HOGS WIN NAILBITER 3-2 AT METROCENTRE

Hogs and Wolves play sixth one-point game this season

Rockford, Ill.- It seemed like every time one team would score, the other would answer right back.

The Rockford IceHogs eeked out two points against the Chicago Wolves on Friday in front of 5,755 fans at the MetroCentre to hold on to second place in the West Division.

The two teams went into the third period scoreless after two hard-fought frames. But Martin St. Pierre lit the lamp at 3:02 on a power play for Rockford's first score. Petri Kontiola had the assist off of a face-off.

Jesse Schultz tied the game at 7:32 with a power-play goal of his. Jason Krog and Joel Kwiatkowski had the helpers as Schultz's centering feed deflected off of an IceHogs defenseman's leg and past Corey Crawford..

After a five-minute high sticking major was whistled on Kwiatkowski, IceHogs winger Derek Nesbitt slapped the puck past Ondrej Pavelec on another power play at 13:22 to put the Hogs up 2-1. Niklas Hjalmarsson and St. Pierre recorded the assists.

With the IceHogs still on the power play, Chicago's Joey Crabb tied the game again with a short-handed marker at 16:04 with an assist from Steve Martins. But then just 37 second later with the IceHogs on the same advantage, Troy Brouwer sunk the game winner with assists from Kontiola and Hjalmarsson.

Crawford earned the win with 24 saves, while Pavelec had 33 saves.

Rockford and Chicago will do it all over again tomorrow in the final game of the season series at the Allstate Arena. The IceHogs are 4-3-2-0 through nine games against the Wolves this season, including 4-1-0-0 at the MetroCentre. Their record at Allstate is a different story. The Hogs are hoping for their first win in Rosemont, having gone 0-2-2-0.

Next Home Game: Sunday, April 13 vs. Iowa Stars. Game time is 4:05 p.m. The 2007-08 regular season comes to a close on Sunday when Iowa makes its final visit to the MetroCentre. Sunday is Fan Appreciation Night with the IceHogs as the first 2,000 fans to the game will pick up an IceHogs Team Photo courtesy of Johnson Press. Following the game, the IceHogs present the ‘07-08 Team Awards and CoCo Key Water Park brings you this season’s final Skate With The IceHogs.