IceHogs continue to struggle, lose to Flames twice in one week
Rockford, Ill.- The Rockford IceHogs led, but couldn't keep it as the Quad City Flames handed the Hogs their sixth straight loss (0-4-1-1) at the Rockford MetroCentre on Friday.
The Hogs came back twice and led 3-2 late in the third, but gave up the game tying goal to Warren Peters, with a helper from Brandon Prust, at 13:11. After Peters' penalty expired, he picked up a long Prust pass and beat Hogs goalie Wade Flaherty on a breakaway.
In the third period with the score 2-2, Colin Fraser gave the IceHogs their first lead in a game since Feb. 2 with a goal at 9:44. Gavin Morgan and Jake Dowell had the assists.
After five minutes of 4-on-4 overtime, the two teams went to a shootout. The only two skaters for either team to score were Carsen Germyn and Adam Pardy. Petri Kontiola, Kris Versteeg, Jack Skille and Danny Richmond all made attempts for Rockford.
In the first period, the Flames' Eric Nystrom scored first on a power play at 8:40. Grant Stevenson and Krys Kolanos were credited with the assists.
Rockford's Bryan Bickell responded with a power play goal of his own at 3:24 in the second to tie the score. Colin Fraser and Petri Kontiola had the helpers.
But the tie was short-lived when David Van der Gulik stole the puck on a cross-ice pass in the Rockford zone and poked through a short-handed goal at 6:14 in the second.
Rockford tied the game with Richmond's second goal of the campaign at 17:12 in the second. Skille and Derek Nesbitt had the assists.
Both teams have had several opportunities on the advantage. The Flames and Hogs combined for 68 penalty minutes in game, but both teams were 1-for-7 on the power play.
Curtis McElhinney again confounded the Hogs with 34 saves. Flaherty had 29 in the losing effort.
Next Home Game: Saturday, Feb. 16 vs. Chicago Woves. I-90 gets some extra traffic as the IceHogs and Wolves clash again at the Rockford MetroCentre. The first 1,000 kids at the game will get a youth jersey courtesy of Feldo, WXRX 104.9, WTVO and FOX 39.