Battle vs. Red Hot Admirals Awaits IceHogs Tonight
January 26, 2024 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Rockford IceHogs News Release
MILWAUKEE, Wis.-The Rockford IceHogs tangle with the Central Division's best, and the league's hottest team, in the Milwaukee Admirals tonight. The matchup is the sixth of the season between the two rivals, and Rockford holds a 2-2-0-1 record through the previous five games.
Milwaukee has won eight straight games and has stitched together the longest active win streak in the AHL. The streak is also the second-longest in the league this season. The Admirals boast the fourth-highest scoring team in the league at 3.50 goals-for per game while also sporting the second-best defensive team in the league allowing just 2.58 goals-against per contest.
Mequon, Wisconsin native Anders Bjork will be back in his home state tonight playing in his 100th career AHL game. The forward has also seen action in 225 NHL contests.
2023-24 Season Records
Rockford: 16-16-3-1, 36 points (4th, Central)
Milwaukee: 25-10-1-0, 51 points (1st, Central)
Last Game vs. Milwaukee (Dec. 31 - W 4-3)
The Hogs topped the Admirals 4-3 at the BMO Center on New Year's Eve. David Gust scored the game-winner with five minutes left in the third after Milwaukee had tied the game just 18 seconds earlier. Rockford was 2-for-7 on the power play and goaltender Mitchell Weeks won his first appearance of the season.
Last Game (Jan. 24 - L 3-1 at Grand Rapids)
The IceHogs played a strong game but ultimately fell 3-1 to the Grand Rapids Griffins at Van Andel Arena on Wednesday. Rockford led 1-0 heading into the third, but Grand Rapids' three third-period scores were enough to lift the Griffins to victory. Mike Hardman became the third IceHogs player this season to reach double-digit goals when he scored his 10th of the year in the third period.
The Hogs were once again perfect on the penalty kill with a 2-for-2 effort against the fifth-best power play in the league. Rockford did not have a single power play throughout the net. Goaltender Drew Commesso shut down multiple 1-on-1 chances but was tabbed with the loss.
EDM vs. Milwaukee
Rookie defenseman Ethan Del Mastro leads the IceHogs with six points (1G, 5A) against the Milwaukee Admirals through five previous meetings this season. He's also tied with Milwaukee defenseman Marc Del Gaizo (2G, 4A) for the lead in points across both teams in the series so far. Del Mastro has posted two two-assist games against Milwaukee and has recorded a point in four of the five games against the Admirals. The blueliner leads all Rockford defensemen with 14 points (4G, 14A) and ranks fifth in scoring amongst rookie defensemen, tied for fifth in goals, and fifth in assists.
Power-Play Notes
Rockford's power play was crucial in the Hogs' 4-1 win over Iowa last Saturday. Rockford scored two power-play goals in the third period to take the lead and earn two points. Brett Seney scored on the man-advantage to record the game-winning goal, and Seney now leads the team with seven power-play strikes. The total is also tied for the sixth-most in the league. David Gust picked up an assist on the play, and he is now tied for 10th in the AHL with 11 power-play helpers. Ryder Rolston also scored on the power play in that third period, and his three power-play tallies are tied for 12th amongst AHL rookies. Rockford has now recorded multiple power-play goals in seven games so far this season. The IceHogs' offensive specialty unit ranks 14th at 19.1%.
100 Coming Up for Bjork
Anders Bjork will play in his 100th career AHL game tonight. The Mequon, Wisconsin native has 69 career points (21G, 48A) in 99 career AHL contests. Bjork has spent a majority of his career in the NHL between the Boston Bruins and the Buffalo Sabres. He has accrued 225 NHL games under his belt in which he has posted 61 points (26G, 35A).
PK Holding it Down
Rockford was a perfect 2-for-2 against the Grand Rapids Griffins on Wednesday night. Wednesday's contest marked the eighth time in the last nine games in which Rockford had to battle a top-10 power play in the AHL. In those eight games against Milwaukee, Texas, Grand Rapids, and Chicago, the Hogs faced the eighth, second, third, ninth, 10th, fifth, and best PP units in the league. During those eight games, the Hogs' PK killed off 19 of 22 shorthanded opportunities for a solid 86.4% mark on the kill. Over the last nine games, Rockford has killed off 24 of 27 shorthanded chances for an 88.9% rate. Milwaukee's power play currently sits just outside the top 10 at 13th in the AHL at 19.4%. The IceHogs are 17-for-21 (76.5%) on the kill against the Admirals this season.
Fiesta Tuesday
It's Fiesta Tuesday at the BMO Center as the IceHogs face off against the Manitoba Moose on Tuesday, Jan. 30 for a 7 p.m. puck drop! Enjoy $2 tacos with $5 margarita and craft beer specials on Fiesta Tuesdays at the BMO Center with media partner Q98.5!
Hockey Is For Everyone Night
Hockey Is For Everyone Night will be a night of pride and inclusivity for all when the IceHogs take on the Grand Rapids Griffins on Friday, Feb. 2! It's also our next $2 Beer Friday with $2 Bud Light, Budweiser, and Busch Light cans available at most concession stands through the second intermission.
Tune In LIVE on the IceHogs Broadcast Network Presented by BMO
Watch and listen to every game this season on the IceHogs Broadcast Network presented by BMO! Listen from your favorite device, at home, or on the road at IceHogs.com and on the IceHogs app and watch LIVE on AHLTV and selected games in High Definition on 19.2 Circle TV (Changing from 19.2 to The 365 starting on Dec. 31)! Fans can also tune in on all of Mid-West Family's local stations including 104.9 The X, B103, 95.3 The Bull, and Rockford Greatest Hits 100.5 and featured on Rock River Current, the Stateline's premiere source for local events, news and culture.
2023-24 Head-to-Head Schedule (All Times Central)
Fri., Nov. 17 vs. Milwaukee - OTL 4-5 - Recap, Highlights
Fri., Nov. 24 vs. Milwaukee - OTW 2-1 - Recap, Highlights
Sat., Nov. 25 at Milwaukee - OTL 2-3 - Recap, Highlights
Sat., Dec. 30 at Milwaukee - SOL 4-5 - Recap, Highlights
Sun., Dec. 31 vs. Milwaukee - W 4-3 - Recap, Highlights
Fri., Jan. 26 at Milwaukee, 7 p.m.
Fri., Mar. 1 at Milwaukee, 7 p.m.
Fri., Mar. 29 at Milwaukee, 7 p.m.
Tues., Apr. 2 vs. Milwaukee, 7 p.m.
Sat., Apr. 13 vs. Milwaukee, 7 p.m.
Sun., Apr. 14 vs. Milwaukee, 7 p.m.
Sat., Apr. 20 at Milwaukee, 6 p.m.
IceHogs vs Admirals, All Time
75-71-11-13
American Hockey League Stories from January 26, 2024
- Gulls Double-up on Wild, 6-3 - San Diego Gulls
- Iowa's Late Rally Falls Short in 6-3 Loss to San Diego - Iowa Wild
- Hogs Fall 5-2 and Admirals Extend Win Streak to Nine Games - Rockford IceHogs
- Husso Blanks Belleville 3-0 in Griffins Debut - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Belleville Sens Outshoot Griffins In Weekend-Opening Loss - Belleville Senators
- Amerks' Win Streak Snapped in 4-0 Loss to Comets - Rochester Americans
- Brink Scores in Return - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Stankoven Scores in Overtime, Stars Defeat Firebirds - Texas Stars
- Poulin's Two Goals, Gordie Howe Hatty Give Pens 4-3 Win - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Cleveland Stumbles in 4-2 Loss to Hartford - Cleveland Monsters
- Bruins Stop Islanders, 6-3 - Bridgeport Islanders
- Exemplary Ellis Catapults T-Birds Back into Win Column - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Crunch Halt Rocket, 4-2 - Syracuse Crunch
- Brett Berard Strikes Twice as Wolf Pack Knock off Monsters 4-2 - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Road Trip Starts with Tough 3-1 Loss in Springfield - Charlotte Checkers
- P-Bruins Down Islanders - Providence Bruins
- Comets Goaltender Poulter Perfect Against Americans, Win 4-0 - Utica Comets
- Eagles Transactions --- Malinski Reassigned to Eagles by Colorado Avalanche - Colorado Eagles
- Morning Skate Report: January 26, 2024 - Henderson Silver Knights
- Wranglers Battle the Barracuda in San Jose - Calgary Wranglers
- Gravel Signs Two-Year Extension - Milwaukee Admirals
- San Diego Gulls Recall Anthony Costantini from Tulsa - San Diego Gulls
- Firebirds' Hughes Suspended for Two Games - AHL
- TSN, NHL Network to Televise 2024 AHL All-Star Classic Live - AHL
- Texas Stars Sign Jack Becker and Ty Pelton-Byce to Tryouts - Texas Stars
- Game Preview: Iowa Wild vs. San Diego Gulls - Iowa Wild
- Wolf Pack Open Back-To-Back Set against Monsters in Cleveland - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Battle vs. Red Hot Admirals Awaits IceHogs Tonight - Rockford IceHogs
- Brogan Rafferty Returns to Grand Rapids - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Bears Loan Tyson Empey and Kevin O'Neil to South Carolina - Hershey Bears
- Game #39: Tucson Roadrunners vs. Ontario Reign - Tucson Roadrunners
- Bridgeport Islanders Face Bruins Twice this Weekend - Bridgeport Islanders
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