Rockford drops fourth straight contest

Des Moines, Iowa- A few mistakes were too much for the Rockford IceHogs to overcome on Thursday night as they fell 5-2 to the Iowa Wild in Des Moines.

The loss is the fourth straight for the IceHogs (0-3-1-0) following a five game point streak (4-0-1-0).

The game on Thursday went scoreless for nearly half the contest until Iowa broke through midway through the second period. Iowa center Eric Haula led a 2-on-0 breakaway and slipped his eighth goal of the season under Kent Simpson at 8:16.

Less than two minutes later, Tyler Graovac extended the lead to 2-0. Brett Bulmer picked up a loose puck in the IceHogs zone and fed Graovac backdoor for his fifth marker on the campaign at 10:06.

The Wild went on a 5-on-3 power play, but as Garret Ross' penalty expired for Rockford, the rookie winger picked up a loose puck in the neutral zone and beat John Curry on a short-handed breakaway at 12:29.

Still on the penalty kill, Rockford failed to clear their own zone and Iowa capitalized a minute after Ross made it a one-goal game. Steven Kampfer fired his third goal of the season past Simpson after the IceHogs miscue at 13:29, making it 3-1 Wild.

After controlling the first half of the third period and failing to solve Curry, Iowa increased the lead to 4-1. While on a power play, Zack Phillips finished off a Haula feed in transition at 12:41 for his sixth tally of the season.

Brandon Mashinter notched his first goal with the IceHogs and second of the season at 17:10 to make it 4-2. With Simpson pulled, Jake Dowell buried an empty net goal to seal it for the Wild at 18:33.

Next Home Game: Friday, Dec. 27 vs. Grand Rapids Griffins. Puck drop is 7 p.m. when the IceHogs battle the top team in the Midwest Division. For tickets, visit IceHogs.com, call 815-968-522 or in person at the BMO Harris Bank Center Box Office or any Ticketmaster location.