Hogs take 3-games-to-1 series lead
Published on May 7, 2005 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Rockford IceHogs News Release
Rockford, Ill.- The Rockford IceHogs are now one step closer to playing for the United Hockey League's Colonial Cup, as they beat the Fort Wayne Komets 4-1 on Friday night before 4,213 at the Rockford MetroCentre. Rockford leads the best-of-seven series three-games-to-one and can close it out with a win at Fort Wayne on Sunday.
Rockford put the Komets in a two-goal deficit in the first period, a hole in which they couldn't climb out of. Center J.C. Ruid began the scoring at 10:32 when he fired a wrister past Komets goalie Kevin St. Pierre at 10:32. Later in the frame, winger Jason Ralph snuck a shot past St. Pierre at 14:30 to put Rockford up 2-0.
In the second period, the IceHogs made the score 3-0 after winger Brandon Segal fired in his 11 post-season goal just 1:17 into the period on the power play. Segal still leads the UHL with his goal output in the post-season and for the second time in the playoffs, he has a three-game goal-scoring streak.
Fort Wayne tried to climb back into the game in the third period. While skating on the advantage, defenseman Rob Guinn blasted home his first goal of the playoffs at 7:12. Rockford, however, withstood the Komets pressure and added another insurance goal when Ralph shot in an empty netter at 19:00 of the final period, his second of the night.
The Hogs have scored an empty net goal in each of the three series wins over Fort Wayne. Hogs goalie Michel Robinson earned another win after he stopped 35 Komets shots. Both clubs finished the night 1-for-2 on the power play and game featured only 16 penalty minutes, eight a side.
Next Game: Sunday, May 8 at Fort Wayne Komets. Game time is 7:05 p.m. The IceHogs can clinch their first ever birth into the Colonial Cup Finals with a win over Fort Wayne in Game Five. The Komets however, will be chompin' at the bit to send the series back to Rockford.
If necessary, Game Six will be at the Rockford MetroCentre on Monday, May 9 at 7:05 p.m. For tickets call (815) 968-5222.
International Hockey League 2 Stories from May 7, 2005
- Danbury Trashers season ends in playoff loss to Muskegon - Danbury Trashers
- Hogs take 3-games-to-1 series lead - Rockford IceHogs
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