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Rockford IceHogs

Hogs Host Americans Looking to Continue Home Success

April 4, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Rockford IceHogs News Release


Rockford, Ill. - With their magic number sitting at three, the American Hockey League's Rockford IceHogs are within striking distance of their first postseason berth since 2010. With some outside assistance, the IceHogs (40-21-5-2) could lock down a spot in the Calder Cup Playoffs with a victory over the Rochester Americans (27-36-5-1) on Saturday night at the BMO Harris Bank Center. Face-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Saturday is garden gnome giveaway night in Rockford; the first 2,500 fans through the gates will leave with an IceHogs gnome courtesy of Riverside Dental. The IceHogs are also teaming up with BMO Harris Bank to put on their third annual Sock Drive Night. Fans who bring new pairs of socks to donate will receive a voucher for tickts to a future game and a free item from the Beef-A-Roo B-Fit menu. The socks will be given to local homeless children through Project Undershare.

Tickets still remain, and are available in person at the BMO Harris Bank Center box office or any Ticketmaster location, on the phone at 815-968-5222 and online at IceHogs.com. Those unable to attend the game can watch live on 23.2 Antenna TV or online at AHLLive.com. For in-game updates, follow the IceHogs on Twitter (@goicehogs).

With a victory on Saturday and a win by the Utica Comets over the Hamilton Bulldogs, the IceHogs can find their way back to the AHL postseason after a four-year absence. Rockford still sits firmly in fourth place in the Western Conference, three points behind the Griffins for third but three points ahead of the fifth-place Oklahoma City Barons. Eight games remain in the regular season for Rockford, and aspirations for a division title are still intact.

The IceHogs trimmed the distance between themselves and the Midwest-leading Griffins with a momentous bounce-back win at the BMO on Friday night. After getting hammered 6-1 Wednesday in Grand Rapids, Rockford returned the favor with a 6-2 drubbing to close out a home-and-home series. Holding a 3-2 lead to start the third period, the IceHogs broke through with three goals down the stretch to seal the deal.

Left wing Garret Ross led the offensive charge with two goals and an assist, while Ryan Hartman (2g), Mark McNeill (1g-1a) and Kyle Cumiskey (2a) each enjoyed multi-point nights. With his second tally, Ross became the first IceHog this season to reach the 20-goal plateau.

The win was the fifth in a row at home for Rockford, the longest such winning streak since the 2010-11 season. The IceHogs have picked up points in seven-straight games at the BMO, and are 8-1-1-0 over their previous 10 in the Forest City. Rockford's last regulation defeat on home ice came in a 4-0 blanking at the hands of the San Antonio Rampage on Feb. 18.

In order to earn their sixth-straight victory at home ice, the IceHogs must beat a fragmented Rochester club on Saturday. The struggling Americans, 3-7-0-0 in their last ten games, come to Rockford in the North Division basement and in 14th place in the West.

Rochester is playing without five of their top six point scorers - all who find themselves on recall with the Buffalo Sabres. Out of the 20 skaters who dressed for the Americans in their first game against Rockford back on Oct. 22, only 10 remain on the active roster.

Defenseman Chad Ruhwedel leads Rochester with 33 points (10g-23a) in 67 games, while fellow blueliner Jake McCabe follows next with 27 points (5g-22a) in 53 contests. With goaltenders Andrey Makarov and Matt Hackett with Buffalo, the Americans will likely look toward Nathan Lieuwen to man the pipes in Rockford. While Lieuwen's 4-9-0 record, 3.29 goals against average and.883 save percentage are less than sparkling, he does have a win against the IceHogs under his belt this year. Lieuwen backstopped Rochester to a come-from-behind 3-2 win at Blue Cross Arena back in October.

All-time Rockford has a 4-3-0-0 record against the Americans, including a 3-0-0-0 mark on home ice.

Next Home Game: Tuesday, April 7 vs. Milwaukee Admirals. Puck drops at 7 p.m. The IceHogs play the last of 12 games this season against their bordering rivals as the Admirals visit the BMO. It is another WXRX Dollar Day, and fans can enjoy hot dogs, sodas, beers and companion tickets for all $1.

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