HOUSTON POWERS OVER ROCKFORD

Rockford winless in a season low four straight games

Rockford, Ill.- Special teams are a big part of a hockey game. On Friday night the Rockford IceHogs had one power play compared to the Houston Aeros 12 and the Hogs couldn’t fend off the West Division foes big advantage.

The Aeros finished the contest 5-for-12 on the power play en route to a 6-1 win at the Rockford MetroCentre. Defenseman Erik Reitz set up four of the goals and the IceHogs fell to the Aeros for the second time is four days at the MetroCentre.

Houston busted the game open in the third period with four goals. Winger Ryan Hamilton started the barrage when he banked in a rebound past Corey Crawford 54 seconds into the frame making it 3-1.

Joel Ward then pushed the lead to three at the 11:00 mark, redirecting a Brandon Kelly point blast over Crawford’s shoulder. John Scott later made it 5-1 when he tipped a Steve Kelly shot in for his second goal of the season.

Rockford finished the contest down two men and the Aeros potted another marker to finish off the Hogs. Cal Clutterbuck beat Crawford short side to end the scoring.

The Aeros took advantage of an early power play opportunity to go up 1-0. Adrian Foster tipped a Reitz blast five seconds into the advantage past Crawford at 2:55 in the first.

Troy Brouwer responded with his team-leading 24th goal of the season at 16:34 to tie the score at one. Matt MacDonald was credited with the assist, his first career AHL point in his ninth game.

Then a problem cleaning the ice caused a 35 minute delay between the first and second frames.

But the IceHogs penalty kill continued to suffer as they gave up a goal to Peter Olvecky on the advantage at 7:00 in the second. Reitz and Paul Albers had the assists.

The IceHogs were outshot in the contest 33-22 and have now gone winless in a season-high four straight games.

Next Home Game: Friday, Feb. 15 vs. Quad City Flames. The IceHogs and Flames meet up for the second time in less than a week. The first 1,500 girls to the game on Friday will pick up a pink IceHogs T-shirt in spirit of Valentine's Day courtesy of Rock River Valley Blood Bank, Midwest Stitch, Hulsebus Chiropractic, Guerilla Graffix, General Mills and B103. The game is the third at the MetroCentre between the West Division foes and the first 500 kids to the contest 12 and under will pick up a Walking With Dinosaurs lapel pin courtesy of the IceHogs and Centre Events.