The Des Moines Report: Goodbye losing streak, and Justin Kloos

Previously on ‘The Des Moines Report’. The Wild’s win streak at five games would come to an end at the hands of Rockford before dropping a second in a row to San Antonio. On this edition, the Wild head down to Texas for a weekend series against San Antonio and the Stars before heading home for a Monday night match-up against San Diego. The Wild will look to end its small two game losing streak. Let’s get to it.

Game 38: at San Antonio

Iowa would try and revenge it’s loss against the Rampage last week with a trip to their place. The night would start off strong as Gerald Mayhew would give the Wild a 1-0 lead at the midway point of the 1st period before San Antonio would tie things up just 29 seconds later. That goal in the 1st by Mayhew would be the only goal scored for the Wild on the night as San Antonio would pot a goal in the 2nd, and another in the 3rd for the 3-1 victory over Iowa. Andrew Hammond stopped 23 of the 26 shots the Rampage threw his way. Both teams would go unsuccessful on the man advantage on the night. With the loss, Iowa’s losing streak would move to three games as they head over to Cedar Park for a match-up against the Stars.

Game 39: at Texas

The second half of a back-to-back trying to snap their 3 game losing streak. Texas would strike first just 2:14 in, but two goals in a span of 21 seconds from Sam Anas and Matt Read would give the Wild a 2-1 lead just 3:02 into the opening frame. The Wild would take that 2-1 lead into intermission. However, from that point on, Texas would score three unanswered including an empty-netter to top Iowa 4-2 giving Iowa a four-game losing streak headed home to face San Diego. Kaapo Kahkonen stopped 34 of the 37 shots he faced on the night before the Stars potted the empty-netter. For the second night in a row, the Wild would go unsuccessful on the man-advantage however killed off both of the Stars power-plays.

Game 40: vs San Diego

Unlike the last two games for Iowa, there would be no scoring in the opening period between the Gulls and Wild. However, in the second, Iowa would get on the board first thanks to a goal from Kyle Rau. Just four minutes later, San Diego would tie the game up and the two teams would head to the 3rd period tied at 1. In the third, Rau would net his second of the evening putting the Wild on top 2-1 before San Diego would tie the game up at 2 with just two seconds left in the third pushing this game to overtime. Overtime would not last long, because Kyle Rau would bury his third of the night and the game winner ending the Wild’s losing streak. Kahkonen turned away 28 of the 30 shots the Gulls put his way picking up the victory. Once again, the Wild would go scoreless on the man advantage while killing off 4 of the 5 San Diego power-plays.

Thank you, Justin Kloos

With the Anaheim Ducks unloading three trades on Wednesday, the Minnesota Wild acquired Pontas Aberg from the Ducks in exchange for the points leader for the Iowa Wild.

Looking Ahead

The Wild will continue their home-stand this weekend against the Ontario Reign. A Friday 7pm puck drop and Saturday night 6pm match-up against the Reign before a matinee against Rockford on Monday afternoon that starts at 12pm.

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