Wild’s Fast Start Proves Too Much for IceHogs

ROCKFORD, Ill. – Brandon Hagel and Anton Wedin each scored in a comeback effort, but the Rockford IceHogs ultimately fell to the Iowa Wild 6-2 at the BMO Harris Bank Center on Friday.

The Wild jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first minute of the game, with Colton Beck scoring 22 seconds in and Gerald Mayhew tallying exactly 30 seconds later.

Rockford cut the lead in half with 2:19 remaining in the opening frame when Lucas Carlsson walked in from the point and delivered a bullet toward Brandon Hagel, who deflected the rubber over the shoulder of Wild goaltender, Kaapo Kahkonen.

Unfortunately, Iowa’s Dmitry Sokolov restored the two-goal lead just prior to the end of the period to give the visiting club the 3-1 advantage.

After a scoreless second period, the Wild turned it on again in the the third as Brandon Duhaime, Mayhew and Luke Johnson each tallied to make it 6-1.

The IceHogs added a goal late in regulation when Wedin tipped home a Carlsson point shot, but it was too late as the Wild skated away with the 6-2 victory.

This marks the first time the IceHogs have lost back-to-back games since Oct. 25-26.

GAME NOTES:

Rockford's home losses on Dec. 21 and tonight mark the first time the club has lost back-to-back home games since the first two home matchups of the season (Oct. 12-14).

With Brandon Hagel's power play marker, the IceHogs have now scored four goals on the man advantage in the last five games and five goals over the last seven.

Lucas Carlsson has skated to an even-or-better plus/minus rating in 14 of the last 15 games since the beginning of November. He is a combined +13 over that span and is tied for third in the AHL in plus/minus since the beginning of last month.