Rookie nets two markers in 5-3 win

Charlotte, N.C.-For the second time in three weeks the Rockford IceHogs split a two-game set at the Time Warner Cable Arena against the Charlotte Checkers as the Hogs pulled out a 5-3 win on Saturday night.

Rockford grabbed the game's first goal once again on Saturday. Joakim Nordstrom fired a pass into the Checkers slot in transition and Garret Ross was there to one-time home his fifth goal of the season at 7:15.

Later in the frame Brendan Woods tied the game when he fired home is third goal of the season over the shoulder of Kent Simpson at 15:47 from the bottom of the left faceoff circle.

Rockford reclaimed the lead with a second period-power play goal. Terry Broadhurst spotted Brad Winchester back door and Winchester fired home his sixth marker of the season into an open Charlotte net at 2:07.

Another pretty set up stretched Rockford's lead to 3-1. While skating 4-on-4, Klas Dahlbeck slipped a pass to Nordstrom in front of Mike Murphy and he buried his sixth goal of the season at 11:12 of the second frame.

Ross tallied his second marker of the game at 16:30 of the period when Adam Clendening found him on the weak post, moving the IceHogs lead to 4-1, the eventual game-winning goal.

The Hogs couldn't get out the frame with a three goal lead, however, as the Checkers tallied on the advantage with less than a second left in the period. Mark Flood picked up a clear out attempt and beat a stickless Simpson for his eighth goal of the season.

Dahlbeck buried his third empty net goal, and seventh overall, while the IceHogs were shorthanded at 19:45 of the third period to make it 5-2 before A.J. Jenks tallied his first marker of the season at 19:51.

Simpson earned the win by making 30 saves while Murphy took the loss after blocking 27 Rockford shots.

Next Home Game: Friday, Dec. 13 vs. Oklahoma City Barons at 7 p.m. The first 2,500 fans through the gates will get a BMO Harris Bank Hubert Doll as the IceHogs open a two-game weekend set against the Barons. For tickets, call (815) 968-5222, visit IceHogs.com or in person at the BMO Harris Bank Center or any Ticketmaster location.