Hogs puckstopper makes 35 saves in the win
Peoria, Ill.- Two games are in the books for the Rockford IceHogs and for the first time in the club’s AHL era, the team is 2-0-0-0. Alec Richards made 35 saves while Brandon Segal and Rob Klinkhammer scored a pair of goals to lead Rockford over the Peoria Rivermen at Carver Arena on Sunday.
Peoria jumped out front on Sunday 1:52 into the contest. In transition, Adam Cracknell picked up a drop pass from T.J. Hensick at 1:52 and ripped his first goal of the year past Richards. The goal was also assisted by Brett Sterling.
Rockford got the goal back at 10:48 of the opening frame. Brian Connelly’s slap shot from the left point was redirected past Ben Bishop and in by Segal for his second tally of the season. Klinkhammer got the secondary assist after starting the rush in transition.
The game remained tied until the 13:57 mark when Hensick would finish off a Peoria rush in the Rockford zone. Cracknell returned the favor and found Hensick on the doorstep and the winger put Peoria back on top with his first goal of the season.
Segal struck again in the second period while Rockford skated on a 5-on-3 power play. Brett McLean found Segal in the slot and the winger was able to sneak his second marker of the game past Ben Bishop. Bishop got a piece of Segal’s shot, but the rebound trickled in behind him at 5:47 to tie the game at 2-2.
Klinkhammer then gave Rockford their first lead of the game at 14:42 of the middle frame. Bishop cut off a Rockford dump in pass behind the Peoria net, but Klinkhammer picked his pocket and dumped his first goal of the season into the empty Peoria goal.
In the third period, Peoria tied the game with another transition goal. Stefan Della Rovere picked up a Jay Barriball pass and fired his first goal of the season over the glove of Alec Richards at 9:35 of the final frame.
But the IceHogs came right back to reclaim the lead. Andrew Shaw led a three-on-two rush into the Peoria zone and found Kyle Beach on the weak side of Bishop and the Beach buried his second goal of the year at 11:28. The goal was the eventual game winner.
Klinkhammer iced the game for the IceHogs with an empty net goal at 19:15. Jimmy Hayed was able to out race the Rivermen to wipe out an icing and found Klinkhammer in front of an open Peoria goal and the winger knocked in his second tally of the game.
Next Home Game: Saturday, Oct. 22 vs. Chicago Wolves. Game time is 7:05 p.m.The IceHogs welcome the Chicago Wolves to the BMO Harris Bank Center for the first of 12 meetings. Fans can purchase a special family four pack for $49 that includes four tickets, four Culvers concrete mixers and four tickets to the Discovery Center’s “Peanuts….Naturally” exhibit. The four pack can be purchased at the BMO Harris Bank Box Office, Discovery Center or at any Rockford area Culver’s locations.