DESPITE 37 SHOTS ON GOAL, ICEHOGS FALL 4-1 TO CHICAGO

IceHogs and Wolves rematch at the BMO Harris Bank Center on Saturday night

Chicago, Ill. - The Rockford IceHogs (34-17-7-4) fired 37 shots on goal but netminder Jordan Binnington was up to the task, helping the Chicago Wolves (27-28-5-3) to a 4-1 win over Rockford on Friday night. Binnington stopped all 27 shots he faced in the first two periods as the Wolves maintained a 2-0 lead heading into the third period.

Chicago opened the scoring off a fluky play 2:40 into the game. Ty Rattie used the home ice advantage and fired a puck hard off the glass behind goaltender Drew MacIntyre. The puck bounced off the glass right out in front to Evan Trupp and he slid it past an unaware MacIntyre to give the Wolves an early 1-0 advantage.

Despite the 1-0 deficit, the IceHogs carried the play in much of the opening frame. Vince Hinostroza nearly evened the score at the midway point in the first but his redirection off a Chris DeSousa shot went just wide of the Wolves cage.

Less than two minutes later the Wolves used a Rockford turnover to double the lead and make it 2-0. Emerson Clark stole the puck along the blueline and fed a pass for Zach O’Brien to blast at the IceHogs net. MacIntyre blocked the initial shot but the rebound kicked directly to the stick of Ivan Barbashev and he buried the second chance.

Rockford and Chicago traded chances in the middle frame with neither team able to find the back of the net. The best chance for the IceHogs came on their second power play of the game. Wolves goaltender Jordan Binnington stuffed a Mark McNeill one-timer before also denying Hinostroza’s redirect from a Tanner Kero shot to keep the Hogs off the board.

Chicago added to the lead 4:22 into the third period. Danny Kristo stole a puck in the IceHogs zone before taking it all the way in on MacIntyre and slipping it between the legs of the IceHogs netminder to push the score to 3-0.

The shutout bid was snapped late in the final frame. Ville Pokka collected a pass from Kero at the right point and fired a shot towards the cage. Kyle Baun provided a screen in front of Binnington and tipped the puck just under the bar with 3:05 to play in the game.

Trupp finished off the scoring with his second of the night into an empty net as the Wolves finished off a 4-1 victory over the IceHogs. Rockford went 0-for-2 on the power play and held Chicago to an 0-for-3 mark with the extra skater.

Next Home Game: Saturday, Mar. 19 vs. Chicago Wolves at 7 p.m. The IceHogs conclude a home-and-home series with the Wolves at the BMO Harris Bank Center on Country Night presented by Dusty Boots Saloon. The band South 40 will be playing country music throughout the night. That game is SOLD OUT, but the IceHogs continue at home on Sunday, Mar. 20 vs. the Charlotte Checkers at 4 p.m. The IceHogs and Checkers meet for the fourth time in nine days for Star Wars Night at the BMO! Following the game, the IceHogs will host their annual live jersey auction.