Preview: Monsters, Wild Play Back-to-Back Series
Cleveland Monsters at Iowa Wild
Sunday, February 19th, 2017 at 4pm EST
Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, Iowa
Radio: 99x(99.1); 99x Online
Twitter: @IAWild , #HockeyLivesHere
@MonstersHockey , #CLEMonsters
Cleveland Monsters, 23 -20-2-4; 52 points; 53.1%, 5th Central; 10th West
vs
Iowa Wild, 25-21-5-2; 57 points; 53.8%; 4th Central; 8th West
The battle for fourth place in the Central continues as the Cleveland Monsters take on the Iowa Wild on Sunday and Monday. Both teams are currently on a three-game lose streak.
The Monsters need to constantly attack the paint and block the goalie's line of vision. The Wild have two incredible goalies who are willing to step up to the plate and make Sports Center Top 10 plays, literally, at a moments notice. If the Monsters plant their bodies in front of the crease, they will be able to cut those Top 10 style plays in half.
Even though the Monsters have the fifth-best penalty kill in the league, they need to take as few penalties as possible. At this point in the season, they can't risk being down a man for any period of time.
Most importantly, to gain any traction in the standings, the Monsters need to win this game in regulation. If they start the game firing all cylinders, the Monsters should have no problem marking a tally, or two, in the win column.
| Wild | Monsters | |
| 15-3-2-0 | Leading After 1 | 8-2-0-2 |
| 17-2-2-1 | Leading After 2 | 12-2-0-2 |
| 8-7-1-1 | Tied After 1 | 10-8-2-1 |
| 5-3-3-1 | Tied After 2 | 8-4-2-0 |
| 2-11-2-1 | Trailing After 1 | 5-10-0-1 |
| 3-16-0-0 | Trailing After 2 | 3-14-0-2 |
| 12-4-1-1 | Outshooting Opponent | 11-8-1-2 |
| 13-16-4-1 | Outshot by Opponent | 2-12-1-1 |
Season Series
10/25/2016 – Monsters (7) @ Wild (3) W - recap
12/14/2016 – Wild (3) @ Monsters (4) = W (OT) - recap
12/16/2016 – Wild (2) @ Monsters (1) = L(SO) - recap
02/03/2017 – Wild (3) @ Monsters (0) = L - recap
02/04/2017 – Wild (1) @ Monsters (0) = L (OT) - recap
02/08/2017 – Monsters (2) @ Wild (1) = W (OT) - recap
02/19/2017
02/20/2017
03/24/2017
03/26/2017
04/02/2017
04/04/2017
Stats Matchup
| Wild | Monsters | |
| 2.49 (24) | GPG | 2.39 (29) |
| 2.68 (7) | GAPG | 2.65 (6) |
| 17.6% (16) | PP% | 15.5% (21) |
| 81.3% (15) | PK% | 84.6% (5) |
| Teemu Pulkkinen, 17 | G Leader | Oliver Bjorkstrand, 14 |
| Pulkkinen, Cannone, 17 | A Leader | T.J. Tynan, 21 |
| Teemu Pulkkinen, 34 | P Leader | Tynan, Bjorkstrand, 26 |
| Mike Weber, 90 | PIM Leader | Brett Gallant, 89 |
| 10-12-3-2 | Road/Home | 10-11-0-2 |
| 6-2-1-1 | Last 10 | 4-4-1-1 |
| 0-2-0-1 | Streaks | 0-2-0-1 |