Hogs' Season Comes to Close in 4-2 Game 3 Loss to Texas
May 3, 2023 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Rockford IceHogs News Release
Rockford IceHogs' Luke Philp and Jakub Galvas battle Texas Stars' Oskari Laaksonen
(Rockford IceHogs)
Cedar Park, Texas - The Rockford IceHogs' Calder Cup Playoff run ended after falling 4-2 to the Texas Stars in Game 3 of the Central Division Semifinals on Wednesday night at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park. Forwards Michal Teply and Lukas Reichel scored, but the Hogs were largely unable to solve Stars goaltender Matthew Murray who stopped 27 of 29 Rockford shots.
The IceHogs gave up the first goal of the game in the back-and-forth, three-goal first period. After Texas won a faceoff in Rockford's zone, Stars forward Riley Damiani parked himself in the slot and deflected defenseman Ben Gleason's wrist shot from the right point past Rockford goalie Arvid Soderblom at 2:16.
Evening the score 1-1 five minutes later on the power play, Rockford forward Michal Teply knocked in a puck from the slot at 7:11 after Texas forward Mavrik Bourque was charged with a tripping minor at 6:30. Stars netminder Matthew Murray couldn't corral the initial shot from Teply, and the shot bounced in after Murray deflected it with his shoulder.
Texas forward Nicholas Caamano gave the Stars a 2-1 lead just halfway through the first period after punching a rebound past Soderblom 12:01. The Rockford netminder made two stops to deny Rhett Gardner and Riley Tufte, but the IceHogs couldn't clear out the loose puck, and Caamano's shot snuck past Soderblom's glove side.
In the scoreless second period, Rockford killed off all three of Texas' power-play opportunities and kept the score 2-1.
Extending the lead to 3-1 in the third period, Texas defenseman Oskari Laaksonen tallied his first goal of the 2023 Calder Cup Playoffs. After his first shot was blocked by Rockford forward Lukas Reichel's skate, Laaksonen slipped a shot behind Soderblom from the edge of the right circle at 4:57.
Rockford's comeback hopes were dashed in the third period after Teply was called for a cross-check. Just over a minute later, Gardner provided the dagger for Texas when he buried a power-play goal at 17:14 in the third.
With 16 seconds left in the game, Reichel flung a wrap-around shot that snuck past Murray and cut the Stars lead to 4-2.
Soderblom suffered his third-straight loss to the Stars after stopping 22 of 26 Texas shots, and Murray earned his third career Calder Cup Playoff win with 27 saves on 29 Rockford shots.
Images from this story
 Rockford IceHogs' Luke Philp and Jakub Galvas battle Texas Stars' Oskari Laaksonen |
• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...
American Hockey League Stories from May 3, 2023
- Coachella Valley Forces Decisive Game Five with 4-3 Win - Colorado Eagles
- Wyatt Bongiovanni Notches Overtime-Winning Goal for Manitoba - Manitoba Moose
- Ads Stopped in Overtime in Game 3 - Milwaukee Admirals
- Stars Sweep IceHogs in Central Division Semifinals - Texas Stars
- Hogs' Season Comes to Close in 4-2 Game 3 Loss to Texas - Rockford IceHogs
- Wolf Pack's Comeback Bid Falls Short, Bruins Force Game Four with 6-3 Decision - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Bears Prevented from Sweeping Checkers in 2-1 Loss in Game 3 - Hershey Bears
- Comets Defeated 5-2 in Game 3 by Marlies - Utica Comets
- Checkers Extend Series with 2-1 Win in Hershey - Charlotte Checkers
- Admirals, Predators Extend Affiliation for Two Seasons - Milwaukee Admirals
- Monumental Firsts: Captain Brayden Pachal's NHL Playoff Debut - Henderson Silver Knights
- Egor Sokolov Selected as Belleville Sens 2022-23 IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year - Belleville Senators
- Roadrunners Announce 2023 Opening Night - Tucson Roadrunners
- First Ever Live Performance at the Utica University Nexus Center Coming June 10th - Utica Comets
- Wolf Pack Look to Close out Series vs. Bruins in Game Three - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Atlantic Division Semifinals Game 3 Preview: Bears vs. Checkers, 7 p.m. - Hershey Bears
- IceHogs Face Stars in Must-Win Game 3 - Rockford IceHogs
- Game Day - Game 3 Calgary at Abbotsford - Calgary Wranglers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
