Chicago Wolves @ Rockford IceHogs ... 1-16

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AHL/Game Stats -
http://stats.theahl.com/stats/text-game-report.php?game_id=1005371

Chicago Wolves 3 at Rockford IceHogs 2 - Status: Final

Jan 16, 2009 - Rockford MetroCentre

1st Period:
Scoring - 1. Rockford, P. Pelletier (20) (N. Hjalmarsson) 17:13
Penalties - A. Archer Rfd (interference) 10:52, J. Skille Rfd (roughing) 14:10

2nd Period:
Scoring - 2. Chicago, J. Motzko (24) (J. Hamilton, G. Stevenson) 9:04
3. Chicago, B. Skinner (2) (J. Hamilton, J. Motzko) 19:54 PP
Penalties - A. Pineault Rfd (high-sticking) 5:11, G. Lewis Chi (interference) 10:01, J. Sharrow Rfd (delay of game) 18:17, N. Hjalmarsson Rfd (tripping) 19:17

3rd Period:
Scoring - 4. Chicago, J. Hamilton (8) (C. Wilson, J. Motzko) 1:01 PP
5. Rockford, J. Sharrow (4) (D. Bertram, R. Klinkhammer) 17:23
Penalties - G. Lewis Chi (holding) 6:50, R. Holzapfel Chi (boarding) 15:19

CHI Shots: 14 13 6 TOTAL: 33
RFD Shots: 11 10 6 TOTAL: 27

Power Play Conversion:
Chicago Wolves 2-5
Rockford IceHogs 0-3.

Goaltenders:
Chicago Wolves -
Gherson 7-5-0 Start: 1st 0:00 Min: 59:58 SV: 25 GA: 2 [W]
Rockford IceHogs -
Niemi 9-10-2 Start: 1st 0:00 Min: 59:10 SV: 30 GA: 3 [L]

Attendance: 3600

Referee I: Frederic L'Ecuyer (48)
LINESMAN I: Aaron Mills (23)
LINESMAN II: Craig Kneale (86)

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IceHogs Website -
http://www.icehogs.com/news/index.html?article_id=1014

WOLVES BEAT HOGS 4-2 IN FINAL METROCENTRE MEETING

01/16/2009

Hogs are 4-1-0-0 against Wolves at home in 2008-09

Rockford, Ill.- The Chicago Wolves held off the Rockford IceHogs 3-2 in the final meeting of the regular season at the Rockford MetroCentre on Friday.

In the first period, winger Pascal Pelletier gave the IceHogs the lead off of a smart feed from Niklas Hjalmarsson at 17:13 in the first period. Pelletier now has 10 points (6g-4a) in his last six games.

Then Chicago’s Joe Motzko tied the score a 1-1 in the second period when he blasted the puck past Antti Niemi at 9:05 for his ninth goal this season against Rockford. Assists came from Jeff Hamilton and Grant Stevenson.

With the score tied, the Wolves took a two-goal advantage thanks to two power-play goals on two quick penalties to end the second frame.

"Our transition game dried up on us," said coach Bill Peters. "I thought we quit making plays as the game went along and we had a hard time moving the puck. We left the puck on the wall a lot and didn't make our plays."

Newcomer defenseman Brett Skinner gave the Wolves the lead at 19:54 in the second period on a 5-on-3 with assists from Hamilton and Motzko.

"They found seams against us tonight," said Peters. "I give them credit on that 5-on-3. It was a saucer pass back door on a nice seam and then finished it with a shot right under the bar."

On the other side of the intermission, Hamilton took his turn on a one-man advantage at 1:01 in the third. Clay Wilson and Motzko helped.

Jimmy Sharrow closed the gap to 3-2 at 17:23 with helpers from Dan Bertram and Rob Klinkhammer, but the Hogs couldn't complete the comeback.

The Wolves have scored 11 of their 29 power-play goals against the IceHogs this season including two on five opportunities on Friday. The IceHogs didn't convert on three chances.

Niemi had 30 saves in his first start since Jan. 7 against Grand Rapids.
Robert Gherson had 25 saves in the win.

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Wolves Website -
http://www.chicagowolves.com/news/features/index.html?article_id=794

WOLVES DODGE ICEHOGS, 3-2

01/16/2009 10:22 PM

ROCKFORD, Ill.---The Chicago Wolves came back from a 1-0 first period deficit, with three straight markers and held on to earn a 3-2 victory over the Rockford IceHogs at the Rockford MetroCentre Friday night.

Forwards Joe Motzko (G, 2A) and Jeff Hamilton (G, 2A) led the way with three points for Chicago and defenseman Brett Skinner, who was acquired in a trade with the New York Islanders on Tuesday, potted the other tally for the Wolves who picked up their first win in five tries in Rockford this season.

Rockford (21-16-0-4) recorded the first goal of the night with 2:47 remaining in the opening frame. Defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson broke away with the puck at center ice and passed it to left wing Pascal Pelletier, who skated up the slot and slipped a shot past Chicago netminder Robert Gherson.

Gherson (7-5-0) turned aside 25 of 27 shots in the win.

Chicago (21-19-2-1) drew even at 9:04 of the second period when Motzko collected a pass at the right circle and uncorked a rocket past Rockford goaltender Antti Niemi top shelf.

The Wolves gained the lead, 2-1 while on a two man-advantge at 19:54 of the middle frame. Skinner accepted a cross-ice feed from Hamilton at the door step and roofed a shot past Niemi.

Chicago increased its lead to two on the power play just over one minute into the third period. Defenseman Clay Wilson faked a shot, then slid the puck through the slot to Hamilton who quickly deposited the puck behind Niemi.

Niemi (9-10-0) posted 30 saves on 33 shots.

The IceHogs cut the Wolves lead to 3-2 when blueliner Jimmy Sharrow sent a one-timer past Gherson from the near circle at 17:23 of the final frame but Gherson shut the door the rest of the way.

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Rockford Newspaper -
http://www.rrstar.com/sports/pros/x1017443834/Power-play-goals-do-in-IceHogs-3-2

POWER-PLAY GOALS DO IN ICEHOGS 3-2

Doug Goodman-RRSTAR.COM

Posted Jan 17, 2009

ROCKFORD — Quick back-to-back penalties contributed to a 3-2 Rockford IceHogs loss to Chicago on Friday at the MetroCentre.

With the score tied at 1, Rockford collected two penalties in the final 1:43 of the second period.

Chicago’s Brett Skinner then scored a 5-on-3 goal from inside the right circle with six seconds left in the period.

The Wolves added another power-play goal 1:01 into the third period.

“That was the difference in the hockey game right there,” Rockford coach Bill Peters said of the power-play goals.

“(Chicago) was very consistent in their work ethic and execution tonight, much more so than we were.”

The Wolves peppered Rockford goalie Antti Niemi with 33 shots, compared with the IceHogs’ 27 shots on goal.

“He was solid,” Peters said of Niemi. “He made the saves he needed to make. Both goals on the power play were good plays by them.”

Rockford struck first when Pascal Pelletier scored on a two-on-one breakaway with 2:47 left in the opening period. Niklas Hjalmarsson put a pass in front of the net that Pelletier fired past Chicago goalie Robert Gherson.

Joe Motzko, Chicago’s leading scorer, tied the game with 10:54 left in the second period. It was his ninth goal in nine games against Rockford.

Trailing 3-1 after the power-play goals, the IceHogs gave the 3,600 fans reason to cheer with 2:37 left in the game.

Rockford’s Jimmy Sharrow scored his third goal of the season on a shot from the right circle with assists from Dan Bertram and Rob Klinkhammer.

However, Rockford was unable to beat Gherson in the closing minutes.

“We spent too much time in our zone,” Pelletier said. “We had a lot of chances for some good breakouts, but we shot ourselves in the foot by not making good decisions with the puck.”

The IceHogs were without right wing Jack Skille for the final two periods after he suffered a closed head injury.

Skille, who is listed as day to day, had combined with Pelletier for 19 points in the past six games.

“It changed things for sure,” Peters said of the injury. “It forced us to shuffle the deal a little bit and change the lines, but that happens in a 60-minute game.

“What it does, though, is provide an opportunity for other players to get some valuable ice time.”