Morin's Hat Trick Leads Offensive Outburst
February 8, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Rockford IceHogs News Release
Rockford, Ill.- Over the last two games, the Rockford IceHogs offense have produced 14 goals and on Saturday the IceHogs blew out the Iowa Wild 8-3 in front of a packed BMO Harris Bank Center of 5,310 fans.
The IceHogs jumped out to an early lead in the first period, but the Iowa Wild fought back in the second only to be halted by Rockford's late third period surge put the game out of reach as they topped the Wild 8-3.
Jeremy Morin recorded his first professional hat trick with goals coming in the first period and two more in the last half of the third to help put a stop to Iowa's ten game point streak coming into tonight's match-up. With the goals, Morin also became the IceHogs all-time goal scoring leader with 70 career markers, surpassing Preston Mizzi (69).
With heavy pressure during the game's opening minutes, the IceHogs jumped out to an early two goal lead with two quick strikes. After firing a series of shots on the Iowa net, Phillip Danault finally poked one through at 2:39 in the first period. Just 14 seconds later, Jeremy Morin tapped in a shot by Zach Miskovic to give the IceHogs an early two goal 2-0 lead cushion.
The offense picked up in the second frame as both clubs combined for seven tallies, a season-high for the IceHogs and their opponent.
Drew LeBlanc started the scoring barrage with his seventh goal of the season, extending the Hogs' advantage to 3-0.
The Wild jumped in on the scoring and responded with two goals of their own when Tyler Graovac snuck a pass through traffic to Brian Connelly, and the former Hogs' d-man found the back of the net for the fourth time this season to make it a 3-1 game.
Then just 44 seconds later Marc Hagel knocked in his fifth goal of the season from a Kris Foucault pass to decrease Rockford's lead to 3-2.
Danault wouldn't let Iowa's streak go unanswered as he regained the two-goal advantage for the IceHogs at 11:48 in the second when he notched his second goal of the night with a flick of the puck over the shoulder of Johan Gustafsson.
Hagel wouldn't be outdone however, as he matched Danault with his second of the night for Iowa to bring the score to 4-3 at 15:23. The power play tally was setup by Erik Haula and Connelly.
Rockford wasn't finished scoring in the second period as Terry Broadhurst received a pass from Mark McNeill and his brother, Alex Broadhurst, and lit the lamp to increase the Hogs lead. Then, Adam Clendening took a shot from the blue line that trickled through traffic and deflected off Brad Winchester and in to push the score to 7-3.
The Hogs continued to pour it on in the second as Morin completed the hat trick with goals at the 4:26 mark and again at 9:08 in the final frame. The first of the third period came when Morin skated in on a breakaway and made a quick move before roofing it past John Curry, who came in to replace Gustafsson to start the third.
Just under five minutes later Morin completed the three goal game with help from Klas Dahlbeck and Bouchard. Next Home Game: Sunday, February 9 against Utica Comets with a 4 p.m. puck drop. The Comets grace the BMO for the first time ever in franchise history for a matinee game. The first 2,500 fans through the gates will receive IceHogs player cards courtesy of The Rockford Register Star. It is also Vienna Beef Family Value Day where you can buy 4 tickets, 4 hot dogs and 4 sodas all for $59. Stick around after the game for the final "Skate with the Hogs" event. Bring your own skates for a post game skate with the IceHogs players.
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American Hockey League Stories from February 8, 2014
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