Hogs fight back to even road trip record to 3-3-0-0
Oklahoma City, Ok.-On paper, the Rockford IceHogs seemed to be outmatched by the Oklahoma City Barons, especially after falling behind 1-0 after the first period. But Rockford battled back and grabbed a 2-1 overtime win over the Western Conference’s top team at the Cox Convention Center.
Down 1-0 entering the third period Philippe Paradis tied the game 15:07 into the final frame. Brandon Segal sprung Paradis up the right wing and the rookie winger broke away from the Barons defense and slipped his second goal of the season under Yann Danis.
In the overtime, Ben Smith won a face-off to Brian Fahey in the OKC zone, and the veteran d-man’s slap shot from the point was deflected by Smith past Danis for his 11th goal of the campaign, winning it in overtime for Rockford at 2:50.
It was the second time in less than a week that Rockford won a game when trailing after the second period as they did it in Texas last Sunday over the Stars. Rockford started the season 0-16-1-0 when trailing after two while the Barons were 15-0-1-0 when leading after the second period and 13-0-0-0 when holding a lead after the first stanza.
Rockford held Oklahoma City to just two shots on goal in the first period on Friday, but one of those shots found the back of the net for the frame’s only marker. In transition, Mark Arcobello picked up a Hunter Tremblay pass and beat Carter Hutton at 14:22 for his fourth goal of the season.
Hutton earned the win making 18 saves while holding the opposition to less than two goals for just the second time this season. Rockford flung 23 shots on Danis who turned away 21 of them.
Next Home Game: Monday, Jan. 16 vs. Texas Stars. Game time is 1:05 p.m. The IceHogs return home for the first time in more than two weeks for the annual Martin Luther King Jr. matinee game to take on the Stars for the second and final time at the BMO Harris Bank Center. The first 1,500 kids 14 and under will pick up an IceHogs Drawstring Bag courtesy of Frito Lay.
For every goal that the Rockford IceHogs score in 2011-12, IceHogs head coach Ted Dent will make a donation to children’s cancer research. BMO Harris Bank will also make a donation for every goal to the “BMO Harris Bank Goals For Grades”