WILD FORWARD JUSTIN KLOOS SETS ROOKIE RECORD FOR POINTS IN 4-3 SHOOTOUT LOSS TO SAN ANTONIO
Mar 9, 2018Wild forward Sam Anas also tied team record for most points in a single season
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – Iowa Wild (27-18-8-5; 67 points) forward Justin Kloos scored two goals and added an assist in a 4-3 shootout loss to San Antonio (28-24-9-0; 65 points) Friday night, giving him 41 points (18g, 23a) on the year, breaking the team’s record for most points in a single season by a rookie.
Heading into the night at 38 points, two shy of forward Grayson Downing’s record of 40 points set during the 2015-16 season, Kloos scored Iowa’s first goal of the game at 16:20 in the second period. With the Rampage already out to a 2-0 lead, defenseman Viktor Loov ripped a shot from the point on net. Blocked in front of San Antonio goaltender Spencer Martin (32 saves), the puck pinballed its way to Kloos’ stick. He fired a shot through the arms of Martin and into the back of the net, cutting the Rampage’s lead to 2-1.
Kloos recorded his lone assist on the night on Iowa’s second goal, which came at 9:51 in the third period. Entering the offensive zone, Kloos cut through the middle of the ice to receive a pass and immediately threw the puck to forward Sam Anas, who was driving to the back door. Anas’ initial shot was saved, but defenseman Zach Palmquist picked up the rebound and lofted it over Martin, cutting Iowa’s deficit to 3-2.
Eight minutes later, Kloos registered his second goal of the night to tie the game at 3-3. Anas passed the puck to defenseman Alex Grant at the blue line, who sent a shot on net. Deflecting off a San Antonio defenseman, Kloos tipped the puck past Martin for his third point of the contest, thus setting the franchise rookie record for points. With his multi-assist night, Anas tied the Wild’s record for points in a single season at 46 (20g, 26a), which was originally set by forward Tyler Graovac in the 2014-15 campaign.
San Antonio jumped out to the 1-0 lead when forward Alex Belzile scored at 2:41 in the second period. On an odd-man rush, Belzile ripped a shot past Niklas Svedberg (23 saves) for his ninth of the season.
Belzile would score his second of the game at 6:16 in the middle stanza when he used a Wild defenseman as a screen and fired a shot from the high slot past Svedberg. San Antonio held a 2-0 lead until Kloos’ first goal of the game, and headed into the final frame with a 2-1 advantage despite being outshot 20-16.
Rampage forward Andrew Agozzino gave the home team a 3-1 lead with a breakaway goal at 4:34 in the third period. Receiving a home-run pass from defenseman Mason Geertsen, Agozzino beat Svedberg over his glove for his 15th of the season.
With the Wild tying the game up later in the final frame, the two teams played a scoreless overtime period, deciding the contest with the shootout. Iowa outshot San Antonio 35-27, marking the first time the Wild held a shot advantage since Feb. 12, also against the Rampage.
Anas scored in the first round of the shootout, with San Antonio forward Michael Joly answering with a goal of his own. Wild forward Kyle Rau and Rampage forward Brendan Ranford each missed in the second round. In the third round, Wild forward Zack Mitchell couldn’t capitalize on his attempt, but Belzile found the back of the net once again to give San Antonio the 4-3 victory.
The Wild maintained its fourth-place standing in the Central Division in the shootout loss. Iowa returns home for a single game at Wells Fargo Arena, facing off against Manitoba Moose Sunday. Puck drop is at 3:00 p.m.
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.