Hogs earn another point on seven-game road swing
Toronto, Ont.-It had been nearly three months since the Rockford IceHogs had participated in a shootout. After a free-flowing regulation and overtime, Rockford fell 3-2 to the Toronto Marlies in the shootout at the Ricoh Coliseum on Tuesday.
After a scoreless overtime, the two clubs went to the shootout and the shootout rust showed for Rockford who missed all three of their attempts while Toronto converted on three of their four shooters to grab the extra point.
In the second period the IceHogs grabbed the 1-0 lead just 28-seconds into the frame. Camped out in front of Scrivens, rookie winger Ben Smith redirected his 12th goal of the season in off of a Shawn Lalonde point shot.
Toronto got the goal back later in the frame while skating on the power play. Mike Zigomanis picked up a Matt Lashoff rebound and fired his 12th goal of the season past Toivonen short-side at 18:08 of the stanza.
Early in the third period Toronto would lay claim to their first lead of the night. Juraj Mikus fired a shot from just inside the Rockford blueline and snuck his fourth goal of the season over the shoulder of Toivonen at 4:20.
Smith would strike again at 11:14 of the third period to tie the game at 2-2. Brian Connelly sent a point shot towards the net but it was deflected down to Smith. The rookie winger would then knock in his second tally of the night.
Toivonen faced a season high 43 shots on goal and made 41 saves in the shootout loss. Scrivens ended his night with 36 stops to earn the win.
Through five games of a seven-game road trip, Rockford moved their record to 2-1-1-1.
Next Home Game: Sunday, March 13, vs. Chicago Wolves. Puck drop is at 4:05 p.m. It’s the IceHogs 12th Annual Jersey Auction game. The Hogs will be wearing special jerseys commemorating first responders. After the game, the jerseys will be auctioned off to fans. Also, the first 2,500 fans to the game will receive a Jersey Auction T-Shirt compliments of WXRX.