Iowa trip up Monsters, 3-2

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Iowa Wild (20-37-1-1, 42 points) defeated the Lake Erie Monsters (24-22-5-3, 56 points) 3-2 in front of 10,498 fans on Saturday night at Quicken Loans Arena. Wild veteran center Brett Sutter finished off a scoring play with 4:39 remaining in regulation, ending a 2-2 tie and propelling Iowa to victory for the third time in the last four games.  Iowa goalie John Curry (10-15-0) made several key saves down the stretch to preserve the win, finishing with 34 saves. Defenseman Collin Bowman scored his first career AHL goal and Tyler Graovac added his team-leading 18th tally as Iowa swept the season series with Lake Erie, going 4-0-0-0 on the year. Lake Erie goalie Calvin Pickard (14-12-4) stopped 28 of 31 in the loss. Iowa continues its four-game road trip with a visit to the Texas Stars at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Mar. 6.

After a scoreless first period of play, the Wild opened the scoring up just 56 seconds into the middle period. Defenseman Collin Bowman skated in from the blueline and snapped a wrist shot past goalie Calvin Pickard for his first career AHL goal. The unassisted goal came on the power play for the 1-0 lead. Lake Erie pulled even with Iowa at 5:24 of the second period off a mad scramble in front of the Wild net. Jamie Hishon found the loose puck and slipped it past John Curry for his 14th goal of the year. Tomas Vincour and Stefan Elliot helped set up the play, tying the game 1-1. Iowa moved back in front 2-1 at 10:35 of the middle frame. Forward Michael Keranen slipped a pass down towards the crease for Tyler Graovac. The Wild’s leading scorer squeezed a backhander past Pickard for his team-leading 18th goal of the year. Winger Kurtis Gabriel added an assist on the goal.

The Monsters tied the game for a second time just 3:15 into the final period. Defenseman Stefan Elliot finished off a centering pass from Andrew Aggozino. Center Ben Street added an assist on Elliot’s 13th goal of the season, tying the game 2-2. With 4:39 remaining in regulation Iowa claimed its third lead of the game. Brett Sutter skated into the high slot of the Monsters zone and rifled a wrist shot over the shoulder of Pickard. Marc Hagel and Zack Mitchell each picked up an assist on Sutter’s ninth goal of the year and a 3-2 Wild lead.