ROCKFORD ROLLS OVER RAMPAGE 8-3

St. Pierre chips in five points in Hogs win

Rockford, Ill.- Rockford IceHogs fans had a little bit of everything to cheer for on Sunday evening. Plenty of goals, some fights, nice goalie saves and most importantly an IceHogs win. Rockford blew out the San Antonio Rampage 8-3 at the Rockford MetroCentre to run its unbeaten streak to five (3-0-1-1). Center Martin St. Pierre recorded an IceHogs season-high five points (2g-3a).

St. Pierre began the scoring when he slapped in a power-play goal past Josh Tordjman at 15:01. The power-play tally was the first of a season-high five for Rockford. Hogs defenseman Cam Barker added to Rockford’s lead before the intermission blasting his third goal of the campaign in on a 5-on-3 advantage.

In the second frame, Rockford extended its lead to 4-0. Rookie Jonathan Paiement tallied his second goal in as many games, poking a rebound past Tordjman at 3:15. Winger Mike Blunden then knocked in his fifth goal of the season at 6:03 while the Hogs skated on a power play.

The Rampage tried to climb back into the game with a power-play tally of their own. Center Joel Perrault shot in a set up pass from Enver Lisen at 11:12 past Corey Crawford, cutting the Rockford lead to 4-1. But Jordan Hendry and the IceHogs responded at 12:52. Hendry fired in his first goal of the season on a three-on-two breakaway set up by Kris Versteeg and St. Pierre.

Chris Durno reduced the Rampage deficit to 5-2 before the second intermission, batting in his fifth goal of the campaign at 15:51. The second frame not only contained a lot of goals, but also a bunch of penalty minutes. A line brawl broke out at 4:58 of the frame that resulted in game misconducts for Rockford’s Prestin Ryan and Troy Brouwer and San Antonio’s Olivier Latendresse and Cam Paddock.

In the third period the Rampage made it a two-goal affair when Branden Bell slid his fourth goal of the season past Crawford at 3:54. That’s as close as San Antonio would get as Rockford tacked on three more goals.

Petri Kontiola put the Hogs up 6-3 at 6:31 and then 10-minutes later St. Pierre buried his second power-play goal of the night. Winger Adam Berti finished the scoring and the Rampage at 17:50 potting his second goal of the season.

The Hogs out-shot San Antonio 39-28 and the two teams combined for an IceHogs season high 180 penalty minutes, including 104 by the Rampage. Rockford finished the night 5-for-14 on the power play while the Rampage went 2-for-9.

Next Home Game: Friday, Nov. 23 vs. Quad City Flames. Game time is 7:30 p.m. Rockford’s old foes come to town for the first time this season. Rockford and Quad City renew their rivalry at the Rockford MetroCentre the day after Thanksgiving. The first 1,000 fans to the game will receive a replica IceHogs Championship ring statue from Dental Dimensions, WTVO-TV channel 17 and FOX-39. Also, fans who bring three or more non-perishable food items to donate to the Salvation Army Food Drive will receive a free $9 voucher to an upcoming IceHogs game.