IceHogs tie franchise mark in 5-4 win over Wings
Published on February 8, 2004 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Rockford IceHogs News Release
Rockford, Ill.- The Rockford IceHogs tied a franchise record with their fifth-straight home win, knocking off the Kalamazoo Wings 5-4 before 4,580 at the Rockford MetroCentre. The IceHogs finished Week 16 unbeaten with a 3-0-1 record while defenseman Bob Nardella racked up 1g-3a-4pts. The win streak ties the mark set last season by Rockford from 11/6/02-11/24/02.
Despite Kalamazoo controlling the tempo at the beginning of the first period, it was Rockford that capitalized to take the 1-0 lead. Hogs center Steve Cygan picked up a Nardella drop pass only to give it back to the d-man who buried it past Wings goalie Rob Anderson at 3:16. Then at 3:16 of the second period, winger Jeff Ewasko would make the contest 2-0 when he blasted one past Anderson.
Kalamazoo responded when forward Tyler Willis snuck one past Hogs goaltender Ronnie Vogel to cut the lead to 2-1. Rockford regained their two-goal cushion with a power play blast from red-hot wingman Justin Cardwell at 10:12 of the middle period. But the Wings sliced into the lead before the end of the frame with a power play marker of their own when forward Pat O'Leary touched one past Vogel at 18:36.
The IceHogs would find themselves short-handed once again in the third period but Kelly Miller picked up a blocked shot from rookie center Maris Ziedins and notched a shortie at 2:22 of the third period. The point was Miller's sixth this season while short-handed.
The Wings would not go away however, as Joe Ritson made the score 4-3 at 5:59 slipping one past Vogel. O'Leary later notched his second tally of the game at 10:12 to tie the contest at four goals apiece. Rockford would grab the lead back when Dave Paradise knocked in the game winner at 12:35.
Vogel finished the game with a team season high 49 saves and finished the week with 172 saves on 179 shots and a 3-0-1 record. Paradise and Cardwell accumulated multi-point games once again and Cardwell has followed up his eight game scoring streak with a five game stretch. Paradise also extended his team season assist steak to five-straight games.
Next Home Game: Friday, February 13th vs. Muskegon Fury. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m. The Hogs and Fury clash at the MetroCentre once again in another Western Conference showdown. Every fan in attendance will have an opportunity to win a pair of airline tickets courtesy of TMA Airlines.
International Hockey League 2 Stories from February 8, 2004
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- IceHogs tie franchise mark in 5-4 win over Wings - Rockford IceHogs
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