HOGS REBOUND AND KNOCK OFF PEORIA 4-1

Rockford, Ill.- The Rockford IceHogs defeated the Peoria Rivermen in a 4-1 battle on Wednesday night at the Rockford MetroCentre.

And it was literally a battle between the IceHogs and Rivermen as both teams combined for 158 penalty minutes.

After the Hogs went 0-for-7 on the power play on Sunday in Peoria, Rockford was destined to take advantage of the extra man as they converted on their first opportunity to take a 1-0 lead. The IceHogs got the scoring started when Ryan Potulny found Kyle Beach with a cross ice feed and Beach buried his fourth goal of the season at 7:42 in the first period. Shawn Lalonde also chipped in with a helper on the play.

The IceHogs extended their lead to 2-0 when Jeremy Morin knocked in his fourth marker on the campaign. Igor Makarov set up the play keeping the puck in the offensive zone trying to find an open IceHogs skater near the crease. Peoria blocked Makarov's pass attempt but couldn't clear the puck and Brandon Pirri backhanded it back at Ben Bishop. Bishop kicked it aside but Morin was right there to tap in the goal at 12:36 in the first.

Then, with 15 seconds left in the period the IceHogs made it 3-0 with a Nick Leddy marker. Potulny found Leddy at the point and he fired the puck to the back of the net at 19:45. Beach was credited with an assist on the play.

Rockford came right back in the second period and added their second power-play goal in as many chances to make it 4-0. Lalonde dished the puck to Beach who blasted the puck towards the net. Bishop let the rebound slip out to Potulny who was able to control it and flip it in as he was stumbling to the ice at 1:55.

The Rivermen got in on the scoring action when they converted on a 5-on-3 advantage after a large scrum between the two clubs. Peoria kept cycling the puck up top from side-to-side. Peoria's Adam Cracknell worked the puck to Derek Peltier on the point and found Mark Cundari across the blue line for a one-timer past Alec Richards at 3:53 to make it 4-1.

That’s all the Rivermen could muster as the Hogs held them to 1-for-7 on the power play and Rockford converted on 2-of-5. Richards picked up the win turning away 20 shots and Bishop was tagged with his fifth loss on the season.

Next Home Game: Wednesday, Nov. 24 vs. Lake Erie Monsters. Puck drop is at 6:35 p.m. Wednesday nights are Taco Bell Dollar Days at the MetroCentre, which includes dollar hot dogs, beers, sodas and companion tickets. The first 2,500 fans will receive Stanley Cup bottle holders courtesy of Bud Light and WXRX.