Hogs knock off Komets with four third period goals
Published on May 5, 2005 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Rockford IceHogs News Release
Rockford, Ill.- In a crucial Game Three of the Rockford IceHogs-Fort Wayne Komets best-of-seven Colonial Cup Semi-Finals series, the IceHogs topped the Komets 6-3 in front of 2,889 at the Rockford MetroCentre. Led by winger Brandon Segal's two goals, the Hogs took a two-game-to-one series lead.
It didn't take long for Segal to make his presence felt by Fort Wayne. Just 24 seconds into the first period, the Rockford winger broke in on Komets goalie Kevin St. Pierre and blasted in his ninth post-season goal. Segal was re-assigned to Rockford from the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) earlier in the day after the Ads were eliminated from post-season play on Sunday.
In the second Fort Wayne grabbed a 2-1 advantage. Center Colin Chaulk beat Hogs net-minder Michel Robinson over the right shoulder at 5:56 to tie the contest. Then at the 8:00, while down two-skaters, center Dustin Virag beat Robinson on a breakaway short-handed for the lead. The Hogs responded just 1:15 later when defenseman Eric Skaug scored his first goal in the playoffs and as an IceHogs skater, with a slapper at 9:15 to tie the score heading into the break.
The Hogs would tally twice early in the third to take the lead back. Winger J.F. Dufour beat the Komets defense and slipped in his third post-season goal at 3:24 giving Rockford the 3-2 advantage. Segal then netted his second of the night and tenth of the playoffs when he poked home a loose puck under St. Pierre at 6:44, chasing him from the contest.
Fort Wayne made things interesting when winger Chris Grenville blew home a power play marker at 8:22 to cut the lead to 4-3. But center Alex Kim retaliated at 17:41 to give the Hogs another two-goal advantage, when he beat Tyler Masters. Center J.C. Ruid would finish the scoring at 18:32 with a power play empty-netter making the score 6-3.
Robinson turned away 30 Fort Wayne shots to earn the win, while St. Pierre was saddled with the loss stopping 22 Rockford shots. The Hogs scored four third period goals on only 10 shots. Rockford also finished the night 1-for-9 on the power play, while Fort Wayne was 1-for-6. Defenseman Nathan Lutz and Kim extended their franchise record point streaks in the post season to seven games.
Next Home Game: Friday, May 6 vs. Fort Wayne Komets. Game time is 7:05 p.m. The Hogs and Komets mix-it up for Game Four of the Colonial Cup Semi-Finals at the Rockford MetroCentre. Rockford leads the series 2-game-to-1. Season ticket holders should use Playoff Ticket #5 for the game.
International Hockey League 2 Stories from May 5, 2005
- RiverDogs Hold End of Season Auction - Richmond RiverDogs
- Colonial Cup Playoff update - IHL 2
- Hogs knock off Komets with four third period goals - Rockford IceHogs
- Trashers fall 6-3 in game three - Danbury Trashers
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