MOTTE EARNS FIRST AHL SHUTOUT IN IOWA'S 3-0 WIN OVER MONSTERS
Dec 18, 2017
CLEVELAND, OH – Goaltender C.J. Motte, making his team debut, pitched a 34-save shutout as Iowa Wild (14-9-5-1; 34 pts.) defeated the Cleveland Monsters (8-11-3-2; 21 pts.) by a score of 3-0 on Monday night at Quicken Loans Arena.
Appearing in just his 10th career AHL game, Motte helped Iowa improve to 4-1-3-1 in December as the club climbed into sole possession of second place in the Central Division standings.
Meanwhile, Cleveland has just one win in its last 10 games.
The Wild struck first on a great individual effort by winger Sam Anas. After stealing the puck near the offensive blue line, Anas fought through a check at the Monsters’ right circle before lifting a shot over the glove of Cleveland goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks (22 saves). The unassisted, even-strength goal extended Anas’ point streak to seven games as he found the back of the net for the fourth-straight contest.
With less than a minute left in the opening period, rookie defenseman Brennan Menell padded Iowa’s lead as he grabbed a rebound from just below the goal line and tucked it in on the short side. It was his third goal of the season and it came on the power play, marking the seventh-straight game where the club’s man advantage has found the back of the net. Forwards Luke Kunin and Ryan Malone grabbed the assists.
At the first intermission, it was 2-0 Wild.
Late in the second period, Iowa claimed a 3-0 advantage when defenseman Zach Palmquist snapped a shot from the left point that appeared to deflect off a body in front, then past Kivlenieks. Alex Grant and Colton Beck earned the assists on Palmquist’s second goal in as many games.
After 40 minutes, the Wild led 3-0, while the Monsters held a 24-17 advantage in shots.
There was no scoring in the third period. Final shots favored the Monsters, 34-25. The Wild finished one-for-two on the power play and the team killed off all three Monsters opportunities.
The Wild finishes its road trip on Wednesday with another tilt against the Monsters. The puck drops at 6 p.m. CT.
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.