SANTA DELIVERS AGAIN FOR ROCKFORD

Klas Dahlbeck's third period goal pushes Hogs over Wolves

Rosemont, Ill.-After notching just one goal in 70 games a season ago, defenseman Klas Dahlbeck is finding his offense in his second American Hockey League campaign. The IceHogs coughed up a 3-0 lead, but Dahlbeck bailed them out with a late third period goal in a 5-3 win over the Chicago Wolves at the Allstate Arena on Friday.

IceHogs center Brad Winchester's wrap around attempt was denied by Wolves goalie Jake Allen and the puck found its way back to Dahlbeck at the left point where he blasted home his second tally of the season at 18:29 in the final frame. The goal came just 1:05 after Chicago's Evan Oberg tied the game at 3-3 with a power play goal.

Rookie Mark McNeill put the game out of reach with an empty net goal at 19:44.

Like last Friday in Lake Erie, Rockford hopped on the board early in the first period. Jimmy Hayes found Terry Broadhurst streaking to the Chicago net and Broadhurst fired his first goal of the season over the shoulder of Allen 47-seconds into the game.

Rockford kept the pressure on Allen in the Wolves zone and Jeremy Morin made it 2-0. Drew LeBlanc fed Morin in front of the Wolves' net and the winger knocked in his second goal of the season at 12:16.

For the second straight Friday night, the IceHogs carried a 3-0 lead into the first intermission. The lead was stretched to 3-0 after Hayes' backhanded shot slid under Allen and in at 14:47, set up by Alex Broadhurst and Adam Clendening.

Then, in the second, the Wolves didn't register their first shot on goal until 11:52 into the frame, but then picked up some momentum and a goal to cut into Rockford's lead. Tyler Shattock fired a shot from the right circle past Kent Simpson at 13:34 to make it 3-1.

Chicago held the momentum and a short-handed tally made it a 3-2 contest at the second intermission. Oberg fed Alexandre Bolduc on a two-on-one rush and Bolduc poked in his first goal of the season at 16:38. In the final 8:08 of the second stanza, the Wolves peppered Simpson with 12 shots on goal.

Friday's game was the final in a five-game road swing to open the season before Saturday's home opener at the BMO Harris Bank Center for Rockford. The IceHogs went 3-2-0-0 on the five-game swing.

Next Home Game: Saturday, Oct. 19 vs. Grand Rapids. Game time is 7 p.m. Rockford opens the home portion of their regular season schedule against the Griffins. The first 5,000 fans to the game will receive an IceHogs calendar courtesy of Stateline Staffing Services. For tickets, call (815) 968-5222, online through IceHogs.com or in person at the BMO Harris Bank Center Box Office or at any Ticketmaster outlet.