Blackhawks Recall Frank Nazar
9 hours ago
ROCKFORD FACES TEXAS, CAN CLINCH PLAYOFFS TONIGHT
ROCKFORD, Ill – The Rockford IceHogs round out a weekend doubleheader with the Texas Stars as they face off for the second time in as many days on Saturday night at H-E-B Center. The Hogs can clinch a playoff berth tonight with:
1. A win at Texas AND a Milwaukee loss at Chicago
-- OR --
2. An OTL/SOL at Texas AND a Milwaukee regulation loss at Chicago
Puck drop is at 7 p.m. and fans can tune in to all the action on Cozi TV 23.3 or Dish Network Channel 252, beginning with IceHogs Warmup at 6:30 p.m. IceHogs fans can also listen to the game at sportsfanradio1330.com or watch live at AHLlive.com (subscription required).
Matchup: The IceHogs (39-25-4-4, 3rd Central) remained red-hot with their victory over Texas Friday night. Rockford now boasts wins in each of its last six outings, has points in a season-high nine straight road contests and carries wins in 14 of its last 19 overall tilts since Feb. 18.
Forward Chris DiDomenico extended his team season-high point streak to 10 straight games on Friday, potting a goal to lift his totals to 5g-9a-14pts in that span. Tyler Sikura also struck for the Hogs, joining Matthew Highmore as the second rookie this season to breach the 20-goal mark.
In net, goaltender Collin Delia has gone unbeaten over his last 11 AHL appearances with Friday night's victory. The rookie goaltender is 9-0-1-1 over that stretch, and has posted a 2.62 GAA and .905 save percentage on the year.
Texas (35-24-8-5, 4th Pacific) enters tonight's tilt with points in two of its last three matchups.
Forward Travis Morin spearheads the Stars scoring efforts with 9g-49a-58pts on the year, and nabbed Texas' only marker in the shootout on Friday. He is supported by fellow forward Curtis McKenzie, who has bagged 25g-22a-47pts in this campaign, and Tyler Kelleher, who has posted a team-high six points (3g, 3a) in six contests against the IceHogs this season between his stints with the Stars and Milwaukee Admirals.
Between the pipes, Landon Bow stopped 24 of 26 shots on Friday but faltered in the shootout. The netminder has now won just one of his last six starts, but still boasts a solid 2.86 GAA and 9.04 save percentage in 2017-18.
Next Home Game: Friday, April 13 vs. Chicago
The IceHogs host their final home game of the 2017-18 regular season with an Illinois Lottery Cup series matchup against the Chicago Wolves. Friday is Fan Appreciation Night and the first 2,500 fans in attendance will receive a free copy of this season’s team photo, courtesy of American Solutions for Business.
