The Des Moines Report: The Season of Giving Back

Previously on ‘The Des Moines Report’. The Iowa Wild saw their streak of 10 games come to an end thanks to a 5-4 loss at the hands of Chicago. Iowa would take care of division foe Grand Rapids but would suffer defeat again down in the ‘Lonestar State’. On this edition, would be back in Texas for a pair of games against San Antonio. Those would be the only two games the Wild had on their schedule the past week which is rare for the Wild since they have been use to playing 3 in 5 or 6 days. With the Wild being off most of the week, they were able to connect with the community which we will get to later. But first, the games!

Game 27: @ San Antonio

With C.J. Motte between the pipes for game one against the Rampage, the game wouldn’t start off on the right foot for the Wild. In a span of 29 seconds, wow that sounds familiar (addressing San Jose scoring 2 goals in 29 seconds in the 2nd against Minnesota Tuesday night). Anyway, San Antonio was up 2-0 just 4:11 into the 1st period. Rough start. However, those goals were the only scored in the first period but Matt Read would pull Iowa within 1 with 1:33 left in the 2nd to make for an interesting third period. In the third, Colton Beck would score 3:35 into it before Justin Kloos would give the Wild a brief lead with under six minutes in the third. How brief? Try 39 seconds before San Antonio would tie things up. No goals scored in the final 5:05 or in overtime and we were headed to a shoot-out in the ‘Big D’. Dmitry Sokolov would be the lone scorer for the Wild in the SO while the Rampage would score twice giving them the extra point in a 4-3 shoot-out win over the Wild. Motte would stop 31 of 34 shots he faced while the penalty-kill continued it’s success going 5-for-5 but the power-play would struggle going 0-for-4.

Game 28: @ San Antonio

An off day on Saturday before a matinee match-up against the same two teams. This time, it would be one the Wild could have back. San Antonio would fall behind once again 2-0 to the Rampage before getting on the board. 1-0 Rampage after 20 minutes of play, but Gerald Mayhew would score with one second remaining in the second to cut the deficit to one. However, in the 3rd, San Antonio would score three straight before Matt Read would pot a goal with under a minute left in the 3rd. A 5-2 loss and the Wild now sit on a three game losing streak. In the game, the successful penalty-kill took a hit allowing four goals on eight chances while the power-play would finally put together a goal going one-for-four on the night. Kaapo Khakonen would stop 25 of the 30 shots he faced.

Roster Move:
On Tuesday, the Iowa Wild announced they have reassigned goaltender C.J. Motte back to Allen of the ECHL.

Giving Back:

Looking Ahead:

The Wild will be back home for the first time since December 8th as they take on the Stockton Heat for the first time this season. Friday night’s contest is Ladies Night with $2 beers and $3 off Captain Morgan products. However, the biggest bang for your buck Friday will be this. A Sam Anas bobblehead!

Come back Saturday night at Wells Fargo for Princesses and Pirates Night because what doesn’t scream the holidays than princesses and pirates? Also, a Royce Johns concert with $5 Jim Beam Honey and Lemonade drinks along with two for $10 tallboys with combo packs starting at $12 per person! Come back the day after Christmas when the Wild welcome in the Rockford Icehogs for a ‘Winning Wednesday’ tilt with a blanket giveaway, drink and food specials and a post game skate.

Central Division Standings

Player stats