TEDDY BEARS FLY, HOGS FALL 2-1

IceHogs drop a 2-1 contest to Chicago

Rockford, Ill. – Over 5,000 teddy bears flew on to the ice after the Rockford IceHogs netted their first goal Saturday night at the BMO Harris Bank Center, but the Chicago Wolves came back to top the Hogs, 2-1, in front of 5,350 fans.

Kyle Beach gave Rockford an early 1-0 advantage as fans sent 5,526 teddy bears onto the ice. Peter LeBlanc set Beach up to snipe his eighth goal of the season past Matt Climie with 1:28 left in the first period.

The Wolves got the goal back in the second period while on the power play. Kevin Connauton took a shot that rebounded right in front to Andrew Ebbett on the doorstep, and he knocked it past Carter Hutton to knot the score at 1-1 at the 4:53 mark.

Chicago took the lead seven minutes into the third period. Darren Haydar swiped in his first goal of the season off of a Bill Sweatt shot to make it the eventual 2-1 final, snapping the IceHogs four-game winning streak.

Hutton turned away 34 Chicago shots, and the special teams killed off seven of eight Wolves power plays, including two 5-on-3 opportunities. On the season, Rockford’s penalty kill unit has killed off all 12 of the 5-on-3 advantages they’ve faced.

The IceHogs finish out the weekend in Grand Rapids for a 3 p.m. contest on Sunday with the Griffins.