ICEHOGS CAP OFF PERFECT WEEK WITH 4-2 WIN OVER ADMIRALS
Milwaukee, Wis. – Forward Marko Dano picked a good time for his first goal of the season. Shortly after the Milwaukee Admirals tied the game in the third period, Dano collected a loose puck in the neutral zone, raced in on a breakaway, and buried his own rebound off the pads of Juuse Saros to give the Rockford IceHogs a 3-2 lead at 11:40 of the third. The goal would eventually stand as the game-winner for Rockford, who won 4-2 to claim their third straight victory.
The Admirals took to the early lead just 5:28 into the first. After Stevie Moses forced a turnover in the offensive zone, Pontus Aberg collected the puck in the left corner and fed a pass to Moses who flipped a backhand shot past Michael Leighton. Despite some good chances in the second half of the opening frame from Rockford, they trailed Milwaukee 1-0 at the end of the first.
Brandon Mashinter erased the deficit at 6:42 of the middle stanza. Kirill Gotovets fired a shot from the point and Mashinter deflected it into the top right corner to even the score at 1-1.
Just under three minutes later, the IceHogs grabbed the lead. With a delayed penalty coming against Milwaukee, Jake Dowell's shot deflected to Tanner Kero on the right post, and he swatted the bouncing rubber into the back of the net.
Milwaukee nearly evened up the score on a late power play, but Leighton went post-to-post and flashed out the right pad to make a big kick save against Moses to preserve the 2-1 Rockford lead.
Max Reinhart knotted the game at 2-2 on the power play at 10:19 of the third when his slap shot from the right wing found its way through traffic and into the top corner of the cage.
The IceHogs responded just 1:21 later with Dano's breakaway strike, and Ryan Hartman put the game away with an empty net goal from his zone with 25 seconds left to seal the win for Rockford.
Leighton finished the game with 23 saves to earn the victory for Rockford, his fourth of the season.
Next Home Game: Tuesday, Oct. 27 vs. Charlotte Checkers at 7 p.m. The IceHogs welcome the Checkers to the BMO Harris Bank Center on another “Winning Weekday.” Every time the IceHogs win at home on a weekday, each fan in attendance will receive a free ticket to the next weekday game. Fans can also enjoy $2 beers, hot dogs, and companion tickets.