Iowa Wild’s week report

The Wild have played two home games last weekend and one away game last night. They hosted the Lake Erie Monsters last Friday and Saturday at the Wells Fargo Arena. Then, they were in Texas to play the Stars last night.

In the first matchup, the Wild dressed seven defensemen. Captain Jake Dowell scored a shorthanded goal on a great slap shot. Carson McMillan got a PP goal on a perfect pass from Raphael Bussieres. 2-1 IA was the score after one. In the second, Marc Hagel gave the Wild a two-goal lead from Dowell. Warren Peters scored a PP goal in the middle of the second from Hagel and Brian Connelly.

There was a goaltending change for LEM at the start of the third period. Calvin Pickard replaced Sami Aittokallio, who allowed 4 goals on 28 shots. Tyler Murovich got his first goal as a Wild player from Jon Landry and Jim McKenzie. Later, Connelly added another one on the PP from Zack Phillips and McKenzie. Johan Gustafsson made 25 saves in a huge 6-1 win. Game highlights.

In the rematch, we had to wait until the third period to see a goal. Peters scored the lone goal of the game from Landry and Phillips on the PP. John Curry had an outstanding game realizing 45 saves. As per the AHL Communications Department, that was the most saves in an AHL shutout since January 2011. Game highlights.

In Austin, Connelly opened the score with an early PP goal from Landry and Bussieres. The Wild held a 1-0 lead despite being outshot 13-6 after one. In the second, Chad Rau made contact with the Stars goaltender Cristopher Nilstorp. Then, Nilstorp was being helped off the ice injured (left leg) and Josh Robinson replaced him.

Curtis McKenzie tied the game at 1 in a somewhat controversial fashion. They had to review the play, but that was a good goal. Later in the third, newcomer Mike Ullrich made a nice play to Bussieres who gave Iowa a 2-1 lead, but Chris Mueller got a PP goal tying it again. With 64 seconds left, AHL goal scoring leader Colton Sceviour broke the tying game. It was not over yet as Phillips scored a clutch goal 34 seconds later. 3-3 was the score after three periods.

After an unsuccessful overtime, the game ended in a shootout. McMillan was the lone Wild scorer and they lost 4-3. That was Texas' first shootout victory of the season. Gustafsson had another strong night realizing 41 saves despite the loss.  Game highlights.

The Wild will be in San Antonio next weekend playing the Rampage twice.

Some news and notes:

-Prior to last Friday's game, Iowa reassigned Taylor Matson to Orlando. They've also announced that they signed Broc Little and Mike Ullrich to PTO's. Little then was released after playing one game with the team. He's heading to Finland.

- Monday: Colton Jobke was reassigned to Orlando and Nicholas Rioux was released from his PTO. Meanwhile, Tyler Cuma was cleared to play and came back last week.

-Tuesday: The Wild signed Mickey Lang to PTO. He has 12 points in 8 games with Orlando and 1 career AHL game. They also signed Nicholas Rioux to his second PTO.

-Josh Caron is out with an undisclosed injury.

-Peters finds a home close to home by Tom Witosky. I'm entirely sure that all of you remember him.  If not, where have you been?

-As of today, the Wild are 10^th in the Western Conference with 40 points in 39 games. They're only 2 points out of a playoff position at this point.