Leighton, Regin Lead IceHogs into New Year
December 31, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Rockford IceHogs News Release
Rockford, Ill. - As the calendar flips to 2015 the Rockford IceHogs will work with a clean slate as they put an end to a three game winless streak on the road with a 3-2 shootout victory over the Grand Rapids Griffins.
After a first period that saw the IceHogs dominate the shot chart 25-6 but fall behind 1-0, Grand Rapids added another goal to begin the second period. The Griffins used the same combination as on their first goal to extend the lead to 2-0. Andy Miele finished off a two-on-one and fired in his 11th goal of the season, receiving the pass from Griffins leading scoring Teemu Pulkkinen.
Later in the second Rockford finally started to turn the chances into goals however as they mounted a comeback bid. With the IceHogs on a power play Ryan Hartman sent a centering pass for Matt Carey to one-time past Griffins goaltender Jared Coreau at 8:15 in the second period.
Just over two minutes later it was Hartman who tied the game up at 2-2. Defenseman T.J. Brennan wound up from the blueline and ripped a pass that Hartman put a stick on and tapped it to the back of the net at 10:05 in the second period.
The rest of the game belonged to the goaltenders, who took over with each making timely saves over and over again to keep the contest locked up. Despite seeing much of the action on the other end Michael Leighton was stellar down the stretch and again in overtime as he turned away two breakaway chances in the extra session to force a shootout.
After Leighton denied each of the Grand Rapids' shooters in the skills competition, Peter Regin made a nifty move and slipped the puck past Coreau in the third round of the shootout to complete Rockford's comeback.
The win for Rockford is the team's 20th of the season and they will enter the new year atop the Midwest Division. Leighton earned his eighth win of the season, stopping 23 shots and all three shooters in the shootout. Coreau was tagged with the loss despite turning away 26 chances, including 25 in the first period after the IceHogs matched an AHL-era record for most shots in a period.
It didn't take long for the Griffins to jump out to an early 1-0 lead in the game. Pulkkinen finished off a pass from Miele to score just 34 seconds into the contest. The tally for Pulkkinen gives him an AHL-best 18 on the year and goals in six straight games for Grand Rapids.
Next Home Game: Friday, January 9 vs. Milwaukee Admirals. Game begins at 7 p.m. Rockford begins their 2015 home slate with a Midwest Division rivalry game against the Milwaukee Admirals at the BMO. The first 2,500 fans through the gates will take home an IceHogs fleece blanket thanks to OSF. Those 21-and-over can arrive early for another Blues Flame Lounge Pre-Game Party, and enjoy live music, drink specials and free appetizers. Doors open at 5:15 p.m.
American Hockey League Stories from December 31, 2014
- Barons Roll Past Charlotte, 4-2 - Oklahoma City Barons
- Coreau Shines as Griffins Earn Point against Rockford - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Leighton, Regin Lead IceHogs into New Year - Rockford IceHogs
- Monarchs Shut out IceCaps to Close out 2014 - Manchester Monarchs
- Checkers Post-Holiday Slump Continues with 4-2 Defeat in OKC - Charlotte Checkers
- IceCaps Blanked 4-0 by Monarchs on New Years Eve - St. John's IceCaps
- Sens Skate into 2015 Riding Three-Game Win Streak - Binghamton Senators
- Phantoms' 2014 Finale Taken by Binghamton - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Pirates Kiss 2014 Goodbye with Win over Wolf Pack - Portland Pirates
- Wolf Pack Falls to Portland - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Marlies Lose to Flames 3-2 in Overtime - Toronto Marlies
- Amerks Surge Past Crunch, 4-1 - Syracuse Crunch
- Penguins Finish 2014 with Shutout Win over Bears - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Brett Ritchie Called up to the NHL's Dallas Stars - Texas Stars
- Penguins Blank Bears to Pad Division Lead - Hershey Bears
- Checkers Recall Austin Levi from Stockton - Charlotte Checkers
- Lightning Recall Defenseman Nikita Nesterov - Syracuse Crunch
- Anaheim Reassigns Max Friberg to Norfolk - Norfolk Admirals
- Syracuse Crunch Weekly - Syracuse Crunch
- Dunkin' Dark Blackout Night this Saturday - Binghamton Senators
- Springfield Falcons Host 'Social Media Night' January 3 - Springfield Falcons
- Comets Games on January 1 & 10 Are Sold Out - Utica Comets
- Condon Shuts Down Hogs - Rockford IceHogs
- Grand Rapids Defeat Chicago with Sproul OT Winner - Grand Rapids Griffins
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.
