Texas Hangs on to Beat Iowa 4-3
November 29, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Iowa Wild News Release
CEDAR PARK, Tex. - The Iowa Wild (5-14-1-0, 11 points) were defeated by the Texas Stars (7-6-6-0, 20 points) 4-3 in front of 4,186 fans at Cedar Park Center on Saturday night. Texas forward Curtis McKenzie scored just over a minute into the third period and the Stars held off the Wild down the stretch to end their eight-game winless skid. Despite erasing a 2-0 lead and 3-2 lead, Iowa could not pull even with Texas after outshooting the Stars 30-20. Defenseman Christian Folin, as well as forwards Michael Keranen and Zack Mitchell scored in the defeat. Keranen (1g-1a) and center Zack Phillips (2a) each registered multi-point nights, as the Wild fell to 2-7-1-0 on the road this year. Iowa goalie Johan Gustafsson (4-9-1) made 16 saves, as his club dropped its seventh straight decision to Texas dating back to the 2013-14 season. Stars goalie Jussi Rynnas (5-1-4) stopped 27 of 30 shots for the win. Iowa continues five-game road trip on Sunday with a visit to San Antonio at 4 p.m.
Texas opened the scoring at 4:17 of the first period with a power-play goal by forward Greg Rallo. The Stars forward carried the puck into the Wild zone and powered his way towards the Iowa net. Goalie Johan Gustafsson made the initial save, but Rallo collected his own rebound and jammed in his third goal of the year for the 1-0 lead. The Stars made it 2-0 at 9:04 of the first period after defenseman Julius Honka scored his second goal of the year. Forwards Curtis McKenzie and Scott Glennie worked the puck to the Iowa blueline for Honka, who sent a shot through traffic and past Gustafsson. Iowa connected for its first goal of the night when Zack Phillips found defenseman Christian Folin with a cross-ice feed for a one-timer. Folin's second goal of the season was also assisted by forward Michael Keranen and sent Iowa to the locker room with a 2-1 deficit.
The second period got off to a fast start with Iowa tying the game merely 21-seconds into the middle frame. Wild forward Jordan Schroeder picked off an errant pass in the Texas zone and quickly found Zack Mitchell. The Wild rookie snuck his fifth goal of the year past Rynnas for the 2-2 score at 0:21. The lead proved to be short lived as Texas countered ten seconds later. Center Travis Morin found a loose puck in the Iowa zone and blasted it past Gustafsson at 0:31 for his team-leading ninth goal of the season and a 3-2 lead. Iowa managed to pull even with Texas at 12:15 of the second period, as Keranen scored from close range. Phillips and defenseman Danny Syvret each had an assist on Keranen's fourth goal of the year and a 3-3 tie.
Texas regained its lead at 1:19 of the third period off Curtis McKenzie's third goal of the season. Brendan Ranford had the lone assist as the Stars moved ahead 4-3.
Iowa continues a five-game road trip on Nov. 30 with a stop in San Antonio. The team also visits the Charlotte Checkers next weekend. The Wild returns home for a two-game series against the Rampage on Thursday, Dec. 11 on Friday, Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. Thursday's game is a Throwback Thursday, where fans can purchase popcorn for $1.00, sponsored by 95.0 KGGO. For Friday's game, the Wild will hold a Teddy Bear Toss and feature $2 beers presented by 100.3 The Bus. For Teddy Bear Toss, fans are encouraged to throw new stuffed animals onto the ice after the Wild scores its first goal. The stuffed animals will be collected and donated to local charities. Iowa then hosts Adirondack at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 14. After the game, the Wild will hold a postgame autograph session with the team. The game is also a Subway Family Four Pack night, where fans can purchase four tickets, four hot dogs and four sodas starting at $48.
The Iowa Wild 2014-15 season is presented by Mercy Medical Center, it 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 at Wells Fargo Arena start at just $9 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.
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