CRAWFORD SHINES IN SHOOTOUT WIN

MacArthur notches two goals in 3-2 win

Syracuse, NY- Breakaways were old hat for Corey Crawford by the time the Rockford IceHogs and Syracuse Crunch went to a shootout. The IceHogs puckstopper did face five of them in regulation on Friday night.

Crawford turned four of those breakaways aside as well as three of four in the shootout to give Rockford a 3-2 win over the Crunch at War Memorial at Oncenter. Crawford turned away 41 Syracuse shots to inch Rockford closer to a playoff berth.

In the opening frame Pete MacArthur was on the right end of a favorable bounce. MacArthur dumped a puck into the Syracuse zone and with Crunch goalie Kevin LaLande out to play the dump in, the puck redirected off of the glass and into the open net for MacArthur’s 12 goal of the year. The goal at 4:40 was assisted by Evan Brophey and Tim Brent.

Syracuse countered on the power play when Maksim Mayorov was set up by Mike Blunden on a breakaway and he beat Crawford for his 15 goal of the season at 10:28.

MacArthur added his second tally of the night when Brent set him up in transition in the second period. MacArthur beat LaLande low blocker side just 50 seconds into the middle frame. Brophey also tallied his second assist of the night.

Syracuse tied the game back up at 2-2 in the third period at 4:26. Alexadre Picard split the IceHogs defense and beat Crawford five hole for his 19 goal of the season and 17 in his last 18 games.

After a scoreless overtime, MacArthur, Brent and Mike Radja all tallied while Derek MacKenzie was the only Crunch skater to solve Crawford.

Next Home Game: Saturday, April 4 vs. Milwaukee Admirals. Game time is 7:05 p.m. The Annual Jersey Auction game is finally here as the IceHogs jump into “The Dark Hammy” jerseys to benefit the IceHogs Charitable Foundation. The first 2,000 fans will pick up a commemorative Dark Hammy t-shirt courtesy of Saturn, Pepsi, Guerilla Graffix, Lincoln Rent-All, 13 WREX and MedicineMan. Also, don’t miss the Stanley Cup as hockey’s most coveted trophy makes its first visit to the Rockford MetroCentre and every fan 18 or older will have a chance to win a 2009 Saturn Sky courtesy of Saturn of Rockford.

Stanley Cup Fact: There is only one Stanley Cup—Authenticated by the seal of the Hockey Hall of Fame on the bottom of the Cup, the seal can be seen when winning players life the Cup over their head. See the Stanley Cup as it comes to the Rockford MetroCentre for the first time on Saturday. For tickets call 815-968-5222 or visit www.metrocentre.com.