Minnesota 2024-2025 Affiliates Thread (Iowa Wild, Iowa Heartlanders)

[Jbcraig1883]

8 minutes into second period - shots 24 to 9 in favor of Wild. They had another 5 on 3 and the first unit just looked bad like yesterday. Bradley Marek, the goalscorer, hit iron. Not a ton of minutes but he's been dangerous when he's out there.

Oh, forgot to mention yesterday. Shaw in lineup for Manitoba - always liked him. Such a shame he has literally no mobility after 39283 ACL tears.

 

[Jbcraig1883]

Missed first couple of minutes of third. Manitoba scored a couple minutes ago - weak goal through five hole but goalie had about 4 shots all last period. Marek scores again to tie it 2-2 despite heavily outshooting Manitoba. Marek might just be a player for Iowa - one of best players on ice without getting a ton of time.

 

[Jbcraig1883]

Breakdown in D zone - Lambos leaves Shaw alone in front. Manitoba scores 3-2. 4 minutes left and Manitoba goes on PP. Iowa outshooting 39-22. Manitoba likely has more legit scoring chances though.

 

[57special]

Sammy Walker fighting?

 

[Jbcraig1883]

Sammy Walker fighting?

Yea, he was sticking up for Bankier. Not familiar with the other player but they said he was a huge PIM guy in the ECHL last year. Sammy held on after taking a decent shot as they were dropping them.

 

[57special]

Yea, he was sticking up for Bankier. Not familiar with the other player but they said he was a huge PIM guy in the ECHL last year. Sammy held on after taking a decent shot as they were dropping them.

That's not a thing he should be doing. He's feisty, but has only fought one other time in the past, and is a flyweight at best.

 

[Jbcraig1883]

I missed most of last night's game. I think the game/goalie duel was pretty close until the third. Again, the PP gave up two SH.

Tuned in at about 15 min mark of the first tonight just in time for Haight's first goal. He and Milne are flying tonight. Bankier could've had a great chance at a finish a few minutes ago but decided to stop moving his feet some when rebound came out he was too far away.

Looks like Lambos and Peart (maybe others - just haven't noticed yet) changed their numbers. Masters just laid a big hit. Iowa is down 2-1 despite outshooting San Jose 10-7 thus far. No idea how Wallstedt has played.

 

[Jbcraig1883]

Iowa has outplayed San Jose most of period but Walker does the "controller disconnected", Masters wasn't timing the gap, and San Jose player puts it in to be up 3-1.

Haight probably best forward on ice, with Milne a close second amongst both teams this period.

San Jose scores on PP - Lambos doesn't box out his guy and easy redirection. 4-1.

Ooh, Haight gets his second right after. Another Milne assist. Huge response.

Wow - then San Jose scores right away. So three goals in like 40 seconds. San Jose 5-2.

6-2 - I'm out. I guess I was wrong in the other thread - this is what happened last year - guys just gave up and stopped playing. Go from dominating period to giving up goal and then just quit.

 

[Digitalbooya]

Wallstedt cooked in back to back games. Awesome.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

With Brodin here for the next 4(+) years, Middleton here for the next 5, and Buium on the way, I've lost interest in all of these Iowa LDs anyway. Time for a new crop.

 

[57special]

So Haight got a hattie in a 7-3 loss, and Wall was pulled after letting in 7 GA on 25 shots? Hmmm.

 

[Jbcraig1883]

Iowa and Milwaukee 0-0 with 8:45 left. Peart and Lambos scratched due to injuries. Haight went to locker room a few minutes ago - hopefully nothing serious.

 

[Jbcraig1883]

ROR makes a mistake, backcheck kinda weak, and Milwaukee scores.

Spacek with good defensive play against Bellows.

 

[Jbcraig1883]

The Haight line with Milne and Walker breaks through early in the third. Great play out from behind the net on his backhand and then cut back to his forehand to send puck to net and Milne tips it home. 2-1 Milwaukee.

And Haight was just robbed on PP. May not have gotten all of it but Murray made the save.

Masters takes a shot from point on PP, deflected out front right to Walker, and Walker scores. Iowa definitely playing with some energy/assertiveness. 2-2.

Iowa has a new person on the broadcasts called the "analyst". Can tell he is nervous, which is fine, but man they do not need three people talking the entire game. The NHL/other sports games have enough blab...Ben Gislason is fine on his own...ok, I know, I am old.

 

[Jbcraig1883]

ROR gets blasted from behind (allegedly - I missed it), ROR gets up and goes right after Milwaukee player which ends up being a penalty. Bad thing is it was right when Iowa was dominating play for the last 5 minutes.

Spacek single man PK on that one. Very strong on boards and then gets the clear. Refs give Iowa a makeup call on a easy fall by Milne, 4 on 4.

 

[Jbcraig1883]

Wallstedt comes out to play puck on his backhand - thought he shouldve sent around boards to other side with his forehand - and sends it up nearside through two Iowa players who run into each other, Milwaukee gets puck to right point with lots of traffic and scores. Wally looking quite pedestrian in these starts.

 

[Jbcraig1883]

Milwaukee scores EN and looks like Iowa will start season 0-5. I hate to say it but I think Tim Army would be getting more out of these guys. Haight, Milne, and Walker have been good....Bankier - completely invisible and he's no longer getting the icetime/opportunities with Milne/Haight producing.

 

[thestonedkoala]

I hate to say it but I think Tim Army would be getting more out of these guys.

Do you think McLean will last the year? I have a feeling he won't.

 

[Jbcraig1883]

Do you think McLean will last the year? I have a feeling he won't.

Do I hope so? Yes. Wasn't a fan last year and the interviews during games, after games, etc. still lead me to believe that he doesn't have the personality to challenge guys/hold them accountable. I know teams want "player's coaches" moreso nowadays but he has no presence, doesn't generate any emotion, and I am not sure his game decisions are the best.

Do I think he will last the year? I am too lazy to look at the history of AHL teams in terms of how often AHL coaches are fired...but if they go another couple weeks with no wins, I think you have to do something.

 

[57special]

Lost again last night, and it wasn't close, 6-2. 0 -6 start to the season. 13 GF, 31 GA. Is our talent really that bad down there? If so, it's a pretty damning statement on drafting abilities. If not, then a coaching change is in order. Winning isn't everything down in the AHL, but it looks to me that they should have at least a decent team.

Just scoreboard watching, but one oddity was that Iowa had 38 shots, Stars 23.

 

[Jbcraig1883]

Lost again last night, and it wasn't close, 6-2. 0 -6 start to the season. 13 GF, 31 GA. Is our talent really that bad down there? If so, it's a pretty damning statement on drafting abilities. If not, then a coaching change is in order. Winning isn't everything down in the AHL, but it looks to me that they should have at least a decent team.

Just scoreboard watching, but one oddity was that Iowa had 38 shots, Stars 23.

I did not see much of last night's game. I think they are noticeably better than last year in most situations except giving up a few really bad 2 or 3 on 1s a game. Their power play has given up many SH goals. It is almost scary when they are on the PP because I think the other team's PK has more scoring chances. Sometimes its the D pinching in at wrong times (Lambos is the biggest culprit but Peart and ROR have done this as well), sometimes guys just don't know who or where they are supposed to go when structure breaks down. The vet D have been better and there are improvements to Spacek's game, but something is missing.

In short, I don't think the prospects/team is this bad - I don't think McLean holds anyone accountable and I don't think he knows how to get them prepared for games/instills confidence. I hate referring to Billy G's stuff that we hear him say but the team is too easy to play against, and as soon as they give up a goal after controlling play for a few shifts, they just crumble. They seem to be mentally fragile.

TLDR - they aren't THIS bad - I don't think Lambos and ROR are what we were hoping they would be but McLean and Co are just continuing what they did last year...

 

[57special]

OT loss last night, which got Iowa their first point of the season. Guys on the scoresheet were names like Gaunce, Johnson, Gaunce. No Milne, Bankier, HUnt, etc. They are 31st out of 32 AHL teams. Wallstedt was named 3rd star, stopping 33 of 36 shots.

At this rate, will McLean even maske it to Thanksgiving?

 

[thestonedkoala]

OT loss last night, which got Iowa their first point of the season. Guys on the scoresheet were names like Gaunce, Johnson, Gaunce. No Milne, Bankier, HUnt, etc. They are 31st out of 32 AHL teams. Wallstedt was named 3rd star, stopping 33 of 36 shots.

At this rate, will McLean even maske it to Thanksgiving?

Will McLean make it to Veterans Day

 

[57special]

Will McLean make it to Veterans Day

They are playing the one win CHI team next. A loss to them would certainly not impress the bosses.

 

[57special]

We won a game! Beat CHI 3-2. Two goals by Sandelin, assisted by people we don't care about. Masters scored, assisted by Bankier, and some guy. Wall stopped 16 of 18.

Baby steps. Hunt going back down should help things.