In a weekend that started a 10-game stretch of games against the AHL Central Division, the Rockford IceHogs were able to take three of four points on the road with a shootout loss to the Milwaukee Admirals and an overtime win over the Chicago Wolves. Entering the weekend, Rockford sat in fifth-place in the AHL Central Division, tied with the Admirals, and following the back-to-back games, the IceHogs and Admirals remain in the same tie. 15 games remain for the IceHogs this season, the majority against the Central Division. While not gaining much or any ground, winning is never a bad thing.
Saturday: Milwaukee Admirals def. Rockford IceHogs, 2-1 (SO)
Starting their march towards the Calder Cup Playoffs, the IceHogs traveled to Milwaukee to take on the Admirals, whom they were tied with in the Central Division standings heading into the contest. Rockford would be without forward John Hayden after he was recalled by the Chicago Blackhawks earlier in the day on an emergency call-up.
The IceHogs were able to keep the Admirals in check early on, only allowing three shots on starter Collin Delia in the first 20 minutes of the game. Rockford controlled the action in the opening frame with eight shots on net of their own, but were unable to find a breakthrough. It wouldn’t be until 4:15 into the second period when the first goal would be scored, Milwaukee took the lead in the middle frame on a goal from Trevor Smith. While only getting two shots on goal all period, it was Smith’s that counted the most for Milwaukee as it would be the only tally of the game through 40 minutes of action.
Out-shooting the Admirals 19-5 through two periods, the IceHogs needed to find their own breakthrough to capitalize on their high number of scoring chances. At the 12:08 mark of the third, Rockford would get the tying goal thanks to William Pelletier. His 10th of the year in an unassisted effort and the IceHogs and Admirals would need extra time to break their 1-1 tie at the end of regulation.
Heading into the overtime period, the IceHogs were out-shooting the Admirals 23-13. Nothing came of the extra five minutes, and it would go to a shootout. Justin Kirkland would get the shootout’s only tally as Anders Lindback stopped all three chances from Rockford and Milwaukee would come away with the extra point in a 2-1 shootout win.
Collin Delia made 16 saves on 17 shots faced but saw his record fall to 11-6-4 with a 2.68 GAA and a .902 save-percentage. The shootout loss saw the IceHogs fall below the Admirals in the Central Division standings just a day after re-taking fifth-place from Milwaukee.
Sunday: Rockford IceHogs def. Chicago Wolves, 2-1 (OT)
Rockford came into their Sunday afternoon contest with the Chicago Wolves sitting in sixth-place behind the Milwaukee Admirals in fifth and the Grand Rapids Griffins in fourth-place in the Central Division. The IceHogs were now facing a “must-in” mode down the stretch of their season with just 16 games remaining. Jeff Glass would get the start for Rockford in game two of the weekend double-header.
In the first period, much like against Milwaukee, the IceHogs came out with a fast opening period. Controlling most of the game action in the first 20 minutes, Rockford out-shot the Wolves 14-5 in the opening frame and had the better of the scoring chances, but couldn’t solve Oscar Dansk. The second period saw more of the same with the IceHogs and Wolves going back and forth looking for their opening. Rockford goaltender Jeff Glass was given some extra help from the posts in keeping the game scoreless.
Mid-way through the period, William Pelletier was taken down on a breakaway chance and earned a penalty shot. Dansk was able to make the save, but a few minutes later during 4-on-4 action, Rockford found its breakthrough. Cody Franson slipped behind the Wolves’ defense and potted his fifth goal of the year and gave Rockford the 1-0 lead just under seven minutes into the period. Glass came up big on a breakaway chance against him when T.J. Tynan came out of the penalty box on a stretch pass, but Glass was able to shut the door on Chicago’s best chance of the period and it would head to the third period with Rockford leading 1-0
The IceHogs kept the Wolves at bay in the third period, and nearly extended their lead before the mid-way point of the period on a Henrik Samuelsson goal. However, Samuelsson was called for kicking the puck into the net on the play and the goal was overturned. It would come back to sting the IceHogs as the Wolves were able to score on a powerplay goal from Teemu Pulkkinen with just over seven minutes to play in the game. Tied at 1-1, it would be back to back games for Rockford that they would go to overtime and get at least one point in the standings.
In the overtime period, the IceHogs were awarded their fifth powerplay of the game, just under two minutes into the five-minute overtime. While on the powerplay, Rockford controlled the puck on the perimeter with a few shots being blocked, but a broken play and the puck found Chris DiDomenico in front of the net and he was able to finish it off to give Rockford the 2-1 win in overtime.
In a very similar game to the night prior, the IceHogs were able to come out on top this time and finish the weekend action with three of four possible points in the standings. Jeff Glass made 23 saves on 24 shots faced in a spirited effort that got him out of a slump that saw him go 0-3-0 since re-joining the IceHogs.
Postgame Audio
Head Coach Jeremy Colliton:
Jeff Glass:
What’s Next?
Rockford returns to action on Tuesday night when they host the Iowa Wild. Puck drop on Tuesday night at the BMO Harris Bank Center is set for 7pm Central Time. After Sunday’s action, the IceHogs sit in fifth-place in the Central Division with a 30-24-7 record, 67 points and a .549 points-percentage. Tied for fifth-place with the Admirals, who also have 67 points and a .549 points-percentage, Rockford and the Wild are separated in the standings by .036 percentage-points between fifth and third place and .033 percentage-points between fifth and fourth place with the Grand Rapids Griffins.