ROCKFORD EARNS A POINT IN MILWAUKEE

Offensive game goes Ads way in a shootout

Milwaukee, Wis.-Another high scoring affair between the Rockford IceHogs and Milwaukee Admirals needed a shootout on Friday. Rockford and Milwaukee traded the lead five times, but the Admirals outlasted the IceHogs 6-5.

Milwaukee struck first on Friday on their first shot of the game setting the tone for a wild first period. Recently acquired Francis Wathier picked up a pass in the left face-off circle and beat Jason LaBarbera over the shoulder 1:05 into the game.

Rockford would tie the game at 4:41 with a breakaway goal from Jeremy Morin. Brandon Mashinter sprung Morin on the breakaway and the winger went to make a move around Milwaukee goalie Marek Mazanec, but the puck slid off his stick and between Mazanec's legs.

Morin then put Rockford on top with his second marker of the game when he cranked home a Pierre-Marc Bouchard pass past Mazanec at 10:33 while the IceHogs skated on the power play. The goal gives Morin a team-high 24 on the season.

Moments later, Milwaukee's Mark Van Guilder tied things up when he tipped his 11th goal of the season past LaBarbera on a shot-pass from the point by Anthony Bitetto at 11:06.

Brad Mills and the IceHogs came right back as he put Rockford back on top. Garret Ross found Mills open in the slot where he notched his fourth tally of the season at 13:03.

A second chance on the power play for Milwaukee tied the game back up, this time at 3-3. Patrick Cehlin knocked in a loose puck in a scrum in front of LaBarbera at 16:58, before a Rockford turnover put the Admirals back on top. Vinny Saponari cleaned up a Taylor Beck rebound at 17:15, making it 4-3 at the first intermission.

In the second period, Joakim Nordstrom picked up a Klas Dahlbeck pass and beat Mazanec from nearly the goal line, scoring his 16th goal of the season at 3:05 to tie the game at 4-4, the lone second stanza strike.

Milwaukee snagged their third lead of the game in the third period. Calle Jarnkrok was left open in the slot and Beck found him before he fired in his 17th goal of the season, including fourth in the last three games against Rockford, at 3:05.

On the ensuing shift, Bouchard drew a penalty for Rockford and the IceHogs would capitalize seconds into the power play. Off a face-off win, Adam Clendening's point shot was redirected by Mills past Mazanec at 3:42 to tie the game at 5-5.

The two teams went scoreless the rest of the way, including overtime and Milwaukee outscored Rockford 3-0 in the shootout to grab the extra point.

In their three-game set against Milwaukee, Rockford went 0-2-0-1 and was outscored 20-10 in those three contests.

Next Home Game: Saturday, March 22 vs. Chicago Wolves. Puck drop is 7 p.m. It is country night with the IceHogs and the first 1,500 fans through the gate will receive a cowboy hat courtesy of Frito Lay. Gunnar and the Grizzly Boys will be performing live at the game.