Highmore’s Heroics Hoist Hogs Over Wild

Rockford, Ill. – Matthew Highmore scored the game-winner in overtime as the Rockford IceHogs overcame a 2-0 deficit in the third period to defeat the Iowa Wild 3-2 on Day of the Dead Night Saturday at the BMO Harris Bank Center.

In overtime, Highmore and Nicolas Beaudin entered the zone on a 2-on-1 and the former fired a wrister that beat Wild goaltender, Mat Robson, under the glove to give Rockford its second straight win. With the dagger, Highmore has now scored 10 goals in 12 career games against the Wild, including two hat tricks.

Lucas Carlsson began the comeback late in the third period when he one-timed a cross-ice feed past a sliding Robson with 2:30 remaining in regulation. Ian McCoshen delivered the pass that led to the goal to earn his first point as a member of the IceHogs.

Just 28 seconds later, Carlsson took a slap shot from the top of the right circle and Tyler Sikura reached out his stick to deflect the puck into the cage and tie the contest at two apiece. The goal is Sikura’s fifth in his last five games, which is tied for first in the AHL since Oct. 19.

Iowa’s Kyle Rau and Colton Beck scored goals in the first and second periods, respectively, to give the Wild the 2-0 lead, but IceHogs goaltender, Kevin Lankinen, shut the door in the third. Lankinen also made several key stops during a penalty kill in overtime and finished the night with 30 saves on 32 shots to improve to 2-0-0-0 on the season.

On the other side, Robson stopped 34 of 37 in the loss.

Next Home Game: Sunday, Nov. 3 vs. Chicago Wolves | 4 p.m.
The Rockford IceHogs are inviting fans to the team’s first Family 4-Pack Game of the season! Fans can purchase a package of four tickets, four soft drinks and a large pizza for a total of $44. Sunday's matchup will also feature a postgame skate with the Hogs available to any fan who brings their own skates.