KAHKONEN STYMIES SHOOTING SURGE AS WILD BLANK HOGS

Des Moines, Ia. The Rockford IceHogs outshot the Iowa Wild 39-20, but Kaapo Kahkonen made all 39 saves and Matt Bartkowski scored the game-winner early in the second period as the Wild blanked the IceHogs 4-0 Wednesday night at Wells Fargo Arena.

The win ended the IceHogs' five-game point streak and capped Rockford’s season-long winning streak at three games.

Bartkowski opened the scoring with the eventual game-winner at the 3:13 mark of the second frame. The defenseman collected a cross-ice pass from Gerald Mayhew and beat Rockford goaltender Kevin Lankinen high to the blocker side before Lankinen could slide across.

Wild forward Gerry Fitzgerald extended the Iowa lead with 6:19 remaining in the second stanza, deflecting home a centering feed from Mason Shaw as Shaw was falling to the ice.

Will Bitten added an insurance marker for the Wild early in the third period, then Matt Read iced the game with an late empty-netter.

NEXT HOME GAME: Dec. 28 vs. Chicago Wolves | 7 p.m.
The IceHogs host the Chicago Wolves for a Friday-night Illinois Lottery Cup showdown on Youth Jersey Night. The first 1,000 fans age 14-and-under will receive a free IceHogs youth jersey, courtesy of Ortho Illinois.