ICEHOGS SEEK TO SNAP SKID IN GRAND RAPIDS

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The Rockford IceHogs head to Grand Rapids to take on the division-rival Griffins at Van Andel Arena on Friday night. Rockford has defeated Grand Rapids in each of the teams’ six meetings this season.

Puck drop is at 6 p.m. and fans can tune in to all the action on Cozi TV 23.3 or Dish Network Channel 252, beginning with IceHogs Warmup at 5:30 p.m. IceHogs fans can also listen to the game at sportsfanradio1330.com or watch live at AHLlive.com (subscription required).

Matchup: The IceHogs (18-14-1-1, 2nd Central) enter tonight’s tilt in the midst of a three-game losing skid.

Forward Tomas Jurco leads the team in scoring, having potted 11g-12a-23pts in 33 games this season, and 2g-3a-5pts in his last six outings. Rookie forward Matthew Highmore follows with 22 points of his own, and ranks fourth among AHL rookies with 14 goals in 2017-18. Defenseman Carl Dahlstrom leads the Rockford blueliners with 18 points, and has notched 1g-12a-13pts in his last 16 contests.

Grand Rapids (15-15-1-4, 6th Central) faces off against the IceHogs having won five of its last six matchups. The team’s lone loss in that span came in the shootout against Rockford on Dec. 23.

Forward Matt Lorito paces the Griffins with 10g-15a-25pts, and has a goal and four assists against the IceHogs this season. Fellow forward Matt Puempel has a goal in seven of his last eight games, and has tallied 11 total points in his last nine. Forward Eric Tangradi has notched three of his nine goals against Rockford, and leads his team in shots with 104 pucks on net.

Next Home Game: The Rockford IceHogs host the Cleveland Monsters on Saturday, Jan. 6. The first 1,500 fans into the BMO Harris Bank Center on Saturday will receive a free IceHogs winter hat, courtesy of BMO Harris Bank. Tickets can be purchased at IceHogs.com, by calling (815) 968-5222 or in-person at the BMO Harris Bank Center Box Office.