After winning two consecutive games, the IceHogs dropped three straight contests to follow up as an encore. Another losing streak is something the club doesn’t need as they continue to push for a playoff spot.
The IceHogs hosted the Abbotsford Heat in a school day matinee (11 am start) on Wednesday, January 15th and the home squad got off to a good start. The Hogs lead 2-0 going into the second period on tallies from Brad Winchester and Garret Ross (PPG) and then took at 3-1 lead into the third period courtesy of a Brandon Mashinter power play marker. The Heat were able to rally back and tie the game in the final frame to send the tilt into overtime, where Markus Grandlund scored the game winning goal for the visitors, causing the IceHogs to lose 4-3.
-The IceHogs outshot the Heat 35-33; Jason LaBarbera was in net for Rockford and Joey MacDonald was in net for Abbotsford.
-The IceHogs scored on two of their four power plays and the Heat scored on two of their three man advantages.
–Jeremy Morin led the IceHogs with eight shots on goal.
–Jared Nightingale donned the Captain’s “C” for the first time this season in a game.
-The three stars of the game were: 1 – Chad Billins (1 G, 2 A, +2, 3 SOG) 2 – Garret Ross (1 G, 1 A, -1, 3 SOG) 3 – Evan Trupp (1 G, +2, 1 SOG).
-The scratches for Rockford were: Brad Mills, Brandon Pirri (both injured), Byron Froese, Wade Brookbank and Bobby Shea (all healthy).
The IceHogs traveled down to the Allstate Arena on Saturday night for a match-up against the Chicago Wolves. After falling behind 1-0 at the 15:33 mark of the opening frame, Rockford was able to tie it up 1:06 later with Pat Mullane’s third goal of the season. Jason LaBarbera and Jake Allen held the rest of the game scoreless until the 12:31 mark of the third period when Ty Rattie deflected in a Dmitrij Jaskin shot from the point to put the Wolves up 2-1 and the home team wouldn’t look back.
-The Wolves outshot the IceHogs 36-24.
-The IceHogs were not able to score on any of their four power plays and they killed off the Wolves’ lone man advantage of the game.
–Jeremy Morin, Alex Broadhurst, Pat Mullane and Klas Dahlbeck all fired a team high three shots on goal for the IceHogs on Saturday night.
-The three stars of the game were: 1 – Ty Rattie (GWG, 4 SOG) 2 – Jason LaBarbera (34 saves) 3 – Nathan Longpre (1 G, +1, 1 SOG).
-The scratches for the IceHogs were: Brad Mills, Brandon Pirri (both injured), Byron Froese, Wade Brookbank, Bobby Shea (all healthy) and Zach Miskovic (had not arrived yet from trade).
For the second time in less than a week, the IceHogs held an afternoon game at the BMO Harris Bank Center as they took on the Toronto Marlies at 1 pm on Monday. Despite scoring the first goal of the game as Alex Broadhurst deflected in a Viktor Svedberg shot from the point, the Hogs gave up three goals in the second and third periods to fall behind 3-1. Joakim Nordstrom tallied a power play goal at 12:42 of the final frame to bring the Hogs within one, but the Marlies were able to hang on and win the game 3-2.
-The IceHogs outshot the Marlies 42-22; Jason LaBarbera was in net for Rockford and Drew MacIntyre was in net for the Marlies.
-The IceHogs scored on only one of their six power plays and the Marlies converted on two of their seven man advantages.
–Terry Broadhurst led the IceHogs with eight shots on goal.
–Zach Miskovic made his IceHogs debut on Monday and recorded an assist on Alex Broadhurst’s goal and was +1. He donned Dylan Olsen’s old no. 3 on his jersey.
-The three stars of the game were: 1—Spencer Abbott (G, 2 A, +1, 2 SOG) 2 – Drew MacIntyre (40 saves) 3 – Joakim Nordstrom (G, 1 SOG, 5 PIMs [he fought Sam Carrick in the second period]).
-The scratches for the IceHogs were: Brad Mills, Brandon Pirri (both injured), Theo Peckham, Bobby Shea, Wade Brookbank and Byron Froese (all healthy).
-The lines and D pairs for Rockford were:
Garret Ross – Joakim Nordstrom – Jeremy Morin
Brad Winchester – Alex Broadhurst – Mark McNeill
Brandon Mashinter – Drew LeBlanc – Terry Broadhurst
Pat Mullane – Phillip Danault – Philippe Lefebvre
Klas Dahlbeck – Adam Clendening
Viktor Svedberg – Zach Miskovic
Brett Skinner – Jared Nightingale
TRANSACTIONS
–Friday, January 17—The IceHogs traded for San Antonio defenseman Zach Miskovic for future considerations.
OBSERVATIONS
–Pat Mullane has been playing with more confidence lately for Rockford ever since he scored his first AHL goal on January 5th. Including that game, he has three goals in seven games after going scoreless in 26 games. He has also been used on the penalty kill all season long. It’s good for the Hogs to have a first year professional player start to come to life offensively during this stretch of hockey.
–Brandon Mashinter has been used on the power play in the last few games and he has been used effectively. He goes right to the front of the net and provides a great screen on the goaltender with his big body.
-After putting up six goals against Lake Erie on Saturday of last week, the IceHogs’ offense became pretty quiet this week and lacked getting clutch goals that gave the team boosts of energy and momentum. Overall, it’s not that the Hogs haven’t been playing well this last stretch, they just haven’t been able to come up with the big goals or big momentum changers to turn a game in their favor the past three games.
-The IceHogs’ record is currently 18-19-4-2 (42 points) and they sit in the eighth spot in the Western Conference standings
WHAT’S NEXT FOR ROCKFORD?
Friday, January 24 at Milwaukee at 7 pm
Saturday, January 25 vs. Milwaukee at 7 pm (Pink in the Rink at the BMO)
Sunday, January 26 at Milwaukee (again) at 5 pm
