Game Preview: IceHogs Begin Weekend Series In Grand Rapids
7 hours ago
ROCKFORD EARNS A POINT WITH OVERTIME LOSS
Cedar Park, Tex.- Keeping pace is just as important as winning games right now for the Rockford IceHogs. The IceHogs did just that on Friday night as they earned a point in the standings with a 4-3 overtime loss against the Texas Stars at the Cedar Park Center.
Both the Chicago Wolves and Milwaukee Admirals also earned points on Friday as the West Division foes fell in separate shootouts.
Pete MacArthur gave Rockford the early 1-0 lead. On a delayed penalty call on Texas, MacArthur jumped into the play as the extra Rockford attacker and Evan Brophey found him in the slot and MacArthur ripped home his sixth goal of the season.
Later in the opening frame Derek Nesbitt moved Rockford’s lead to 2-0. Nick Boynton’s initial blast from the point was turned away by Matt Climie, but Nesbitt was there to clean up the rebound for his second marker of the campaign at 11:39.
The Stars came storming back in the second period and erased their two-goal deficit. Ray Sawada began the comeback when he hammered home a Warren Peters pass for his fourth goal of the season at 4:38 of the frame.
In his first game since Jan. 2, Landon Wilson would pull the Stars even and then give them the 3-2 lead on nearly identical plays. Moments after a Texas power play expired, Aaron Gagnon found Wilson on the back door and the winger knocked in his third goal of the season at 8:40.
Then again seconds after the IceHogs killed off a Stars advantage, Wilson struck again. The veteran winger was set up backside by Travis Morin at 12:04 to give Texas a 3-2 lead heading into the second intermission.
Down a goal in the third period Matt Keith would tie the game for Rockford. The winger redirected a Danny Richmond slapshot past Matt Climie at 12:41 to lock up the game at 3-3.
In the overtime Jack Skille had an opportunity to win the contest for Rockford, but his shot rung off of the Texas goal post after beating Climie and the Stars would go down the other way for the game winner. Travis Morin picked up a Trevor Ludwig shot from the point and worked it around Corey Crawford 3:40 into the OT.
Crawford made 29 saves in the loss while Climie turned away 26 Rockford shots. The IceHogs held the Stars to 0-6 on the power play while the Stars kept Rockford’s advantage at bay, 0-3.
Next Home Game: Sunday, March. 14 vs. Houston Aeros. Game time is 5:05 p.m. Join in the celebration at the Rockford MetroCentre for Hammy's Birthday. The first 2,500 fans into the arena will receive an IceHogs cereal bowl courtesy of General Mills and WROK. The game is also a WXRX Student Rush Night and fans can get Family Four Packs, including four tickets, four hot dogs, four soft drinks and four popcorns for just $44. Plus, the IceHogs are giving away game-worn jerseys of Bracken Kearns, Mike Brennan, Simon Danis-Pepin, Mark Cullen and Evan Brophey. All jersey winners will be drawn at random and fans can sign up to win at the game.
Both the Chicago Wolves and Milwaukee Admirals also earned points on Friday as the West Division foes fell in separate shootouts.
Pete MacArthur gave Rockford the early 1-0 lead. On a delayed penalty call on Texas, MacArthur jumped into the play as the extra Rockford attacker and Evan Brophey found him in the slot and MacArthur ripped home his sixth goal of the season.
Later in the opening frame Derek Nesbitt moved Rockford’s lead to 2-0. Nick Boynton’s initial blast from the point was turned away by Matt Climie, but Nesbitt was there to clean up the rebound for his second marker of the campaign at 11:39.
The Stars came storming back in the second period and erased their two-goal deficit. Ray Sawada began the comeback when he hammered home a Warren Peters pass for his fourth goal of the season at 4:38 of the frame.
In his first game since Jan. 2, Landon Wilson would pull the Stars even and then give them the 3-2 lead on nearly identical plays. Moments after a Texas power play expired, Aaron Gagnon found Wilson on the back door and the winger knocked in his third goal of the season at 8:40.
Then again seconds after the IceHogs killed off a Stars advantage, Wilson struck again. The veteran winger was set up backside by Travis Morin at 12:04 to give Texas a 3-2 lead heading into the second intermission.
Down a goal in the third period Matt Keith would tie the game for Rockford. The winger redirected a Danny Richmond slapshot past Matt Climie at 12:41 to lock up the game at 3-3.
In the overtime Jack Skille had an opportunity to win the contest for Rockford, but his shot rung off of the Texas goal post after beating Climie and the Stars would go down the other way for the game winner. Travis Morin picked up a Trevor Ludwig shot from the point and worked it around Corey Crawford 3:40 into the OT.
Crawford made 29 saves in the loss while Climie turned away 26 Rockford shots. The IceHogs held the Stars to 0-6 on the power play while the Stars kept Rockford’s advantage at bay, 0-3.
Next Home Game: Sunday, March. 14 vs. Houston Aeros. Game time is 5:05 p.m. Join in the celebration at the Rockford MetroCentre for Hammy's Birthday. The first 2,500 fans into the arena will receive an IceHogs cereal bowl courtesy of General Mills and WROK. The game is also a WXRX Student Rush Night and fans can get Family Four Packs, including four tickets, four hot dogs, four soft drinks and four popcorns for just $44. Plus, the IceHogs are giving away game-worn jerseys of Bracken Kearns, Mike Brennan, Simon Danis-Pepin, Mark Cullen and Evan Brophey. All jersey winners will be drawn at random and fans can sign up to win at the game.
