Week 22 Report: Hogs Play Chutes and Ladders in Central Division Standings

BACON BITS

KEEP 'ER GOING
The Rockford IceHogs pieced together a four-game win streak against the Grand Rapids Griffins from Nov. 16-Jan. 15, which tied for the longest winning streak against the Griffins since the IceHogs took seven straight from April 1-Dec. 23, 2017, but have since dropped two in a row to fall to 4-4-0-0 against Grand Rapids in 2019-20. Rockford has not lost the season series to the Griffins since 2016-17 when they went 3-7-0-0; since then, the IceHogs have gone 17-10-1-0.

BACK AT IT AGAIN
The IceHogs begin their second stretch of three games in three nights when they host the Griffins on Friday before visiting Grand Rapids on Saturday and heading to Rosemont to pay the Chicago Wolves a visit on Sunday. Including the upcoming weekend, Rockford has seven sets of back-to-back games remaining across the final 16 games of the season. So far in 2019-20, Rockford is 8-6-0-2 in the opening night of consecutive games, 6-7-1-0 in the second night and 0-1-0-0 in the third night.

I SAY RIP IT! RIP IT GOOD!
At the time of his recall to the Chicago Blackhawks on Dec. 7, Dylan Sikura led the entire AHL in shots on goal with 99 through 22 contests. He's now fired 34 shots across his last eight appearances, including at least four in seven of those eight games to climb back up to 13th in the league in shots with 159 through 42 games. However, he is the only skater in the AHL this season to have put over 150 shots on goal in fewer than 45 games. He's also recorded at least three shots on goal in 31 of his 42 contests in 2019-20.

BRENN THERE, DONE THAT
Defenseman T.J. Brennan suited up for the IceHogs on Feb. 26 for the first time since he played 54 games with Rockford in the 2014-15 campagin. He now usurps Garrett Mitchell as the most experienced player on the roster with 676 AHL games under his belt while Mitchell possesses 414. Brennan dished an assist in his return to the Hogs to mark his first point since Dec. 14. He leads all IceHogs skaters in career points against Grand Rapids with 22 (11g, 11a) through 18 contests.

GOTTA GET ON THE GOOD FOOT
The IceHogs fell to the San Antonio Rampage on Sunday after being tied 0-0 heading into the first intermission. Rockford boasts a record of 11-3-1-0 this season when leading after the opening frame but is just 10-12-0-2 when tied after one and 7-14-0-0 when trailing after one for a combined 17-26-0-2 when entering the first intermission tied or trailing.

HOT N COLD
From the IceHogs' season-opener on Oct. 4 through Dec. 20, the IceHogs held an overall record of 17-10-0-1 and reached as high as second place in the Central Division. However, from Dec. 21 through Feb. 1, Rockford won just three matchups, going 3-14-1-1 in that span and falling to sixth place in the division. But, the club has since righted the ship by winning eight of their last 13 since Feb. 4, jumping into a tie for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Central.

HEY, CARL...GOOD TO SEE YOU!
Lucas Carlsson made his NHL debut with the Chicago Blackhawks on Feb. 23 against the Dallas Stars after being recalled on Feb. 22. He became the 120th IceHogs alum to reach the NHL and the 89th to go from Rockford to the Blackhawks. Prior to his recall, Carlsson pieced together a seven-game point streak from Feb. 4 to Feb. 18 in which he tallied nine points (1g, 8a) to tie for the longest point streak ever recorded by an IceHogs defenseman in AHL history. Adam Clendening previously set the record when he recorded nine points (1g, 8a) across seven games from Feb. 24-March 15, 2013.

Friday, March 6 vs. Grand Rapids Griffins | 7 p.m.
Join the Hogs for Country Night at the BMO on Friday, March 6 at 7:00, presented by Texas Roadhouse, 95.3 "The Bull" and Bud Light! The evening features performances by the Ethan Bell Band and a bandana giveaway to the first 1,500 fans in attendance. Upper End Zone tickets can be purchased for just $9.53 HERE, courtesy of 95.3 "The Bull," and all other tickets can be purchased HERE. Also, as with all Friday home contests this season, fans can pick up Bud Lights for just $2 at most concession stands on the concourse through the end of the second intermission.