Wild wraps up homestand in style

The Iowa Wild got a 36-save performance from goaltender Steve Michalek and two goals each from Tyler Graovac and Jordan Schroeder to wrap up a seven-game season-opening homestand with a 6-1 thrashing of the visiting Milwaukee Admirals at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Friday (Oct. 28) night.

In other Friday night action involving Midwest based American Hockey League teams: the visiting San Antonio Rampage finished a Thursday/Friday sweep at Quicken Loans Arena with a 4-1 win against the host Cleveland Monsters; the Grand Rapids Griffins began a two game set at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte against the Charlotte Checkers with a 4-2 loss and the host Rockford IceHogs earned a 3-2 edge against the Chicago Wolves at the BMO Harris Bank Center.

Admirals 1 at Wild 6

The lone consolation in this game for the Admirals was a goal by veteran defenseman Adam Pardy, shattering the shutout bid of Michalek with just 3:11 to play in the game.

Graovac had the lone goal of the first period and the Wild carried a 3-0 cushion into the final 20 minutes, adding three more before Pardy’s goal.

Mike Reilly and Colton Beck scored the other Wild goals and Jonas Gunnarsson, a 24-year-old native of Sweden made his North American pro debut with 25 saves in goal for the Admirals as regular goaltender Juuse Saros was called up to the parent Nashville Predators due to an illness suffered by Pekka Rinne.

While the Wild opened the season with seven straight on home ice, the Admirals have yet to play at home. After winning its first three, the Ads have dropped its last pair and is hoping for better when it finally opens at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena Saturday (Oct. 29) against the same Iowa Wild.

The Wild wrapped up its homestand with a 3-3-0-1 record and will play just three on the road before returning home for another half dozen.

Rampage 4 at Monsters 1

After wining its first two games of the season the defending Calder Cup champs have dropped four out of five and went under .500 for the first time with this home loss against the Rampage.

Brad Thiessen got the call in goal for the Monsters and he turned in a 24-save effort matching Spencer Martin shot for shot until J.T. Compher fired his third of the season just 2:14 from the end of the second period.

Justin Scott scored to tie it up 4:35 into the final period and then held up until Mike Sislo put the Rampage in front again with 5:41 to go.

Jim O’Brien and Julien Nantel both added empty net markers in the final minute for the Rampage, a Pacific Division team that has played Central Division competition six out of eight times so far this season, including back-to-back wins against the Monsters.

Griffins 2 at Checkers 4

The Griffins saw a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes evaporate with three unanswered middle period goals for the Checkers and one more down the stretch for insurance.

Rookie Mike Borkowski, acquired from the Senators this season, collected his first goal of the year 3:02 into the game and Anthony Mantha fired his seventh of the season 89 seconds later to double the Griffs’ margin.

Keegan Lowe got the Checkers on the board 7:38 into the second period and Sergei Tolchinsky added the equalizer just past the halfway mark of the period. The game winner came from Brock McGinn, his first of the year with just one second remaining in the period.

McGinn added another last minute goal in the final period, this time a shorthanded goal into an empty Griffins cage.

Veteran goaltender Michael Leighton handled 26 of 28 shots in goal to pick up the win for the Checkers and Jared Coreau saved 28 in the Griffins’ goal.

Wolves 2 at IceHogs 3

The Ice Hogs took a one-goal lead three times in this game, the Wolves responding twice before captain Jake Dowell settled it with his first of the season just over a minute away from the end of the second period.

Spencer Abbott opened the scoring for the IcHogs with his third of the season, the lone goal of the first period. Kenny Agostino responded with his third as well 1:51 into the second. Cameron Schilling collected his first of the year to put the IceHogs in front again at the 9:18 mark but Magnus Paajarvi responded just under two minutes later for the Wolves.

Lars Johansson made 25 saves to pick up the win in goal for the IceHogs and Jordan Binnington turned aside 34 in goal for the Wolves.

Saturday games

Along with the Wild and Admirals back in Milwaukee, Saturday night action will include a rematch between the Griffins and Checkers and the Wolves will host a return match with the IceHogs at Allstate Arena.