Four Points for Petan Helps Iowa Down San Diego, 5-1
By Kevin Luckow
Special to Minor League Sports Report
Coming off a March where the Iowa Wild took eight of twelve games to put divisional foes
Chicago and Grand Rapids in the rearview mirror, the Wild welcomed the month of April,
warmer weather and San Diego to Well Fargo Arena for a weekend set.
In front of 7,922 fans, the Iowa Wild defeated the San Diego Gulls 5-1.
After thirteen minutes of play, the Gulls and Wild only combined for three shots. Iowa’s best
chance was a Joe Hicketts’ pinch in but his shot attempt sailed high of the net. Hicketts
however would not be denied with 1:33 to go in the first period. On a rush, Nick Swaney blasted
a shot on goal that Gulls goalie Gage Alexander turned away but Hicketts charged in from the
point, pounced on the rebound to give the Wild a lead, Hicketts sixth goal of the season. In spite
of being outshot 7-4 and outplayed for stretches, the Wild took a 1-0 lead into the locker room.
Iowa came out with vigor and registered the first five shots of the second period. The Wild went
on the power play on a Gulls penalty by Benoit Olivier-Groulx. It was canceled as a Marco Rossi
hooking penalty negated the power play. The Gulls took advantage on the 5 on 4 as a Michael
Del Zotto shot from the point was deflected by Glenn Gawdin for his 15th goal of the season to
knot the game at one at the 7:26 mark. Swaney got the Wild back into the lead at the 11:02
mark. Nic Petan won a puck battle in the corner and fed a wide open Steven Fogarty in the slot.
Fogarty’s wrist shot was deflected in by Swaney, his 14th of the season. Two Gulls penalties
within 17 seconds put the Wild on a five on three with 3:27 remaining in the second period. Nic
Petan buried a Rossi feed in the left circle on the five on three to give Iowa a 3-1 lead at
the 17:11 mark. Then from nearly the same location moments later at the 17:49 mark, a Steven
Fogarty goal line pass found Petan and the Wild bumped the lead to 4-1. The two goals were
Petan’s 22nd and 23rd goals for the season. Shots for the second period were 14-6 in favor of
the Wild.
Iowa struck at the 4:47 of the third period. After a goal mouth scramble, the puck came out to
Daemon Hunt at the point, Hunt saw a wide open Mitchell Balmas in the right circle and Balmas
buried the shot for his second goal of the season. The fifth goal chased Gulls goalie Gage
Alexander in favor of Swede Calle Clang for his North American debut.
The Wild outshot the Gulls 26-18 for the evening. Jesper Wallstedt gains the win, his 17th
allowing a single goal in 18 shots. Alexander took the loss allowing five goals in 22 shots.
Calle Clang stopped all four of his shots in relief.