IOWA CLOSES OUT SEASON WITH 4-2 WIN AT MILWAUKEE
Apr 14, 2018Wild’s 82 points in 2017-18 sets a franchise record
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – Iowa Wild (33-27-10-6; 82 points) set a franchise record for points in a season and defenseman Alex Grant set a record for most goals by a defenseman in a single season as the team defeated Milwaukee Admirals (38-32-4-2; 82 points) by a score of 4-2 Saturday night at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena.
Grant tied the franchise record when he scored with 0.4 seconds remaining in the middle frame. He unleashed a shot from the right point, beating Admirals goaltender Troy Grosenick (31 saves) stick side to give the Wild a 2-1 lead. His goal was assisted by forward Sam Anas and Kyle Rau.
The Admirals trimmed the Wild’s lead to 3-2 until 15:38 in the third period. After the Wild hemmed in the Admirals in their own zone with significant power-play time, Grant finally found the back of the net to give the visitors a 4-2 lead. His goal gave him 13 on the season, setting a new record for goals scored by a defenseman in Iowa Wild history. Forwards Cal O’Reilly and Pat Cannone received the helpers on his record-breaking tally.
Neither team found the back of the net through the first period and it was scoreless until Milwaukee’s Brandon Bollig scored an unassisted shorthanded goal at 2:54 in the second period to give the home club a 1-0 lead. Bollig beat CJ Motte (25 saves) for his 11th tally of 2017-18.
Iowa answered with defenseman Gustav Bouramman’s first AHL goal, coming at 13:21 in the second period. Bouramman caught a pass from O’Reilly and with a wide-open lane to Grosenick, sniped him over the glove to tie the game at 1-1.
Grant’s first goal gave Iowa the 2-1 lead and then forward Gerry Mayhew made it 3-1 at 4:08 in the final stanza. After an errant shot from forward Justin Kloos, Rau sent a pass across the crease and Mayhew capitalized on an open net for his 16th of the season.
The Admirals made it 3-2 when forward Tyler Gaudet beat Motte for a power-play tally at 8:53 in the third period, but Grant’s second goal iced the game for the Wild.
Iowa closed out the season earning points in four of its last five games. Rau ended the season on a five-game point streak, earning nine points (4g, 5a) during those games. As a team, the Wild broke more than 35 individual and team records during the course of the 2017-18 season.
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.