PLAYOFF RACE COMES DOWN TO FINAL WEEK

Rockford takes one-of-four on busy Week 28 slate

Week 28 Recap:
Four games during Week 28 couldn’t finalize the playoff picture as the Rockford IceHogs sit tied for ninth place after dropping three-of-four. The week opened on Tuesday when the IceHogs travelled to Milwaukee for the final time to play the Admirals. Rockford could only muster one goal and fell by a score of 3-1. The Ads and Hogs finished their season-series on Friday night at the BMO with Rockford being on the losing end of a 4-1 contest. Saturday showed a reversal of fortunes for the IceHogs as they took down the Iowa Wild at the BMO by a score of 3-2. Rockford headed into the final game of the weekend with momentum but dropped a close 4-2 decision in Rosemont to the Chicago Wolves.

Week 28 Results
Tuesday, Apr. 8: Rockford 1 at Milwaukee 3
Friday, Apr. 11: Milwaukee 4 vs. Rockford 1
Saturday, Apr. 12: Iowa 2 vs. Rockford 3
Sunday, Apr. 13: Rockford 2 at Chicago 4

Week 29 Schedule
Friday, Apr. 18, vs. Chicago, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Apr. 19, vs. Charlotte, 7 p.m.

Bacon Bits:
-Defenseman Adam Clendening was named a 1st Team AHL All-Star and will become the first defenseman in IceHogs history to pace the team in points
-On the season, Clendening leads Rockford with 59 points and 47 assists
-His 59 points are the most of any d-man during Rockford’s AHL era and tied with Jeremy Rebek (2002-03) for most in IceHogs franchise history
-The IceHogs closed the road portion of their regular season schedule by losing the final ten games (0-8-1-1), a team AHL record, dating back to 2/28/14
-The last six road games were all lost in regulation
-Overall, Rockford set a team AHL record for fewest road wins in a season with 11, one more than the all-time low of 10 set in 2002-03 and 2003-04
-Rookie forward Alex Broadhurst notched his third multi-goal game of the season on Sunday, second most on the team behind only Jeremy Morin (4)
-Rockford had their franchise record 10th sellout of the season on Saturday at the BMO Harris Bank Center
-The organization will break their all-time attendance record (174,418) on Friday in game 37 of 38
-The attendance record of 174,418 was set during the 2010-11 campaign with a 40 game regular season home schedule
-This will mark the fifth time in the last six seasons in which the IceHogs average attendance will increase
-Rockford’s power play is without a goal in the team’s last five games, going 0-15 during that stretch
-Former IceHogs center Peter LeBlanc made his NHL debut with the Washington Capitals on Sunday and in the process became the 61st former IceHogs alumnus to play in the NHL
-After scoring 1g-2a in 28 games with the Portland Pirates, rookie defenseman Mathieu Brisebois has 2g-5a-7pts in 11 games with Rockford

Hot Hog: Week 28
Defenseman Adam Clendening
For the second straight week, defenseman Adam Clendening is Rockford’s hot hog. The second year defenseman was named a 1st Team AHL All-Star heading into the final week of the regular season. Clendening ranks second among all AHL defensemen with 58 points. In Week 28, Clendening marked three assists in Rockford’s four games, including his team-leading 15th multi-point game on Sunday in Chicago. Overall, the Niagara Falls, NY native leads Rockford with 59 points and 47 assists.

Upcoming Games: Week 29
Friday, Apr. 18 vs. Chicago at 7 p.m.: Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. The IceHogs host the Chicago Wolves at the BMO Harris Bank Center for the final Illinois Lottery Cup game this season. The cup comes down to this game as the Wolves hold a narrow one point lead in the Lottery Cup Standings. This is the start of fan appreciation weekend at the BMO and the first 1,500 fans through the gates will receive an IceHogs beach towel courtesy of Peak Fitness.

Saturday, Apr. 19 vs. Charlotte at 7 p.m.: Game time is 7 p.m. The final game of the season comes against the Charlotte Checkers, the team that Rockford is currently tied with in the playoff race. The first 2,500 fans to the BMO will receive an IceHogs team photo. Prizes will be given away at every whistle during the game.

Illinois Lottery Cup Series Standings
Teams Record Points
Chicago 6-4-0-1 13
Rockford 5-4-0-2 12

Upcoming Illinois Lottery Cup Games:
Apr. 18: Chicago vs. Rockford, 7 p.m.