Hogs, Wolves Wrap up Season Series
April 17, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Rockford IceHogs News Release
Rockford, Ill. - In the middle of a regular season-ending homestand, the American Hockey League's Rockford IceHogs are looking to put a bow on the 2014-15 Illinois Lottery Cup series. The IceHogs (45-22-5-2) and Chicago Wolves (39-27-6-1) meet for the last scheduled time this season Friday night at the BMO Harris Bank Center. Face-off is slated for 7 p.m.
Fans can gear up for the incoming warm weather on Beach Towel Giveaway Night at the BMO. The first 1,000 guests through the gates will leave with a free IceHogs beach towel courtesy of Peak Fitness. Those 21-and-over can arrive early to enjoy the final Blues Flame Lounge Pre-Game Party of the season. Starting at 5:15 p.m., adults can take advantage of drink specials, free appetizers and live music up until gates open.
Tickets are still available, and can be purchased in person at the BMO Harris Bank Center box office or at any Ticketmaster location, by calling 815-968-5222 or online at IceHogs.com. Those unable to attend the game can watch live locally on 23.2 Antenna TV or on the Web at AHLLive.com. Television coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. with the IceHogs Warm Up Pre-Game Show.
While Friday's showdown has no bearing on the race for the Illinois Lottery Cup - the IceHogs already laid claim to the trophy with their previous win over the Wolves in March - both teams have plenty to play for when it comes to playoff seeding.
Coming into the game one point back from the Grand Rapids Griffins, Rockford can keep their hopes for a Midwest Division title and a top-three finish in the Western Conference alive with a win. If the IceHogs can defend home ice this weekend and the Griffins drop one of their two final games, Rockford can earn finish atop the division for the first time since joining the AHL.
Meanwhile, after clinching their postseason berth with a shutout victory over Iowa last Saturday, the surging Wolves are threatening to climb up the bottom half of the playoff picture. Chicago enters Friday in seventh place, but could finish as high as fifth depending on how the final weekend pans out.
To make the 12th and final meeting between the IceHogs and Wolves even more intriguing, a potential first-round match-up is still in the cards between the crosstown rivals. As for the first 11, Rockford locked up their second Lottery Cup title with a 7-3-1-0 record, clinching after a 4-3 win at Allstate Arena in their previous meeting on March 15.
The IceHogs are in the midst of a historic stretch of play in the Forest City. A 5-1 triumph over the Charlotte Checkers Wednesday night gave Rockford eight straight victories on home ice, adding to what was already a franchise AHL record. Offense has been paramount during the unbeaten streak, as the IceHogs have outscored their opponents 38-16 over the eight wins, including a staggering 23-8 margin over their last four.
Right wing Spencer Abbott, a central figure in the scoring outburst, has goals in each of his last four games, highlighted by a jaw-dropping shorthanded goal against the Checkers. Abbott paces the IceHogs with 45 points (19g-26a), and has racked up five goals and six assists over his last six outings.
While Rockford has been able to coast comfortably into the postseason thanks to their strong play over the past month, the Wolves needed to put together a similar hot streak just to break into the top eight. After finding themselves outside of the playoff picture in mid-March, Chicago has since won 10 of their last 12 games, including an eight-game winning streak from March 21 to April 2.
Leading the charge for the St. Louis Blues affiliate is right wing Shane Harper, whose 32 goals is just two behind Grand Rapids' Teemu Pulkkinen for tops in the AHL. Harper leads the league with 10 game-winning goals, and has found the net six times this year against Rockford - more than any other player in the season series.
Rounding out the Wolves attack is center Pat Cannone (14g-33a) and Magnus Paajarvi (11g-17a), with the latter piling up three goals and seven assists over his last seven games.
For much of the past month Jordan Binnington (24-14-4, 2.33 GAA, .916 SV%) and Matt Climie (15-13-3, 2.37 GAA, .912 SV%) have taken turns manning the pipes for Chicago. Both netminders have recorded a pair of wins against Rockford this season.
Next Home Game: Saturday, April 18 vs. Toronto Marlies. Game starts at 7 p.m. Rockford wraps up the regular season schedule against the Toronto Marlies on Fan Appreciation Night at the BMO. Plenty of prizes and giveaways are in store as the IceHogs give thanks for the great hometown support they have received all year long. The first 2,500 people through the gates will leave with a free team photograph.
American Hockey League Stories from April 17, 2015
- IceHogs Hang on for Ninth-Straight Home Victory - Rockford IceHogs
- Rynnas' Record Performance Leads Stars to a 3-2 Win Over Rampage - Texas Stars
- Flames Comeback Stuns Crunch in OT, 5-4 - Syracuse Crunch
- Rampage Drop Home Finale to Texas 3-2 - San Antonio Rampage
- Griffins Reach 100 Points with 2-1 Win over Charlotte - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Behind Brossoit, OKC Blanks Iowa, 3-0 - Oklahoma City Barons
- Monsters Top Hamilton 6-3 Before 15,288 Fans - Cleveland Monsters
- Phantoms Fall in Norfolk AHL Finale - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Reinhart Posts Two Points as Amerks Fall to Comets in Regular Season Home Finale - Rochester Americans
- Admirals Close Home Schedule with 4-2 Win Before Sellout Crowd - Norfolk Admirals
- Wolves' Rally Falls Short at Rockford - Chicago Wolves
- Pirates Fall to Monarchs 3-2 - Portland Pirates
- Wolf Pack Remain Red Hot with 3-2 Victory - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Bulldogs Fall 6-3 to Monsters - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Worcester Sharks Clinch Spot in Calder Cup Playoffs - Worcester Sharks
- Penguins Silenced by Devils, 4-0 - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Barotsak, Weal Help Monarchs to 3-2 Win - Manchester Monarchs
- Devils Take Care of Business, Stay Alive - Albany Devils
- Barons Return Favor, Shutout Wild 3-0 - Iowa Wild
- B-Sens Fall 3-2 in Final Road Game of Season - Binghamton Senators
- Bridgeport doubles Hartford in shots, falls short - Bridgeport Islanders
- Bears Come Back to Defeat Senators, Claim East Division Title - Hershey Bears
- Toronto Marlies Clinch Playoff Spot for Fourth Straight Season - Toronto Marlies
- Comets Crack 100 Points with 3-2 Win in Rochester - Utica Comets
- Sharks Clinch Playoff Spot with Impressive 5-2 Win at Providence - Worcester Sharks
- Falcons Downed by IceCaps, 4-3, in Shootout - Springfield Falcons
- Checkers Come up Just Short in Grand Rapids - Charlotte Checkers
- Three-Goal Third Tops P-Bruins 5-2 - Providence Bruins
- IceCaps Edge Falcons in Shootout - St. John's IceCaps
- Syracuse Crunch Crunch Game-Worn Jersey Auction Underway - Syracuse Crunch
- Sound Tigers Sign Johnston to ATO - Bridgeport Islanders
- Bulldogs Foundation Donates over $6,000 to Hamilton Health Sciences - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Syracuse Crunch Crunch Host Fan Appreciation Night Saturday - Syracuse Crunch
- Manchester's Brian O'Neill Voted American Hockey League MVP - Manchester Monarchs
- Manchester's Brian O'Neill Voted American Hockey League MVP - AHL
- Capitals Sign Riley Barber - Hershey Bears
- Hogs, Wolves Wrap up Season Series - Rockford IceHogs
- Rampage Announce Five-Year Affiliation Agreement with Colorado Avalanche - San Antonio Rampage
- Arizona Coyotes and Springfield Falcons Announce Multi-Year Affiliation Agreement - Springfield Falcons
- Capitals Recall Philipp Grubauer from Hershey - Hershey Bears
- Monarchs Sign Jonny Brodzinski to ATO - Manchester Monarchs
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