IceHogs Blank Rampage, Tie for Playoff Spot

ROCKFORD, Ill. - Alexandre Fortin netted a shorthanded goal and Collin Delia denied each of the 28 shots he faced to lift the Rockford IceHogs over the San Antonio Rampage 1-0 at the BMO Harris Bank Center Friday.

On the penalty kill 8:22 into the first period, Tyler Sikura chased after a loose puck in front of the San Antonio bench. Sikura knocked the puck toward the middle of the ice for Fortin, who was left all alone in the slot. Fortin collected the puck, spun toward Rampage netminder Ville Husso and snapped a shot under Husso's glove to give the IceHogs the 1-0 lead. The marker was Fortin's second shorthanded tally of the season, which leads the Rockford roster.

From then on, it was a goaltending staredown. Delia anchored an IceHogs penalty kill that was tested four times and Husso turned away a handful of odd-man opportunities. The former finished making 28 saves on 28 shots for his second shutout of the season while Husso stopped 24 of 25 in the losing effort.

The IceHogs have now won six of their last eight contests and have pulled into a tie for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Central Division with the Chicago Wolves.

GAME NOTES

• Alexandre Fortin notched his second shorthanded goal of the campaign on Friday to lead all IceHogs in that category...There are seven other skaters who have each scored one goal while on the penalty kill.
• Collin Delia stopped all 28 San Antonio Rampage shots on Friday to earn the second shutout of the 2019-20 season and third of his career...The first shutout came on Jan. 19 when he made 34 saves against the Chicago Wolves.
• The IceHogs defeated the San Antonio Rampage on Friday after taking a lead into the first intermission...Rockford boasts a record of 10-3-1-0 this season when leading after the opening frame but is just 9-11-0-2 when tied after one and 7-12-0-0 when trailing after one for a combined 16-23-0-2 when entering the first intermission tied or trailing.