Hogs Hunt Wolves, Playoffs in Illinois Lottery Cup Showdown
March 24, 2018 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Rockford IceHogs News Release
ROCKFORD, Ill - The Rockford IceHogs cap a two-game weekend homestand with a Saturday showdown and Illinois Lottery Cup Series matchup with the Chicago Wolves at the BMO Harris Bank Center.
Only a limited number of tickets remain for tonight's contest.
Puck drop is at 6 p.m. and fans can tune in to all the action on Cozi TV 23.3 or Dish Network Channel 252, beginning with IceHogs Warmup at 5:30 p.m. IceHogs fans can also listen to the game at sportsfanradio1330.com or watch live at AHLlive.com (subscription required).
Matchup: The IceHogs (33-25-4-4, 5th Central) snapped a season high-tying seven-game point streak with last night's loss to Milwaukee. Despite the setback, Rockford remains in the thick of the playoff chase and trails fourth-place Iowa by just .008 in points percentage. The IceHogs and Wild have both posted 74 points thus far this season, but Iowa carries a game-in-hand to the Hogs' 66 total contests.
Defenseman Cody Franson tallied an assist in last night's game against Milwaukee and now leads the team with 11 points (3g, 8a) over his last 10 contests since Feb. 28. The blueliner has skated even-or-better in all but one of those 10 games to enter Saturday's matchup with Chicago ranked tied for sixth in the AHL with a +8 rating over that span.
Recently assigned forward Victor Ejdsell made his AHL and team debut last night for the Hogs, tallying his first AHL point with an assist on the IceHogs' first goal of the game. Edjsell, prior to joining Rockford, led HV71 with 20 goals and finished second in scoring with 34 points in 50 games in the top level of the Swedish Hockey League.
Chicago (36-20-7-2, 2nd Central) has suffered back-to-back losses to Rockford, but arrives at the BMO Harris Bank Center with a three-game win streak and 7-2-1-0 record over its last 10 games. The Wolves are led in scoring by T.J. Tynan, who has compiled 55 points (13g, 42a) in 65 contests this year, and the Hogs' all-time leading scorer, Brandon Pirri, who has potted a team-best 26 goals in 2017-18. Pirri has also excelled against his former club, and shares the team lead with seven points (5g, 2a) in seven appearances against the IceHogs.
In net, Max Legace has won each of his last two appearances and is 13-4-2 with a 2.59 GAA and .911 save percentage in 20 games this season. The netminder is unbeaten in regulation in two contests against Rockford, taking the ice Saturday with a 1-0-1 record, 1.93 GAA and .939 save percentage versus the Hogs.
Next Home Game: Saturday, March 31 vs. San Jose
The IceHogs host Hawaiian Night as they take on the San Jose Barracuda at 6 p.m. at the BMO Harris Bank Center. The event will feature tropical-themed jerseys, live Hawaiian music, a luau with hula dancers, pig roast and orange hibiscus flowers imprinted on the ice. In addition, Hogs alumni Brian Bickell will be on-hand for the festivities. Tickets can be purchased at IceHogs.com, by calling (815) 968-5222 or in-person at the BMO Harris Bank Center Box Office.
American Hockey League Stories from March 24, 2018
- Rockford Rolls over Wolves Behind Bouma's Three-Point Night - Rockford IceHogs
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- Barrcuda Fall to Ontario at Home, 7-3 - San Jose Barracuda
- Amerks Playoff Bound After 4-2 Win over Thunderbirds - Rochester Americans
- Pollock Helps Heat to Big Road Win over Manitoba 3-1 - Stockton Heat
- San Antonio Outshines Texas 2-1 on 10th Annual Pucks & Paws Night - San Antonio Rampage
- Grand Rapids Defeats Iowa 3-2 in Shootout - Iowa Wild
- Penguins Down Devils in Shootout, 5-4 - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Gulls Top Cleveland in OT 4-3 - San Diego Gulls
- Crunch Shutout Comets, 2-0 - Syracuse Crunch
- Devils Erase Three-Goal Deficit in Shootout Loss to Penguns - Binghamton Devils
- Phantoms Fall at Providence as Stolarz Returns to Lineup - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Wolves' Road Win Streak Busted by IceHogs - Chicago Wolves
- Koppanen, Cehlarik Score Twice in 6-1 Rout of Phantoms - Providence Bruins
- Monsters Clipped by Gulls in Overtime, 4-3 - Cleveland Monsters
- T-Birds Can't Catch Late Breaks in Loss to Rochester - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Comets Shutout in Defensive Duel - Utica Comets
- Rocket Can't Overcome Early Deficit in 5-3 Loss against Charlotte - Laval Rocket
- Moutrey Has Game-Winner as Sens Beat Marlies - Belleville Senators
- Hershey Nudges Pack 2-1 - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Poturalski, Saarela Help Checkers Blast Rocket - Charlotte Checkers
- Bowey Scores Twice as Bears Defeat Hartford, 2-1 - Hershey Bears
- Rampage Goaltender Spencer Martin Recalled to Colorado Avalanche - San Antonio Rampage
- Game #60 Preview: Tucson at Bakersfield - Tucson Roadrunners
- Canucks Recall Ashton Sautner Under Emergency Conditions, Comets Sign Matt Leitner - Utica Comets
- Sens Sign Dziurzynski to PTO - Belleville Senators
- Hogs Hunt Wolves, Playoffs in Illinois Lottery Cup Showdown - Rockford IceHogs
- Penguins Come Back from Down 3-0, But Lose in Overtime - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Panthers Recall Sateri, Thunderbirds Recall Cowley - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Monsters Sign Left Wing Grant Besse to PTO Tryout Contract - Cleveland Monsters
- Game Preview: Condors Host Tucson at 7 p.m. - Bakersfield Condors
- Condors Roll Past Ontario, 4-1 - Bakersfield Condors
- Game Preview: Bears Open Home-And-Home in Hartford - Hershey Bears
- Marlies Host Belleville in Second Half of Back-To-Back - Toronto Marlies
- Game Day Build-Up: Senators at Marlies, March 24 - Belleville Senators
- T-Birds Continue Road Trip in Rochester, Toronto - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Marlies Use Three Goal Second Period to Clinch Win over Belleville - Belleville Senators
- Griffins Score Four Goals in Two Minutes - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Checkers Rally for 3-2 Overtime Victory over Rocket - Laval Rocket
- McNeill, Richard Net Doubles as Ads Drop Hogs - Rockford IceHogs
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