IceHogs Feel Opening-Night Energy at the BMO; Fall Short to Griffins
November 6, 2021 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Rockford IceHogs News Release
Rockford, IL - Forward Brett Connolly capitalized on the power play in the final minute of the second period to pull the Rockford IceHogs (2-5-0-0) within striking distance, but the Grand Rapids Griffins (4-4-0-1) held on for a 2-1 victory on Opening Night at BMO Harris Bank Center Saturday evening.
The Griffins kicked off the scoring with a pair of goals 10 seconds apart and took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission. Forward Tyler Spezia opened the scoring at 9:07, completing a 2-on-1 rush with Dominik Shine. Moments later, forward Taro Hirose deflected a centering pass over the pads of IceHogs goaltender Arvid Soderblom (L, 25 saves on 27 shots) for a two-goal advantage.
Late in the second period, the IceHogs responded with a power-play marker to cut into the Griffins lead. Forward Evan Barratt broke into the offensive zone down the left wing and found Connolly with the easy back-door, tap-in tally with 41 seconds left in the period.
Connolly's second marker of the season proved to be the lone tally of the night for the IceHogs as Griffins netminder Calvin Pickard (21 saves on 22 shots) denied all 10 shots in the third period and received timely blocks from his teammates to preserve the win.
The IceHogs finished the game 1-for-2 on the power play while the Griffins did not receive a man advantage.
The IceHogs continue their Healthcare Workers Appreciation Weekend tomorrow, Sunday, Nov. 7 vs. Manitoba at 4 p.m. Join the IceHogs as they celebrate our Stateline healthcare heroes that have kept our community safe with special promotions and in-game presentations. Buy Opening Weekend Tickets
Listen to every game this season on the IceHogs Broadcast Network presented by BMO Harris Bank! Listen from your favorite device, at home or on the road at IceHogs.com and on the IceHogs app! Fans can also tune in on all of Mid-West Family's local stations including 104.9 The X, B103, 95.3 The Bull, and Rockford Greatest Hits 100.5 and featured on Rock River Current, the Stateline's premiere source for local events, news, and culture.
American Hockey League Stories from November 6, 2021
- Pre-Game Report: Wolf Pack Continue Busy Three-In-Three Weekend with Visit from Penguins - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Wolf Pack Win Third in a Row with 4-3 Decision over the Penguins - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Tucson Shut out at Henderson - Tucson Roadrunners
- Game #8: Tucson at Henderson - Tucson Roadrunners
- Moose Dominate at Chicago - Manitoba Moose
- Heat Overcome Early Deficit, Rally for Seventh-Straight Win - Stockton Heat
- P-Bruins Blank Hershey Bears, Sweep Weekend with 3-0 Win - Providence Bruins
- Wild Fall to Admirals, 5-2 - Iowa Wild
- Wolves' Five-Game Winning Streak Ends - Chicago Wolves
- Crunch Shutout Rocket, 4-0 - Syracuse Crunch
- Grand Rapids Griffins Take Care of Business Away from Home against Rockford IceHogs - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Penguins' Comeback Foiled in 4-3 Loss at Hartford - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Comets Still Undefeated, Beat Marlies 5-2 - Utica Comets
- Schneider Helps Guide Ads Past Wild - Milwaukee Admirals
- Monsters Fight Comes up Short in 3-2 Shootout Loss Senators - Cleveland Monsters
- IceHogs Feel Opening-Night Energy at the BMO; Fall Short to Griffins - Rockford IceHogs
- Thunderbirds Take down Islanders 4-1 - Bridgeport Islanders
- T-Birds Ambush Islanders Early En Route to Victory - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Bruins Blank Bears to Halt Point Streak at Five - Hershey Bears
- Cates Scores First in Road Trip Opening Setback - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Offense Explodes as Checkers Flatten Phantoms - Charlotte Checkers
- Stars Too Bright as Barracuda Fall 7-3 - San Jose Barracuda
- Stars Offense Explodes in a 7-3 Victory in San Jose - Texas Stars
- Bears Sign Ryan Dmowski to Tryout Agreement - Hershey Bears
- 5 Things: Heat vs. Abbotsford - Stockton Heat
- Ducks Recall Benoit, McTavish; Send Dostal to San Diego - San Diego Gulls
- Tampa Bay Lightning Reassign Defenseman Andrej Sustr to Syracuse Crunch - Syracuse Crunch
- IceHogs Head Coach Derek King Named Interim Head Coach of Blackhawks - Rockford IceHogs
- Blackhawks Assign Beaudin to IceHogs - Rockford IceHogs
- Protas Re-Assigned to Bears - Hershey Bears
- Barracuda Recall Forward Krystof Hrabik from Orlando - San Jose Barracuda
- Stockton Aims for Seventh Consecutive Win Saturday against Abbotsford - Stockton Heat
- Bobby Nardella Assigned to Hershey - Hershey Bears
- Marlies Look to Finish Weekend with Win vs. Utica - Toronto Marlies
- Checkers Recall Antoine Bibeau from Allen - Charlotte Checkers
- Game Preview: Bruins at Bears, 7 PM - Hershey Bears
- Panthers Recall Christopher Gibson from Charlotte - Charlotte Checkers
- IceHogs Celebrate Opening Night & Healthcare Heroes Appreciation Weekend Tonight vs. Grand Rapids - Rockford IceHogs
- Canucks Fall Short in Comeback Attempt in Stockton - Abbotsford Canucks
- Henderson Shuts out Tuscon, 3-0 - Henderson Silver Knights
- Gulls Stop Bakersfield in OT - San Diego Gulls
- Heat Win Sixth Straight, Beat Abbotsford in First-Ever Meeting - Stockton Heat
- Wild Rally Late, Fall to Griffins in Overtime, 6-5 - Iowa Wild
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.
