HOGS FALL IN A SHOOTOUT IN PROVIDENCE

Rockford extends unbeaten streak to three straight

Providence, RI- The silver lining Friday night for the Rockford IceHogs was that the club extended its unbeaten streak to three games against the Eastern Conference’s top team. But a wacky third period goal and just one shootout goal sunk Rockford against the Providence Bruins at the Dunkin Donuts Center.

Winger Bryan Bickell gave Rockford the early 1-0 lead at 1:03 of the first period. Bickell deflected a point blast from Jordan Hendry over the shoulder of Mike Brown for his sixth goal of the season. The Bruins got the goal back, however, when T.J. Trevelyan poked in a perfect centering feed from Byron Bitz at 11:58 to tie the game at one.

The two teams then traded goals midway through the second period to make it 2-2. Rockford tallied first with a power-play blast from defenseman Cam Barker, his seventh lamp lighter of the season at 9:58. But just 35-seconds later, Bruins winger Chris Collins tied it slipping his seventh goal of the campaign past Corey Crawford.

Rockford would take a lead to the locker room though after another power-play marker. Winger Mike Blunden snuck a snapshot past Brown short side at 17:38 for his sixth goal of the season to reclaim Rockford’s lead. Prestin Ryan and Kris Versteeg helped on the goal.

The Hogs had the momentum and the lead in the third, but that vanished in eight seconds. At 6:03 of the frame, center Dave Bolland won a draw in his own zone and inadvertently fired a shot into his own goal to tie the game at 3-3. The goal was credited to David Krejci.

Off the ensuing face-off winger Nate DiCasmirro picked up the draw and broke through the Hogs defense and flipped a back-handed breakaway goal over Crawford at 6:11. The Hogs were able to tie it up with a lamp lighter at 15:57. St. Pierre picked up a Brouwer pass and fired it over the shoulder of Brown for his team-leading ninth goal of the season.

After a scoreless overtime, Krejci and Jeff Hoggan tallied for Providence and Jack Skille was the only IceHogs shootout goal scorer for the IceHogs. Rockford was outshot 41-30 in the loss and went 2-for-3 on the power play.

Next Home Game: Sunday, Dec. 5 vs. Syracuse Crunch. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m. The IceHogs welcome the Crunch to MetroCentre for the first time. Wednesday’s game is brought to you by Jose Curevo. For tickets call (815) 986-6465.