WOLVES ATTACK ICEHOGS 7-1

Final road game ends in blowout

Rosemont, Ill.- If there is one thing that the Rockford IceHogs would like to improve on, it’s their performance in games after beating the Chicago Wolves. A night after topping Chicago 3-1 at the Rockford MetroCentre, Rockford was blown out at the Allstate Arena 7-1 on Saturday night.

Chicago grabbed the 1-0 lead when defenseman Brian Fahey banked a shot off of Corey Crawford’s pad and in at 10:22 of the first period. Joey Crabb and Brett Sterling helped on the goal.

The Wolves later went on a power play and used just seven seconds of it to make it 2-0. The AHL’s Most Valuable Player Jason Krog set up Sterling on the doorstep, and the Wolves winger tipped in his 37th goal of the campaign at 15:13.

Chicago lit another lamp early in the second period to take a 3-0 lead, Defenseman Joel Kwiatkowski blasted home his 19th goal of the season just 33 seconds into the period making it 3-0 Chicago.

Rockford got the goal back, however, with a power-play goal. Center Martin St. Pierre set up Troy Brouwer for his team-leading 34th goal of the season and league leading 25th on the power play at 2:55. Petri Kontiola also assisted on the goal to extend his point streak to 10-straight games.

As quick as Rockford got the goal back from Chicago, the Hogs handed another one right back. At 3:32 Nathan Oystrick chased Crawford from the game with his 15th goal of the season off of a feed from Jason Krog.

Mike Brodeur relieved Crawford but couldn’t keep the Wolves off of the board. At 19:34 of the third period, Krog blasted home his 37th goal of the campaign off of a Darren Haydar pass making it 5-1 at the second intermission.

The Wolves tacked on two more for good measure in the third period to complete the blowout. Kwiatkowski shelved his second of the night at 6:26 before Joey Crabb knocked in his eighth goal of the season at 11:20 to finish off the scoring.

Crawford has handed the loss after making 11 saves. Brodeur turned away 10 of 13 in relief. Robert Gherson stopped 22 Rockford shots to earn the win.

Next Home Game: Sunday, April 13 vs. Iowa Stars. Game time is 4:05 p.m. The 2007-08 regular season comes to a close on Sunday when Iowa makes its final visit to the MetroCentre. Sunday is Fan Appreciation Night with the IceHogs as the first 2,000 fans to the game will pick up an IceHogs Team Photo courtesy of Johnson Press. Also, the first 1,000 fans 21-and older will pick up an IceHogs Pint Glass from Bud Light. Following the game, the IceHogs present the ‘07-08 Team Awards and CoCo Key Water Park brings you this season’s final Skate With The IceHogs.