Chops' winning streak hits three with 4-1 win over IceHogs
February 7, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Iowa Chops News Release
What started as a rather slow game for the Iowa Chops (25-18-2-5, 57 pts.) turned into a heated battle for the puck between the Rockford IceHogs (27-21-0-4, 58 pts.) and the Chops on Saturday night in front of 4,473 fans at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. Trailing early, the Chops came back with four straight goals to defeat the 'Hogs 4-1 and draw within a point of 2nd place in the West Division.
The first period showed the Chops and IceHogs scoreless, with 7 and 5 shots, respectively. Neither Chops goalie David Leneveu nor IceHogs goalie Corey Crawford were tested, as both team's defense played a huge role in keeping the puck out of their own zone. The second period, however, was a different story. Both teams came out ready to notch the first goal of the game. Rockford was first to answer, when Petri Kontiola got the puck past Leneveu, with help from Tim Hambly. The Chops weren't discouraged, though. After Rockford scored, the Chops fired up, especially Adrian Veideman. Veideman was just exiting the penalty box as he got a pass from Ajay Baines. Veideman took the puck into the offensive zone and beat a diving Corey Crawford to get the first Chops goal of the game. The Chops weren't done. Penalty troubles for the IceHogs mounted, and the Chops' powerplay unit was more than happyto take advantage of their situation. Jack Skille was called to the penalty box at 14:03 for roughing, but it only took the Chops :16 seconds to take him out, after Petteri Wirtanen beat Crawford for the go-ahead goal. The Chops powerplay answered again with 5.8 seconds left in the period, with Brian Salcido's goal to round out the 2nd.
The third period was a back-and-forth effort between both teams, and both goalies were up to the task, with Iowa tallying 11 shots on goal to Rockford's six. The Chops took three penalties in the period, the last penalty dealt to the Chops for too many men on the ice. Leneveu kept the puck out of the net during each penalty kill, and managed to keep the IceHogs scoreless the entire period. The Chops got an empty-net goal from Petteri Wirtanen, his 2nd of the game. The Chops won 4-1, and look to continue their 2-0 home streak against the Rochester Americans on Tuesday.
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American Hockey League Stories from February 7, 2009
- Aeros lose in shootout to Quad City Flames 3-2 - Houston Aeros
- Chops' winning streak hits three with 4-1 win over IceHogs - Iowa Chops
- Flames top Houston in SO - Abbotsford Heat
- Rockford drops second straight 4-1 game - Rockford IceHogs
- Griffins Succomb to Monsters' Power Play, 4-1 - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Sound Tigers Claw Back to Defeat Admirals - Norfolk Admirals
- Falcons Fall To Wolf Pack 3-2 - Springfield Falcons
- Wolf Pack win over Falcons - Connecticut Whale
- Rampage get a point in Hershey in 3-2 SOL - San Antonio Rampage
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- Crunch Roll Past Marlies - Syracuse Crunch
- Rats Take Down Portland In Shootout - Albany River Rats
- River Rats Need Shootout to Beat Pirates 3-2 - Portland Pirates
- Garrison Lifts Amerks to 3-2 OT Win over B-Sens - Rochester Americans
- Dallas Stars Reassign Chris Conner to Rivermen - Peoria Rivermen
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- Hurricanes Acquire Jussi Jokinen From Tampa Bay - Albany River Rats
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- Manny Legace Assigned to Peoria - Peoria Rivermen
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- Falcons Set To Host Wolf Pack Tonight - Springfield Falcons
- Amerks Host B-Sens This Afternoon - Rochester Americans
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