Family Fun Sunday Includes Family Packs + Postgame Skate!
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HOGS HUNT WOLVES, PLAYOFFS IN ILLINOIS LOTTERY CUP SHOWDOWN
ROCKFORD, Ill – The Rockford IceHogs cap a two-game weekend homestand with a Saturday showdown and Illinois Lottery Cup Series matchup with the Chicago Wolves at the BMO Harris Bank Center.
Only a limited number of tickets remain for tonight's contest. [TICKETS CAN BE PURCHASED HERE]
Puck drop is at 6 p.m. and fans can tune in to all the action on Cozi TV 23.3 or Dish Network Channel 252, beginning with IceHogs Warmup at 5:30 p.m. IceHogs fans can also listen to the game at sportsfanradio1330.com or watch live at AHLlive.com (subscription required).
Matchup: The IceHogs (33-25-4-4, 5th Central) snapped a season high-tying seven-game point streak with last night’s loss to Milwaukee. Despite the setback, Rockford remains in the thick of the playoff chase and trails fourth-place Iowa by just .008 in points percentage. The IceHogs and Wild have both posted 74 points thus far this season, but Iowa carries a game-in-hand to the Hogs’ 66 total contests.
Defenseman Cody Franson tallied an assist in last night's game against Milwaukee and now leads the team with 11 points (3g, 8a) over his last 10 contests since Feb. 28. The blueliner has skated even-or-better in all but one of those 10 games to enter Saturday’s matchup with Chicago ranked tied for sixth in the AHL with a +8 rating over that span.
Recently assigned forward Victor Ejdsell made his AHL and team debut last night for the Hogs, tallying his first AHL point with an assist on the IceHogs' first goal of the game. Edjsell, prior to joining Rockford, led HV71 with 20 goals and finished second in scoring with 34 points in 50 games in the top level of the Swedish Hockey League.
Chicago (36-20-7-2, 2nd Central) has suffered back-to-back losses to Rockford, but arrives at the BMO Harris Bank Center with a three-game win streak and 7-2-1-0 record over its last 10 games. The Wolves are led in scoring by T.J. Tynan, who has compiled 55 points (13g, 42a) in 65 contests this year, and the Hogs’ all-time leading scorer, Brandon Pirri, who has potted a team-best 26 goals in 2017-18. Pirri has also excelled against his former club, and shares the team lead with seven points (5g, 2a) in seven appearances against the IceHogs.
In net, Max Legace has won each of his last two appearances and is 13-4-2 with a 2.59 GAA and .911 save percentage in 20 games this season. The netminder is unbeaten in regulation in two contests against Rockford, taking the ice Saturday with a 1-0-1 record, 1.93 GAA and .939 save percentage versus the Hogs.
Next Home Game: Saturday, March 31 vs. San Jose
The IceHogs host Hawaiian Night as they take on the San Jose Barracuda at 6 p.m. at the BMO Harris Bank Center. The event will feature tropical-themed jerseys, live Hawaiian music, a luau with hula dancers, pig roast and orange hibiscus flowers imprinted on the ice. In addition, Hogs alumni Brian Bickell will be on-hand for the festivities. Tickets can be purchased at IceHogs.com, by calling (815) 968-5222 or in-person at the BMO Harris Bank Center Box Office.
