WILD DEFEATS ICEHOGS 2-1
Nov 15, 2017Iowa Heads Home to Welcome the Grand Rapids Griffins on Friday at 7 p.m.
ROCKFORD, IL – The Iowa Wild (7-6-2-0, 16 points) defeated the Rockford IceHogs (8-7-0-0, 13 points) 2-1 in front of 5,066 fans Wednesday afternoon at BMO Harris Bank Center.
Rookie forward Justin Kloos recorded the game-winning goal to help the Wild seal its first road win of the season. Forward Zack Mitchell also scored a goal for Iowa, picking up his eighth point in his last four contests. Goaltender Niklas Svedberg made 26 saves in the victory.
With today’s win, the Wild’s win streak extends to four games.
Rockford forward Alexandre Fortin opened the scoring for the home team at 11:27 of the first period with his first goal of the year. The IceHogs won a faceoff, and Fortin carried the puck to the crease and beat Svedberg, giving Rockford a 1-0 lead. Rookie forward David Kampf added the lone assist on the even-strength goal.
Wild forward Zack Mitchell tied the game 1-1 at 11:27 of the opening period with a shorthanded goal. On a 2-on-1 opportunity for Iowa, Mitchell carried the puck down the right side into the Rockford zone and shot the puck from the circle. From the low slot, forward Colton Beck shot Mitchell’s rebound, and after a save by IceHogs goaltender Jean-Francois Berube (25 saves), Beck fed his own rebound to Mitchell who was on the left side after skating around the Rockford net. Mitchell then beat Berube on the short side by lifting the puck over the goaltender’s right pad. Iowa outshot Rockford in the first 20 minutes of play, 14-9.
In a scoreless second period, Rockford outshot Iowa, 11-7.
At 8:36 of the third period, one second after an Iowa power play expired, rookie forward Justin Kloos scored the game-winning goal for the Wild. On the play, forward Sam Anas passed the puck to Kloos from the low right side and Kloos snapped a wrist shot from the slot, beating Berube high stick side. Rookie defenseman Brennan Menell also assisted Kloos’ fourth goal of the season to help make it a 2-1 final score. Rockford outshot Iowa 7-6 in the third period.
In the game, each club recorded 27 shots on net. Iowa went 0-for-4 on the power play, while Rockford went 0-for-5.
The Wild welcomes the Grand Rapids Griffins on Friday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. at Wells Fargo Arena for the Red Kettle Game with the Salvation Army. After road games in Rockford and Chicago, Iowa hosts the Milwaukee Admirals on Tuesday, Nov. 28 at 7 p.m. at Wells Fargo Arena for Tacos, Trivia and Tallboys night.
The Iowa Wild 2017-18 season is presented by Mercy Medical Center and runs from October through April. For more information, please contact the Wild office by calling 515-564-8700 or by visiting www.iowawild.com.
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