-3 with a 2.78 GAA and a .912 SV%. Steven Michalek was added on Jan. 23.
Iowa ranks 17th after going 22-for-136 (16.2%) on the power play. The team is 110-for-137 (80.63%) on the penalty kill – 24th in the AHL.
Notables –
● Iowa goalie Leland Irving picked up his 100th career AHL win on Friday.
Rockford IceHogs
Right wing Richard Panik has yet to join the team 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 24 points in 38 games played. He is tied for first on the team with 17 assists. Ville Pokka leads all defensemen in scoring with 23 points in 40 games played. He is tied for 10th among AHL defenders in points. Right wing Ryan Hartman is fourth on the team in scoring with 22 points in 35 games. He is second in the team with 10 goals.
Michael Leighton (20-4-4) has made the majority of the starts with 29 appearances. Leighton has a 2.19 GAA and .928 SV%. Mark Visentin (4-6-2) holds a 2.60 GAA and .906 SV% through 13 games. Mac Carruth was recently added.
Rockford is 22-for-148 on the power play and sits 23rd at 14.9%. The IceHogs penalty kill sits 19th at 82.8%, going 135-for-163.