AHL Rockford IceHogs

Pirri's Overtime Goal Caps Wild Game in Texas

Published on January 8, 2012 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Rockford IceHogs News Release


Cedar Park, Tex.- Five lead changes, five tied games with 11 combined goals. After all that, the Rockford IceHogs skated away with a wild 6-5 overtime win over the Texas Stars on Sunday at Cedar Park Center.

Down 5-4 late in the third period, rookie winger Rob Flick tied the game with his first career AHL goal with just 2:24 left in regulation, poking a loose puck under Texas goalie Tyler Beskorowany to force the overtime.

The IceHogs were dominated by the Stars on the special teams all weekend, but Rockford got their only power-play goal when they really needed it on Sunday. Rockford started the extra session with the man advantage and Brandon Pirri fired home the game winner 1:22 into the overtime to give Rockford the win.

Pirri's marker gave Rockford their first victory this season when trailing after two periods (1-16-1-0).

The Stars grabbed the first goal of the game just 1:24 into the contest. Colton Sceviour dug a loose puck out from under Carter Hutton and found Scott Glennie on the doorstep who put the Stars up 1-0 with his fifth goal of the season.

Rockford came right back and snagged two quick markers to take a 2-1 lead. Byron Froese dumped his third goal of the season past Beskorowany 3:16 into the opening frame off of a rebound from a Joe Lavin point shot.

Ben Smith later gave the IceHogs the lead when he redirected a point shot in. Ryan Stanton sent a shot in on goal, and Smith, standing in front of Beskorowany, tipped it past the Stars goalie at 4:22 for his tenth tally of the season.

A power-play marker tied it back up for Texas at 16:04. For the second straight night Brad Lukowich blasted home a goal, this time beating Hutton over the shoulder for his third lamp lighter of the season.

Texas began the second period with a power play, but it was Rockford who lit the lamp. Philippe Paradis flipped a pass to Brandon Segal behind the Stars defense and the IceHogs captain beat Beskorowany at 1:25 of the second frame for his 11th goal of the year.

Rookie winger Matt Fraser tied the game back up with a power-play goal at 10:13 of the middle period. Fraser picked up a deflected puck and buried his 19th goal of the year into an open net.

A struggling IceHogs penalty kill continued to haunt the Hogs later in the frame as Ryan Garbutt slipped his eighth goal of the season under Hutton at 12:18 to put the Stars back on top 4-3. The Stars finished the night three-of-six on the advantage and five-of-nine on the weekend.

Dylan Olsen stayed hot for Rockford and tied the game for a fourth time on Sunday. Olsen picked up a Brandon Bollig pass and fired his second goal of the season over the right should of Beskorowany at 3:35 of the third period.

Again the Stars had an answer, tallying in transition to reclaim the lead. Glennie picked up a Brendan Dillon pass in neutral ice and skated into the Rockford zone before snapping his second goal of the night past Hutton at 7:20 of the third frame.

The IceHogs outshot the Stars 35-25 in the contest and notched their first win against Texas in three tries this season.

Next Home Game: Monday, Jan. 16 vs. Texas Stars. Game time is 1:05 p.m. The IceHogs return home for the first time in more than two weeks for the annual Martin Luther King Jr. matinee game to take on the Stars for the second and final time at the BMO Harris Bank Center. The first 1,500 kids 14 and under will pick up an IceHogs Drawstring Bag courtesy of Frito Lay.

For every goal that the Rockford IceHogs score in 2011-12, IceHogs head coach Ted Dent will make a donation to children's cancer research. BMO Harris Bank will also make a donation for every goal to the "BMO Harris Bank Goals For Grades"

Check out the Rockford IceHogs Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



American Hockey League Stories from January 8, 2012


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.

OurSports Central