Hogs Host Rampage Looking for Weekend Sweep
February 15, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Rockford IceHogs News Release
Rockford, Ill. - In two days the Rockford IceHogs have taken down the leaders of the American Hockey League's Midwest Division and the Western Conference. Now the IceHogs (28-16-4-2) set their sights on the elusive perfect week, as they close out a three-in-three set against the San Antonio Rampage (28-17-4-0) on Sunday afternoon at the BMO Harris Bank Center.
The first 2,500 fans to the 4 p.m. matinee matchup will receive a free IceHogs water bottle presented by Rock Valley Culligan. Additionally, those with a game ticket are invited to stay after the game to take the ice with their favorite players during the final "Skate With The Hogs" of the 2014-15 season. Participants must provide their own skates.
Tickets are available in person at the BMO Harris Bank Center box office and at any Ticketmaster location, by phone at 815-968-5222 and online at IceHogs.com. Those unable to attend can watch the action locally at 23.2 Antenna TV and online at AHLLive.com. For live updates follow the IceHogs on Twitter (@goicehogs).
After starting their weekend with a win against the Midwest-leading Milwaukee Admirals on Friday, Rockford delivered another impressive performance the following night on home ice. The IceHogs turned in a convincing 3-1 victory over the Western Conference-pacing Oklahoma City Barons Saturday at the BMO, a game they never trailed.
Defenseman Ville Pokka grabbed a goal and an assist, and Michael Leighton made 26 saves to help spur Rockford to their first victory in three tries over the Barons. Brandon Mashinter and Peter Regin also scored for the IceHogs, the latter tallying his first goal since Nov. 26.
The victory brought Rockford back within one point of the Admirals - who were idle on Saturday - for the Midwest lead, and gave the IceHogs sole possession of fourth place in a conference race that is tightening up by the day. Only eight points separate the Barons at the top from the Chicago Wolves and Grand Rapids Griffins, who are tied for sixth with 58 points.
As for the team that Rockford wrested the fourth place spot from on Saturday, they will play the first of two straight games at the BMO starting on Sunday afternoon. San Antonio - who with 60 points sits just two back of the IceHogs - comes to the Forest City to close out their own three-game weekend. The Rampage are coming off of a two-game split in Grand Rapids, after winning 5-4 in overtime Friday night and losing 4-2 to the surging Griffins last night.
San Antonio has dropped two of three games to start out a season-long 11-game road trip that stretches to March 5. They are 5-4-1-0 over their last 10 games, and are working with a 13-10-1-0 mark away from home so far this season.
Their road record may only put them at a tie for ninth in the league, but the Rampage's offensive is the class of the entire AHL. Rockford will have the steep task of quieting a San Antonio team that has netted 3.31 goals per game this season. Over their last 20 games, the Rampage have scored three or more goals 12 times, and have only been held to under two on the scoreboard twice. San Antonio is a team that is more than comfortable playing a wide-open, back-and-forth style of game, and they have the offensive weapons to do it successfully.
Right wing Bobby Butler leads the way for the Rampage, who places among the top five in the AHL in both goals (21) and points (44). Behind Butler are fellow forwards Mark Mancari (9g-28a) and rookie Rocco Grimaldi (9g-23a), who all help pace San Antonio's multi-pronged offensive attack.
The IceHogs and Rampage come together for the first time since Halloween weekend, when Rockford left the AT&T Center with 6-3 and 5-1 victories. Sunday is the third of four games the two clubs will play each other this season. They will close out their season series on Wednesday morning during the IceHogs' annual school day game.
Next Home Game: Wednesday, Feb. 18 vs. San Antonio Rampage. Puck drops at 10:30 a.m. It's an early wake-up call for the IceHogs and Rampage as the two square off in the annual school day game at the BMO.
American Hockey League Stories from February 15, 2015
- Griffins Snap Wolves' Winning Streak with 5-1 Win - Grand Rapids Griffins
- OKC Ends Trip with 5-3 Win over Wild - Oklahoma City Barons
- Rockford Completes Weekend Sweep - Rockford IceHogs
- Admirals Scare off Monsters - Milwaukee Admirals
- Andrew Gordon's Turn for An OT Winner - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Falcons Topped by Phantoms, 5-4, in Overtime - Springfield Falcons
- Wolves' Winning Streak Snapped at Four - Chicago Wolves
- Oklahoma City Pulls Away from Iowa 5-3 - Iowa Wild
- Rampage Come up Short against IceHogs 2-1 - San Antonio Rampage
- Monsters Fall 5-2 in Milwaukee - Cleveland Monsters
- Another Late Goal Downs Devils - Albany Devils
- Monday's Tilt in Charlotte Rescheduled to 4 p.m. - Norfolk Admirals
- Conacher the Lone Scorer for Bridgeport - Bridgeport Islanders
- Bears Roll over Sound Tigers, Take Second in Eastern Conference - Hershey Bears
- IceCaps Complete Incredible Comeback to Top Sharks - St. John's IceCaps
- Monday's Game Time Changed to 4 p.m. - Charlotte Checkers
- Wolf Pack Topple Albany with Late Goal 4-3 - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Marlies Lose in Special Teams Battle against Senators - Toronto Marlies
- Sharks Get Stunned in St. John's - Worcester Sharks
- Canadiens Recall Greg Pateryn from Bulldogs - Hamilton Bulldogs
- 'Dogs Host Comets and Amerks, Visit Griffins this Week - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Dallas Stars Reassign Travis Morin to Texas - Texas Stars
- Hogs Host Rampage Looking for Weekend Sweep - Rockford IceHogs
- Predators Trade Leipsic to Toronto - Milwaukee Admirals
- Buffalo Sabres Recall Johan Larsson - Rochester Americans
- Rampage Recall D Josh McFadden - San Antonio Rampage
- Leighton Freezes Barons - Rockford IceHogs
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