WEEK 21 RECAP: ICEHOGS EARN CRUCIAL WIN IN MILWAUKEE AND TAKE WEEKEND POINT

Week 21 Results:
Wednesday, February 24: Rockford 6 at Milwaukee 4
Friday, February 26: Rockford 4 at Lake Erie 5
Saturday, February 27: Rockford 2 at Lake Erie 3 (OT)

Week 22 Schedule:
Wednesday, March 2: Rockford at Grand Rapids, 6 p.m.
Saturday, March 5: Lake Erie vs. Rockford, 7 p.m.
Sunday, March 6: Lake Erie vs. Rockford, 4 p.m.

Week 21 Recap:
The Rockford IceHogs picked up half of six possible points in Week 21 to hold onto their top spot in the Central Division. A six-goal outburst helped the IceHogs break a first-place tie with the Admirals before the team took a regulation and overtime loss in Lake Erie. Vince Hinostroza had five points (3g-2a) during the week in his return to the team from the Chicago Blackhawks. The three games were a part of a season-long five-game road trip, which will culminate with a visit to Grand Rapids this Wednesday.

Bacon Bits:
-Rockford scored six goals for the fourth time this season in Wednesday’s 6-4 win over the Milwaukee Admirals
-The IceHogs also tied their season-low in shots (19) in the victory
-Vince Hinostroza had five points (3g-2a) in his first three games with the team since returning from the Chicago Blackhawks
-Hinostroza’s five points vaulted him into the team lead with 32 (13g-19a)
-Including his final game before his recall to the Blackhawks, Hinostroza is riding a four-game point streak (3g-3a)
-Mark McNeill scored twice in Week 21 and ranks second on the team in goals with 15
-Center Tanner Kero leads the IceHogs in goals (16), and is riding a three-game point streak (3g-3a)
-Kero had his third two-goal game of the season in Week 21, while Hinostroza had his second
-The two-goal performance by Kero marked the 10th time an IceHog has done so, but no Rockford player has scored a hat trick this season
-Mike Liambas took over the team lead in penalty minutes (102) with 13 PIM in the week’s three games
-Liambas has taken at least one penalty in five consecutive games dating back to Feb. 19 vs. Manitoba, a season-long streak for the IceHogs
-The team scored twice on the power play in Week 21, including a 5-on-3 goal from Bryan Bickell
-The tally on the two-man advantage improved the team’s 5-on-3 conversion rate to 30% (3-for-10)
-Rockford is the only team in the Western Conference with 10 overtime and shootout losses (six OT, four SO)
-Four of the team’s last eight losses have come in overtime
-Goaltender Mac Carruth had 35 saves in Saturday’s overtime loss to the Monsters, the most by any Hogs goaltender since Michael Leighton saved 35 Chicago Wolves shots on Dec. 19
-Rockford allowed the quickest goal against in a period on Friday when Josh Anderson scored 25 seconds into the middle frame for Lake Erie
-The IceHogs and Monsters combined for five goals in the second period of Friday’s contest, which tied a season-high for Rockford
-Rockford allowed shorthanded goals to Lake Erie in consecutive games, and has been scored against on its power play three times in the last five games
-The IceHogs nearly came back from a third period deficit on Saturday, but fell to 0-11-3-0 when trailing after two periods of play

Hot Hog: Week 21
Vince Hinostroza Center (3GP, 3G, 2A, 5 PTS, +4)

Vince Hinostroza came back to the IceHogs lineup in a big way in Week 21, notching three goals and two assists following his stint with the Chicago Blackhawks. Hinostroza put the Milwaukee Admirals away with two goals 23 seconds apart on Wednesday in Rockford’s 6-4 win, and had a highlight reel pass to set up the game-tying goal which forced overtime on Saturday at Lake Erie. His five points helped him take the team lead (32), and he is currently riding a four-game point streak dating back to Feb. 12.

Upcoming Games:
Wednesday, March 2 at Grand Rapids Griffins: Game starts at 6 p.m. The IceHogs make their final regular season trip to Van Andel Arena to take on the Griffins. Rockford has gone 2-3-1-0 versus Grand Rapids this season.

Saturday, March 5 vs. Lake Erie Monsters: Contest begins at 7 p.m. Rockford returns to the BMO Harris Bank Center for a rematch of last weekend’s set versus Lake Erie. Vienna Beef is sponsoring Scott Darling Bobblehead Night for the first 2,500 fans. All seats for the game have been sold, with limited standing room only tickets remaining.

Sunday, March 6 vs. Lake Erie Monsters: Puck drops at 4 p.m. The IceHogs wrap up a pair of back-to-back games versus the Monsters. The team will host a postgame skate on the BMO Harris Bank Center ice for fans who bring skates to the game.

The IceHogs Broadcasting Network:
Catch every IceHogs game, home and road, in 2015-16 on WIFR’s “Justice Network” on 23.3. The games can also be viewed on Comcast Cable channel 434, Charter Cable channel 194 or Mediacom 102 in the Rockford market and online through AHLLive.com. Every broadcast on WIFR will start with “IceHogs Warm Up” 30 minutes prior to puck drop. Fans can also listen to the action for free at WXRX.com. For a complete listing of TV stations carrying IceHogs games, visit IceHogs.com.

Tickets On Sale for 2015-2016!
IceHogs individual game tickets are now on sale! Call (815) 968-5222 to reserve your seats for any IceHogs regular season game during the 2015-16 season. Tickets can also be purchased online, in person at the BMO Harris Bank Center Box Office in downtown Rockford, or any Ticketmaster outlet, including Walmart.