Week 13 Report: Ready to Rebound After Rare Stumble

BACON BITS

The Rockford IceHogs have dropped three straight games for just the second time this season and first since opening the campaign with a three-game skid from Oct. 4-14. Rockford has now posted just three losing streaks through the first 31 games of the season, while in-turn notching a pair of four-game winning streaks and one three-game winning streak.

Rockford has been limited to two goals per game during its current skid. The IceHogs are 15-0-0-1 when scoring more than two goals on the season, but are 2-13-0-0 with two or fewer goals.

Dennis Gilbert scored his first career NHL goal with Chicago Friday against the Islanders. Entering the week, nine IceHogs skaters from the 2019-20 season have earned a recall to the Blackhawks through the first three months of the season and four have scored at least one goal for Chicago (Boqvist-1g, Gilbert-1g; Highmore-1g; Dach-6g).

The IceHogs have scored a power-play goal in a season-high four straight games after Tyler Sikura extended the streak with his PPG Sunday at Manitoba. With the marker, Rockford has now scored five power-play goals over its last six games and six power-play goals over the last eight contests since Dec. 10.

Brandon Hagel became the first IceHogs skater this season to bag double-digit goals when potted his 10th marker of the season during Friday's contest vs. the Wild. Hagel scored his first goal of the season on Nov. 3 and is fourth among all AHL rookies in goals over that span.

Lucas Carlsson finished last week's schedule with three points (3a) in two games. The blueliner is averaging nearly a point per game since the beginning of November with 14 points (3g, 11a) in 16 contests. Since November, Carlsson is second among all AHL blueliners in points/game (min. 15 games) with his .88 points/game trailing only Utica's Brogan Rafferty (24 points, 25 games, .96 points/game).

Tyler Sikura posted two points in two games last week with a goal and assist. Through 31 contests this season, Sikura has already matched his point production (19 points) from the entire 2018-19 season (50 games).

UPCOMING GAMES

Tuesday, Dec. 31 | Rockford at Manitoba (4 p.m.) The IceHogs cap the 2019 calendar year with a road matchup against the Moose. Rockford is 1-2-0-0 thus far in the series, most recently suffering a 3-2 loss on Sunday.

Friday, Jan. 3 | Rockford at Iowa (7 p.m.) The Hogs complete a three-game road trip with Friday's contest at Wells Fargo Arena. Rockford is 1-2-0-0 against the Wild this year and is searching first its first road win in the series.

Sunday, Jan. 5 | Rockford vs Chicago (4 p.m.) The IceHogs return to the BMO Harris Bank Center for an Illinois Lottery Cup Series showdown against the Wolves. The first 2,500 fans will receive a pack of this year's team card set, courtesy of Gizmo's Sports Cards. In addition, fans can take the ice with their favorite IceHogs players during the Postgame Skate with the Hogs (please note, fans must provide their own skates as rentals are not available). Papa John's Sunday Family 4 Packs are also available for purchase by calling (815) 968-5222.