Petiot has three points in 5-3 win
Cleveland, Ohio- Three third period goals erased a slow start for the Rockford IceHogs on Friday night and they knocked off the Lake Erie Monsters 5-3 at the Quicken Loans Arena.
The win extended Rockford’s season best road point streak to six straight games (5-0-0-1) and helped them keep pace in the wild West Division.
Lake Erie came out in the opening period and dominated the first ten minutes of the contest. Mike Bartlett culminated the solid start when he slipped his fifth goal of the season underneath Corey Crawford at 8:36 for the frame’s only goal.
Richard Petiot tied it for Rockford in the second period. The d-man picked up a face off win from Bracken Kearns after a Lake Erie icing and blasted his third goal of the season over the glove of Tyler Weiman at 4:30.
Later in the period the Monsters converted on their third power-play chance of the night. Camped out in front of Crawford, Randy Rowe redirected a Tom Preissing slapper from the point and in at 11:18 giving Lake Erie the 2-1 advantage.
But Bryan Bickell and the IceHogs responded just 24 seconds later to tie the game at two. Kyle Greentree led Bickell on a two-on-two rush and Bickell knocked his 11th goal of the year into an open Lake Erie goal at 11:42.
Rockford grabbed their first lead of the night in the third period. Petiot knocked down a Lake Erie clear out pass and found Greentree streaking to the net and the IceHogs leading goal scorer snuck his 19th goal of the season past Weiman three minutes into the third.
Rowe countered with his second marker of the night for the Monsters at 7:56 tying the game once again. Brian Willsie dug the puck out from behind the IceHogs goal and fed it on the wing to Rowe who slipped his second of the season past Crawford.
Matt Keith would put Rockford up for good at 12:57 of the final period while Rockford skated on the power play. Pete MacArthur found Keith in the slot and winger sniped his 11th goal of the season just over the right should of Weiman for the eventual game winner.
Danny Bois would seal it for Rockford when he fired home an empty-net shorthanded tally at 19:43.
Petiot finished the night with a season best three points (1g-2a) and Rockford remained perfect at the Quicken Loans Arena, now 5-0-0-0 there all-time. They’ll be back there Saturday for the back-end of two straight against the Monsters.
Crawford faced 26 shots and blocked 23 of them to earn his 13th win of the campaign. Weiman saw 22 Rockford shots and made 18 saves in the loss.
Next Home Game: Saturday, Feb. 13 vs. Milwaukee Admirals. Game time is 7:05 p.m. The first 2,500 fans to the MetroCentre will pick up a Mr. Potato Head courtesy of Frito Lay and Q98.5. For tickets call (815) 968-5222, on-line at www.metrocentre.com or in person at the MetroCentre Box Office or Hog Headquarters inside CherryVale Mall.