STRONG SECOND PERIOD LEADS ROCKFORD TO 4-2 WIN

Bickell nets three points for Rockford in the win

San Antonio, Tex. – Three unanswered goals in the second period helped Rockford (14-5-1-2) erase a 2-0 deficit en route to an eventual 4-2 win over the San Antonio Rampage (11-4-6-0) on Friday night at the AT&T Center. Both Bryan Bickell (1g-2a) and Jake Dowell (1g-1a) finished with multiple points for the IceHogs.

An early first period power play helped the Rampage get on the board. Colin Smith found Andrew Agozzino wide-open in the right circle, and the Rampage forward blasted the puck into the top right corner for the power play strike.

Ryan Hartman nearly tied the game moments later, but his wrist shot from the high slot rang off the right post to preserve the San Antonio lead. The Rampage took the 1-0 advantage into the first intermission.

Another power play goal from the Rampage pushed their lead to 2-0. Mikko Rantanen collected the puck in the right corner and found Joey Hishon streaking to the net. Hishon blasted a one-timer past Mark Visentin to double the lead.

Jake Dowell got the IceHogs on the board just 1:36 later. With Jeremy Morin on the forecheck, the winger knocked a puck free behind the net to Bryan Bickell in the left corner. Bickell found Dowell in the slot and the IceHogs alternate captain fired a five-hole shot to cut the lead to 2-1.

Rockford evened the score with a power-play goal of their own. Ville Pokka took the puck at the right point and rocketed a slap shot between the arm and body of Calvin Pickard with Morin camped out in front of the goaltender at 10:48 of the frame.

Ryan Hartman gave the IceHogs the lead with 4:18 to go in the period. Dowell fed a pass to Garret Ross, who bounced the puck towards the right post where Hartman swatted it out of mid-air to give Rockford a 3-2 lead heading into the final stanza. The IceHogs limited the Rampage to three shots on goal during the second period.

Rockford put the game away 4:02 into the third. After taking a hard hit along the boards and drawing a delayed penalty, Morin moved the puck the Bickell streaking up the wing. Bickell fired a shot off the goalpost but got to his own rebound and knocked it into the back of the net to double the advantage with his third point of the game.

Visentin earned his second road win of the season stopping 20 of 22 for Rockford while Pickard turned aside 28 of the 32 IceHogs shots fired at the net.

Next Home Game: Friday, Dec. 11 vs. Iowa Wild at 7 p.m. Rockford returns home after a five-game road trip to battle the Iowa Wild. The first 1,000 fans 21-and-older will receive an IceHogs Beer Stein courtesy of Bud Light. Doors will open at 5:15 p.m. for a Blues Flame Lounge Friday. Fans 21-and-older are invited to enjoy live blues music, a happy hour special, and free appetizers at the Blue Flame Lounge on the main concourse.