SHAKY SECOND PERIOD DOES ROCKFORD IN

Rockford drops a 4-3 road test in Iowa

Des Moines, Iowa.- The second period has not been kind to the Rockford IceHogs in 2008-09 and on Tuesday a lackluster second frame derailed the IceHogs 4-3 against the Iowa Chops at the Wells Fargo Arena.

Rockford tallied the only goal in the first period. Rookie winger Mike Radja followed his own rebound and cashed in on his ninth goal of the season past David LeNeveu at 12:11 of the opening frame. Fellow rookies Nathan Davis and Brennan Turner helped on the goal. The assist marked the first career AHL point for Turner.

The second period belonged to Iowa as they potted four goals past Antti Niemi. T.J. Trevelyan tied the game at 1-1 1:03 into the period with a power-play goal. Trevelyan slipped his 12th goal of the season under Niemi.

Trevelyan later came back with his second marker of the frame firing his 13th goal of the season over Niemi’s shoulder off of an IceHogs turnover at 8:27.

The IceHogs responded, however, when Davis redirected a Danny Groulx slapshot past LeNeveu for his fifth goal of the season at 8:54, tying the score at 2-2. Adam Hobson also assisted on the goal.

Iowa reclaimed the lead, and added to it, late in the second frame. Ryan Dingle put the Chops back on top when he jammed a loose puck past Niemi at 18:00 of the period for his fifth goal of the campaign. Then just 55 seconds later Charlie Kronschnabel tallied his first career AHL goal to give Iowa a 4-2 lead after the second period.

Pascal Pelletier pulled Rockford back within one in the third period when he sniped his team-leading 21st goal of the season past LeNeveu set up by Groulx and Adam Pineault at 7:25.

Rockford controlled the third period from there but couldn’t solve LeNeveu the rest of the way including on a power play for the game’s final 1:43. The Chops puck stopper finished the game with 35 saves to earn the win.

Niemi was saddled with his fifth straight road loss after blocking 17 of 21 shots in two periods of work. Corey Crawford blocked all seven third period shots faced in relief.

Rockford finished the contest 0-6 on the power play while Iowa went 1-5.

Game Highlights
Radja's Goal
Trevelyan's First Goal
Davis Goal
Kronschnabel Game Winning Goal
Pelletier Goal

Next Home Game: Friday, Jan. 23 vs. Iowa Chops. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m. The IceHogs open a two game home stand before a lengthy road trip when Iowa comes to town. The IceHogs welcome Blackhawks legend Denis Savard to the game and the first 2,000 fans to the game will receive an IceHogs 10th Anniversary poster courtesy of Pepsi, Speedway Auto Mall, Johnson Press, Rasmussen College and Stanley Steemer.