Comeback Falls Short for IceHogs in Hoffman Estates; Pirri and Phillips Register Two-Point Games

Hoffman Estates, IL – Forward Brandon Pirri scored twice, defenseman Isaak Phillips added two assists and the Rockford IceHogs (11-18-1-0) nearly erased a four-goal deficit with a thrilling third-period push, but the Chicago Wolves (19-8-1-2) held on for a 6-5 victory at Triphahn Community Center Ice Arena Monday afternoon.

The Wolves came out firing in the opening period, grabbing the game’s first two tallies in the first 1:11 of play off the sticks of Phil Tomasino (35 seconds) and Jameson Reese (1:11). Rees would soon add his second of the afternoon at 10:32, knocking in a rebound off the pads of IceHogs netminder Tom Aubrun (L, 25 saves on 31 shots). Defenseman Brandon Hickey made it 4-0 Chicago at 15:29 with his first goal of the season. Moments later, the IceHogs swung some momentum back on their side of the ice as forward Mitch Fossier buried a centering pass from D.J. Busdeker over the blocker of Wolves goalie Beck Warm (W, 23 saves on 28 shots) to put the visiting club on the scoreboard.

Pirri kept the drive going for the IceHogs at 14:47 of the second period, snapping in his seventh goal of the season and 75th career IceHogs tally for a 4-2 IceHogs deficit. With the marker, Pirri continues to inch towards all-time IceHogs leading goal scorer Jeremy Morin (90 goals). Chicago’s David Cotton reclaimed a three-goal advantage at 16:10 with a deflection past Auburn off the right goal post.

In the third period, the IceHogs turned up the pressure and tied a season-high with three goals in a single frame. Pirri ripped home his second goal of the game on the power play at 3:48 to make it 5-3, but the Wolves again responded with a tally as forward Tommy Novak answered at 5:18. IceHogs defenseman Anton Lindholm found the back of the net for the first time this season at 10:34 to return to a two-score showdown and rookie Chris Wilkie netted his team-leading eighth goal of the season at 11:54 to pull the IceHogs within one.

Hanging on, the Wolves helped Warm with key shot blocks and defensive coverage over the final moments and withstood a 6-on-5 IceHogs attack with Aubrun on the bench to escape with the victory. The IceHogs finished the contest 1-for-3 on the power play while the Wolves went 0-for-2.

The Rockford IceHogs continue their three-game series against the Wolves and close the 2021 season with a home-and-home set on Friday, May 14 at 6:00 p.m. at BMO Harris Bank Center and Saturday, May 15 at 7:00 p.m. in Hoffman Estates. Watch all of the action LIVE on AHLTV and 23.2 Antenna TV WIFR (home games)! Tune in to every broadcast for free on SportsFanRadio 1330 AM, Sportsfanradio1330.com, IceHogs.com, and the IceHogs app!

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