Game Preview: IceHogs Conclude Series With Roadrunners

Game Preview Presented by Roofers and Waterproofers Local 11

Rockford, IL.- The Rockford IceHogs and Tucson Roadrunners end their regular season series tonight at 7 p.m. The IceHogs can punch their ticket to the 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs if they earn just a single point after shaving down their magic number down to one with a 6-3 win last night.

Friday Night Lights:
The IceHogs got back into the win column after an impressive offensive outing to open the weekend series with Tucson Friday night. Aku Raty, Cavan Fitzgerald, and Joey Anderson all found the back of the net in the opening period after Tucson opened the scoring just :41 seconds into the game. Cole Guttman extended the lead halfway through the middle period to give Rockford a 4-1 lead. Jackson Cates would give Rockford a 5-2 lead just :29 seconds into the third period. Nolan Allen put an exclamation point on the victory with an empty net goal. Rookie Taige Harding collected his first professional point with a secondary assist on Anderson's first period goal. Drew Commesso made 35 saves to secure the 6-3 win for the IceHogs.

2024-25 Records:
Rockford- 29-30-6-2, 66 points (5th Central Division)
Tucson - 33-31-3-2, 71 points (7th Pacific Division)

Commesso Continues To Shine:
The IceHogs netminder went 35/38 against the Roadrunners to pick up his 16th win of the season. Commesso is now 8-2-2 since returning from a lower body injury in February. The Blackhawks' 2020 2nd round selection has a .908 save percentage and 2.64 GAA in 36 appearances this season. Commesso has helped the IceHogs earn at least one point in six of his last seven starts.

Hayes Heats Up:
Rookie Gavin Hayes picked up two assists in Rockford's Friday night victory to move his point total to 14 (4G, 10A) in 45 games. The Michigan native assisted on Raty's power-play goal in the first period and on Cates' goal early in the third period. Hayes missed two months with a shoulder injury but has made a lasting impact since returning to the lineup. The 2022 3rd round draft pick has contributed three multi-point efforts in his last four games. Hayes has six points (2G, 2A) in his last four games.

Playoff Push Intensifies:
Rockford has the chance to clinch the final playoff spot in the Central Division if they earn at least one point tonight against Tucson. The Iowa Wild kept their playoff hopes alive Friday night with a 3-1 win over the Manitoba Moose. The IceHogs need just one point over their final five games of the regular season to clinch a fourth consecutive playoff berth. The playoff push for the visiting Roadrunners became tighter with a loss to Rockford and the Bakersfield Condors earning a win over the San Diego Gulls. Tucson has a one-point advantage over Bakersfield for the final playoff spot in the Pacific Division.

2024-25 Head to Head Matchups:
Feb. 28 @ Tucson 8 p.m. L 1-5
March. 1 @ Tucson 8 p.m. W 3-2 OT
April. 11 vs Tucson 7 p.m. W 6-3
April. 12 vs Tucson 7 p.m.