Hogs Look to Solve Wild
January 16, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Rockford IceHogs News Release
Rockford, Ill. - On Friday night the American Hockey League's Rockford IceHogs are hoping they can regain control over a team that has given them some recent fits. The IceHogs (21-14-4-2) will host the Iowa Wild (13-22-1-1) one last time at the BMO Harris Bank Center this season, hungry for redemption after losing the last two meetings with Iowa in frustrating fashion.
The final leg of a three-game homestand for the IceHogs, Friday is also Winter Hat Giveaway Night at the BMO. The first 1,000 adults 21-and-over to the 7 p.m. face-off will leave with an IceHogs knit hat, courtesy of Bud Light. Guests over 21 can also arrive early to enjoy another Blues Flame Lounge Pre-Game Party, complete with live music, free appetizers and drink specials. Doors open at 5:15 p.m. (capacity 150) for the pre-game festivities and at 6 p.m. for general admission.
Tickets are available in person at the BMO Harris Bank Center Box Office or at any Ticketmaster location, by phone at 815-968-5222, or online at IceHogs.com. The night's action can also be caught locally on 23.2 Antenna TV and online through AHLLive.com. Television coverage begins at 6:30 with the IceHogs Warm Up pregame show.
Even though the IceHogs have 20 more points in the standings than Iowa prior to Friday's game, Iowa has gotten the better of them each of the last two times they have met. After beginning the season with three consecutive victories over the Minnesota Wild affiliate, Iowa has responded - winning 5-1 in Des Moines on Dec. 16 and 2-1 in their last meeting in Rockford on Dec. 26.
A glance at the scores from the last two games does not tell the whole story. Rockford's pair of losses to the Wild have come despite holding an astonishing 90-49 edge in shots on goal. The IceHogs set a franchise record with 59 shots in the 5-1 loss in Iowa, then outshot the Wild 39-25 the next week, once again only mustering a single goal.
Goaltender John Curry has stopped 71 of 73 shots in his last two games against the IceHogs, good for a save percentage of .973. Curry was reassigned to Iowa on Thursday, on the heels of Minnesota's acquisition of Devan Dubnyk.
Aside from trying to figure out Curry and the Wild, the IceHogs are also looking to end a two-game winless streak on their home ice. A 3-2 shootout loss at the hands of the Charlotte Checkers on Tuesday was Rockford's second-straight post-regulation defeat, after dropping 1-0 in overtime to the Milwaukee Admirals on Jan. 9.
The IceHogs rallied from two down to force overtime against the Checkers, but could not find a goal in the extra session or in the shootout. Michael Leighton continued his strong play, making 43 saves in what turned out to be another goaltending duel at the BMO. Leighton has led his team to at least a point in each of his last four starts, and has a .967 save percentage across his last five appearances.
Meanwhile, the Wild are trying to climb out of the West Division's basement, five points behind the fourth-place Checkers. They are coming off consecutive losses to the San Antonio Rampage and Chicago Wolves, but have also taken down the North-leading Utica Comets and the defending champion Texas Stars in their last five contests.
Next Home Game: Monday, Jan. 19 vs. Chicago Wolves. Puck drops at 1 p.m. The IceHogs host the Wolves for their annual Martin Luther King Day game at the BMO Harris Bank Center. The first 1,000 kids under age 14 through the gates to the Illinois Lottery Cup match will leave with a free IceHogs drawstring bag, courtesy of Pepsi. Fans are also encouraged to stick around after the game to take the ice with their favorite players in the first "Skate With The Hogs" of the new year.
American Hockey League Stories from January 16, 2015
- Hogs Shut Out Wild at the BMO - Rockford IceHogs
- Hamilton Defeats Grand Rapids with Two Goals from Dumont - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Berra Scores, Monsters Win in Chicago 5-1 - Cleveland Monsters
- Lake Erie's Reto Berra Becomes 11th AHL Goaltender Ever to Score a Goal - AHL
- Bridgeport Mounts Comeback, Falls Short to Providence - Bridgeport Islanders
- Back-And-Forth Battle Ends in 3-2 Setback to Albany - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Stars Blank Barons, 2-0 - Oklahoma City Barons
- Early Lake Erie Goals Derail Wolves - Chicago Wolves
- Etem Ties It Late, But Hartford Survives in OT, 3-2 - Norfolk Admirals
- Power-Play Success Propels Checkers over Marlies 4-1 - Charlotte Checkers
- Hartford wins in overtime - Hartford Wolf Pack
- DUMONT SCORES TWICE TO LIFT DOGS PAST GRIFFINS 2-1 - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Sharks Win 5th Straight After 5-4 Shootout Victory over Monarchs - Worcester Sharks
- McKenna Gets Third SO of the Month - Portland Pirates
- Goaltending, Penalty Kill Lead Stars to 2-0 Shutout over Barons - Texas Stars
- Devils Come Alive in Third, Beat Phantoms - Albany Devils
- Fast Start Gives Sens First Win of 2015 - Binghamton Senators
- Admirals Late Goal Dooms Comets - Utica Comets
- Monarchs Fall to Worcester in Shootout, 5-4 - Manchester Monarchs
- Crunch Slip in First Game of 3-In-3, Blanked 5-0 - Syracuse Crunch
- Rockford Blanks Iowa 4-0 - Iowa Wild
- Admirals Top Utica for Sixth Straight Win - Milwaukee Admirals
- Point Streak Snapped as Marlies Fall in Charlotte 4-1 - Toronto Marlies
- Pirates Get Revenge with Shutout Victory - St. John's IceCaps
- Lightning Recall Witkowski from Syracuse - Syracuse Crunch
- Canadiens Recall MacDonald, 'Dogs Recall Palazzese - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Dan Milan Reassigned to Syracuse from Wichita - Syracuse Crunch
- Crunch Sign Defenseman Charlie Dodero - Syracuse Crunch
- Rampage to Host Totally Tubular 80's Night Saturday - San Antonio Rampage
- Hogs Look to Solve Wild - Rockford IceHogs
- Wild Signs Rioux to PTO - Iowa Wild
- Admirals Assign Steve MacIntyre to Utah - Norfolk Admirals
- Penguins Release Gill from PTO - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
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