Iowa Hogties Rockford 4-1
December 26, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Iowa Wild News Release
Wild Heads Out For Two Road Games, Back Home New Year's Eve
DES MOINES, IA - The Iowa Wild (14-14-2-1, 31 points) defeated the Rockford IceHogs (10-14-2-3, 25 points) 4-1 in front of 6,517 fans on Monday night at Wells Fargo Arena. Right wing Teemu Pulkkinen scored twice and added an assist to lead Iowa over Rockford. Iowa goalie Alex Stalock (9-7-2) stopped 22 of 23 for the victory. Wild forwards Mario Lucia and Christoph Bertschy also scored, as Iowa improved to 8-10-0-1 at home this season. Rockford goalie Lars Johanson (5-8-1) made 18 saves as the Hogs saw their four-game point streak snapped. Iowa plays in Milwaukee at 7 PM CT on Wednesday night.
Rockford jumped out to a 1-0 lead by capitalizing off its second power play of the game. Defenseman Ville Pokka walked down the right side of the Iowa zone and snapped a wrist shot over the shoulder of Alex Stalock for the 1-0 lead. Defenseman Erik Gustafsson and forward Spencer Abbott each had an assist on Pokka's second goal of the year. Iowa used its second power play of the game to even the scoreboard. Right wing Teemu Pulkkinen carried the puck into the Hogs zone, deep into the right-wing corner. Pulkkinen dropped the puck back for Alex Tuch, who found Mario Lucia with a one-touch pass to the high slot. Lucia rifled a wrist shot past the glove of goalie Lars Johansson for his fourth goal of the season and a 1-1 tie at 18:06 of the first period.
Iowa moved in front off a breakaway goal by Pulkkinen at 16:42 of the second period. The Wild forward blocked a shot at his own blueline and chased down the loose puck in the neutral zone. Pulkkinen moved in alone on Johansson and snapped in his 10th goal of the year for the 2-1 lead. The Wild made it a 3-1 moments later after Christoph Bertschy scored his second goal of the season at 18:40. Bertschy cut towards the high slot and rifled a wrist shot past Johnasson for the two-goal cushion. Forward Zack Mitchell and defenseman Mike Weber helped set up the team's third goal of the night.
Late in the third period, Iowa sealed the victory with an empty-net goal by Pulkkinen at 18:15 for the 4-1 lead. Lucia added the lone assist on Pulkkinen's 11th of the season.
The Wild will play a pair of road games prior to returning home to play the Chicago Wolves on Saturday, Dec. 31 at 3 PM. The first 1,500 fans to arrive at the game receive a 2017 Iowa Wild calendar, presented by Edwards Graphic Arts. It is also a $2 Hotdog night and there is a postgame fireworks show at the conclusion of the game.
2016-17 Iowa Wild regular season single-game tickets are on sale now. Follow the Iowa Wild on Twitter @IAWILD or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/iawild .
The Iowa Wild 2016-17 season is presented by Mercy Medical Center: and runs from October through April. Fans may purchase seats to see any of the team's 38 regular season home games at Wells Fargo Arena. Season tickets to see the Wild play its 2016-17 season at Wells Fargo Arena start at just $10 per game. For more information on tickets, including ticket plans and group seating, please contact the Wild ticket office by calling 515-564-8700 or go to www.iowawild.com .
Fans may purchase single-game tickets multiple ways, either through the team's website - www.Iowawild.com, the Wells Fargo Arena box office or participating Hy-Vee food stores. Tickets are available online at www.Iowawild.com under the single game tickets tab. The Wells Fargo Arena box office is open Monday - Friday from 10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. and closed on Sunday. For Saturday game days, the box office will open at 10 a.m. For Sunday game days the box office will open at 12 p.m. Fans may also purchase tickets by calling 1-844-55-HYVEE or by visiting participating Hy-Vee food stores locations in the greater Des Moines area. Those interested may also visit www.hy-veetix.com . Fans interested in buying full-season tickets, or smaller season packages may call the Iowa Wild front office at 515-564-8700.
-- IOWA WILD --
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