ICEHOGS POST 4-2 WIN OVER ADMIRALS IN RETURN FROM BREAK

Hogs head to Chicago to face Wolves on Sunday

Rockford, Ill.- The Rockford IceHogs had a season low in shots but came out with a win in their first game back from Christmas Break on Saturday at the Rockford MetroCentre.

The Hogs posted 20 shots, compared to the Milwaukee Admiral's 28, but defenseman Brian Connelly lit the lamp for the game winner in the middle of the third period to beat the Admirals 4-2.

The IceHogs got off to strong start when winger Jack Skille picked up a loose puck in the neutral zone, drove to the net and dished to Kyle Greentree on the goal line. Greentree poked it home for his ninth goal of the season at 4:55 in the first period.

Then at 11:13, Connelly found Danny Bois in front of the net for Rockford's second goal of the game. Jake Dowell also was credited with an assist.

"We wanted to come out with a good start," said Connelly. "And I thought we did that in the first period."

But Milwaukee evened the score with two goals in the second period. Cal O'Reilly picked up a short-handed goal unassisted at 1:03 and then Mike Santorelli slid his ninth goal of the season past Alec Richards on the Milwaukee power play at 5:52. Hugh Jessiman and Robert Dietrich were credited with the helpers.

Then in the third period, Connelly found the corner of the net at 9:17 on the power play to give Rockford a 3-2 lead. Skille and Daryl Boyle had the helpers.

"We knew they were going to give us a good game," Connelly said. "It's good to see that we were able to finish out the game well. We need to keep doing that the rest of the year."

Rob Klinkhammer added an empty net goal from his knees with help from Pete MacArthur with 16 seconds left in the game to finish off the Admirals 4-2.

Richards turned away 26 shots to pick up his third win of the season while Chet Pickard stopped 16 pucks in a losing effort. Rockford finished 1-for-10 on the power play and Milwaukee was was 1-for-5 on the advantage.

Next Home Game: Thursday, Dec. 31 vs. Houston Aeros: Game time is 7:05 p.m. Celebrate the New Year as the Rockford IceHogs take on the Houston Aeros for the first time at the Rockford MetroCentre. The IceHogs will be giving away five pairs of Chicago Blackhawks suite tickets to the Blackhawks game on Sunday, Jan. 10 at the United Center. Don’t forget your skates as the IceHogs will host a postgame skate on the MetroCentre’s ice and fans can watch the ball drop from New York City at 11 p.m. on the big screen.