HOGS HOUND MOOSE FOR 4-2 VICTORY IN GAME 1 OF DIVISION FINALS

WINNIPEG, Manitoba – Tyler Sikura and John Hayden scored just 45 seconds apart to break a 1-1 deadlock in the third period and lift the Rockford IceHogs to a 4-2 victory over the Manitoba Moose at Bell MTS Place Friday night. With the win, the IceHogs remain perfect (4-0-0-0) in the 2018 Calder Cup playoffs, and hold a 1-0 lead in their current best-of-7 Division Finals series with the Moose.

With the contest knotted at one goal apiece, Sikura deflected Chris DiDomenico’s shot from the blue line into the back of the net at 3:29 of the final frame to push Rockford to its first lead of the contest and net the team’s ninth power-play tally in 24 opportunities (37.5%). Moments later, Hayden doubled the Hogs’ lead with a one-timer at 4:14.

Rockford’s 3-1 lead remained until Cody Franson notched an empty-net marker with 58 seconds left to seal his team’s win, despite a late Moose tally 20 seconds later, and the Hogs skated to a 4-2 triumph. Franson, along with DiDomenico and Adam Clendening boasts points in each of the IceHogs’ four playoff outings thus far.

Manitoba started on the right foot in the tilt, as Buddy Robinson sent the hosts into the first intermission with a 1-0 lead after finding twine at 16:56 of the opening stanza. Rockford then equalized in the second period behind Victor Ejdsell’s third goal in his last two games, setting the stage for their attack in the final frame.

IceHogs netminder Collin Delia earned his fourth consecutive victory with 24 saves on 26 shots, while Manitoba’s Eric Comrie stopped 27 of 30 in the opposite cage. Delia has now turned aside 135 of 143 total shots in postseason play.

Next Home Game: Wednesday, May 9 vs. Manitoba Moose (Calder Cup Playoffs | Round 2, Game 3/Ticket D)
The Rockford IceHogs will host Game 3 (Ticket D) of their second-round 2017-18 Calder Cup playoff series against the Manitoba Moose on Wednesday, May 9 at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at IceHogs.com, by calling (815) 968-5222 or in-person at the BMO Harris Bank Center Box Office.