Hogs Come Up Short After Pushing League-Leading Ads to Overtime

ROCKFORD, Ill. - Lucas Carlsson opened scoring and Kevin Lankinen turned away 33 of 35 shots, but it wasn't enough as the Rockford IceHogs fell to the Milwaukee Admirals 2-1 in overtime at the UW Panther Arena on Saturday afternoon.

Lankinen faced a barrage of Admirals chances in the third period, making a total of 18 saves in the frame to push the game to extra time. However, just 36 seconds into overtime, Frederick Gaudreau threw a backhander that ricocheted off Jacob Nilsson's back and across the goal line to send the IceHogs home with the loss.

Rockford scored first in the contest 13:57 into the opening stanza when Jacob Nilsson one-touched a stretch pass across the neutral zone to a streaking Brandon Hagel. Hagel flew down the right wing and drew two Admirals defenders toward him before tucking a backhand pass back to Nilsson. Nilsson then spun around to find Carlsson all alone in the high slot, who then fired a wrister into the cage.

The IceHogs held the lead until the start of the third when Rem Pitlick netted the equalizer with just 49 seconds gone.

The two clubs will face off again on Tuesday in Rockford at the BMO Harris Bank Center at 7 p.m.

GAME NOTES:

Lucas Carlsson fired a game team-high five shots and netted his first goal since Dec. 20 against Texas...With the tally, he now moves into sole possession of first on the club in points by a defenseman with 16 (4g, 12a), passing Philip Holm's 15.

Jacob Nilsson's assist on Carlsson's goal gives him five points (2g, 3a) across his last four games...This outburst comes after he'd notched just two points in the previous 15 contests from Nov. 29 through Jan. 3.

Brandon Hagel contributed an assist on Carlsson's goal after being held pointless in Friday's clash between the Hogs and Ads...In now 30 games since Oct. 30, there have only been two instances in which Hagel has not rebounded from a pointless performance to find the scoresheet the very next game. He's been held pointless 12 times in that span but has tallied a combined 13 points (7g, 6a) in subsequent efforts.