Hogs Hungry for a Win against Chicago
December 28, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Rockford IceHogs News Release
Rockford, Ill. - Winless in their last four outings, the American Hockey League's Rockford IceHogs (18-10-3-1) hope to get back on track during a key Illinois Lottery Cup showdown with the Chicago Wolves (17-11-3-0) Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. at the BMO Harris Bank Center.
There is plenty in store for fans in addition to the on-ice action Sunday, beginning with a IceHogs Trading Card Giveaway. The first 2,500 fans through the gates will receive a set of 2014-15 trading cards, courtesy of the Rockford Register Star. Several of the sets will contain autographed cards, Blackhawks tickets and other great prizes. Also fans can stick around after the game for to take the ice with their favorite players in another edition of "Skate with the Hogs."
A limited number of tickets are still available. For tickets, visit the BMO Harris Bank Center box office or any Ticketmaster location, call 815-968-5222 or head to IceHogs.com. The game will also be broadcast live on 23.2 Antenna TV and streamed online at AHLLive.com.
The IceHogs will try to rekindle their offensive production on Sunday, a facet of their game that has diminished as of late. In the four games following their 5-2 win in Lake Erie - their last victory - on Dec. 16, Rockford has only managed to score five goals. Dating back to their last meeting with the Wolves on Nov. 29, the IceHogs have been held to two goals or fewer in eight of their 11 games.
Friday's 2-1 loss to the Iowa Wild was another example of a frustrating recent trend for Rockford, where they have come up short on the scoreboard despite holding a convincing edge in offensive opportunities. The home loss was the third game out of four where the IceHogs have outshot their opponents but failed to convert that edge into points in the standings.
The Wild used a 38-save effort from John Curry and Jordan Schroeder's second-period go-ahead goal to stave off a Rockford team playing on home ice for the first time in 19 days. A shorthanded goal by Teuvo Teravainen tied the contest 1-1 early in the second, but the IceHogs could not find the second equalizer down the stretch.
Moving forward Rockford has three games in four days to finish what has been a tough month on a good note. The IceHogs are 3-5-1-0 in December after finishing the previous month with a 9-3-1-0 mark.
The first game of the three is arguably the biggest, as coming to the BMO is a Chicago club that is nipping on Rockford's heels atop the Midwest Division standings. The Wolves, winners of three straight and four of six, currently sit three points behind the IceHogs for the top spot in the division.
While both teams own two wins over the other so far this year, Rockford holds the lead in the race for the 2014-15 Illinois Lottery Cup by virtue of gaining an extra point in a 4-3 overtime loss on Nov. 28. The two rivals will see a lot of each other in the near future, meeting a total of six times through the end of January.
Forward Ty Rattie continues to pace Chicago in scoring with 22 points, finding the scoresheet in five of his last six games (2g-5a). Shane Harper and Jeremy Welsh have also been hot, each grabbing three goals over their last three outings.
Between the pipes Jordan Binnington has won three straight starts, improving his record to 10-4-1 on the season.
Next Home Game: Tuesday, Dec. 30 vs. Hamilton Bulldogs. Puck drops at 7 p.m. The IceHogs meet the Bulldogs for the final time this season during Youth Jersey Night at the BMO. The first 1,000 kids (14-and-under) will receive a jersey courtesy of Rockford Orthopedic. It's also a WXRX Dollar Day, with beers, sodas, hot dogs and companion tickets all available for $1.
American Hockey League Stories from December 28, 2014
- Falcons Clip Crunch in Overtime, 3-2 - Syracuse Crunch
- Teravainen Sparks IceHogs Offense - Rockford IceHogs
- Stars Overpower Rampage in 6-3 Win - Texas Stars
- Falcons Top Crunch, 3-2, in Overtime - Springfield Falcons
- Rampage Lose to Stars for First Time this Season 6-3 - San Antonio Rampage
- Barons Rally for Second Straight OT Win - Oklahoma City Barons
- Checkers Take Tough Loss in OKC - Charlotte Checkers
- Wolves' Streak Snapped in Rockford - Chicago Wolves
- Anaheim Recalls Max Friberg - Norfolk Admirals
- Pirates Shut out Monarchs - Portland Pirates
- Penguins Fight Past Admirals for 2-1 Win - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Admirals Drop Second-Straight Road Game, 2-1 - Norfolk Admirals
- Marlies Sweep Weekend with 2-0 Shutout of Flames - Toronto Marlies
- Graovac and Sutter Recalled, Falk Assigned - Iowa Wild
- Monarchs Win Streak Ends in 3-0 Loss to Pirates - Manchester Monarchs
- Coyotes Recall Gaudet from Portland - Portland Pirates
- American Hockey League Announces Suspension - AHL
- Jets Recall Patrice Cormier from St. John's IceCaps - St. John's IceCaps
- Stalberg Assigned to Milwaukee - Milwaukee Admirals
- Ryan White Loaned to Phantoms - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Blue Jackets Assign Goaltender Anton Forsberg to Falcons - Springfield Falcons
- Hogs Hungry for a Win against Chicago - Rockford IceHogs
- Dallas Reassigns Cameron Gaunce to Texas - Texas Stars
- 'Canes Reassign Brendan Woods to Charlotte - Charlotte Checkers
- Utica's Travis Green, Manchester's Mike Stothers Named to AHL All-Star Coaching Staffs - Utica Comets
- Stothers Named to All-Star Coaching Staff - Manchester Monarchs
- Utica's Travis Green, Manchester's Mike Stothers Named to AHL All-Star Coaching Staffs - AHL
- Murovich Recalled by Penguins - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Pirates' Comeback Falls Short in Hartford - Portland Pirates
- Rampage Tripped up by Barons 2-1 in Overtime - San Antonio Rampage
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