The IceHogs played in 2 games before going into the Christmas break. The contests didn’t go the way they would’ve liked as they faced 2 Midwest Division rivals on the road and at home.
On Friday, December 20th, the IceHogs were in Grand Rapids to take on the Griffins. Kent Simpson was back in net for Rockford as he had just been sent back down from the Blackhawks. Despite battling back to tie the game up twice on goals from Philippe Lefebvre and Brad Winchester, the Hogs fell to the Griffins 3-2 in overtime.
-The Griffins outshot the IceHogs 35-33.
-Rockford went 1-for-7 on the power play; the Griffins went 2-for-5.
-Defensemen Klas Dahlbeck and Adam Clendening both registered a team high 5 shots on goal for Rockford.
-The 3 stars of the game were: 1 — Mitch Callahan (GWG, +1, 4 SOG) 2 — Jeff Hoggan (2 G, 6 SOG, 4 PIMs) 3 – Tom McCollum (31 saves).
–Klas Dahlbeck played in his 100th AHL game on Friday night.
-The IceHogs’ scratches were: Brad Mills, Viktor Svedberg (both injured), Wade Brookbank, Byron Froese and Allen York (all healthy).
The following night, the IceHogs welcomed the Milwaukee Admirals into the BMO Harris Bank Center for the Hogs’ last game before their Christmas break. The game got off to a good start as Joakim Nordstrom scored a power play goal at 11:24 of the 1st period, but the Ads battled back and took the game 3-1.
-Rockford outshot Milwaukee 35-31; Kent Simpson was in net again for Rockford.
-The IceHogs went 1-for-6 on the power play and killed off 6 of Milwaukee’s 7 man advantages.
-IceHogs winger Jeremy Morin led the team with 5 shots on goal on Saturday night.
-IceHogs defenseman Jared Nightingale skated in his 350th AHL game on Saturday.
-The 3 stars of the game were: 1 – Scott Darling (34 saves) 2 – Simon Moser (1 G, 1 A, +1, 3 SOG) 3 – Joakim Nordstrom (1 G, 1 SOG).
-The IceHogs’ scratches were: Brad Mills, Viktor Svedberg (both injured), Byron Froese and Theo Peckham (both healthy).
TRANSACTIONS
–Thursday, December 19 – The IceHogs loaned forwards Pat Mullane and Maxim Shalunov to the Toledo Walleye (ECHL). The Blackhawks reassigned goaltender Kent Simpson to the IceHogs and recalled goaltender Jason LaBarbera.
–Saturday, December 21 – The IceHogs released goaltender Allen York from his PTO. After their game on Saturday night, the Hogs recalled forwards Pat Mullane and Maxim Shalunov from Toledo.
OBSERVATIONS
–Kent Simpson played pretty well for the Hogs this weekend after backing-up Antti Raanta in Chicago for a bit—at least from what I saw on Saturday. He had no chance on the go-ahead goal for Milwaukee in that game; the screen on him was absolutely brilliant and he never saw the shot.
–Phillip Danault was back in action this weekend and sported a full cage on his helmet. Despite missing 4 games, he didn’t miss a beat. He still was going hard every shift, getting his nose dirty, pursuing the puck, etc.
–Joakim Nordstrom has been playing extremely well for the IceHogs as of late in all situations, whether it’s on the power play, the penalty kill, or just at even strength. He’s been going to the front of the net and has been putting himself in prime position to grab rebounds or tip pucks into the net.
-The lines and D pairs from Saturday’s game were:
Garret Ross – Brandon Pirri – Jeremy Morin
Brandon Mashinter – Drew LeBlanc – Philippe Lefebvre
Brad Winchester – Phillip Danault – Joakim Nordstrom
Terry Broadhurst – Alex Broadhurst – Mark McNeill
Klas Dahlbeck – Adam Clendening
Wade Brookbank – Jared Nightingale
Brett Skinner – Bobby Shea
WHAT’S NEXT FOR ROCKFORD?
Thursday, December 26 at Iowa at 7:05 pm
Friday, December 27 vs. Grand Rapids at 7 pm
Monday, December 30 vs. Charlotte at 7 pm
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, everyone!
