Rockford Begins Homestand Wednesday against Adirondack
March 18, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Rockford IceHogs News Release
Rockford, Ill. - With the end of their regular season schedule in sight, the American Hockey League's Rockford IceHogs are settling in for their longest home stretch of the year. The IceHogs (34-19-5-2) open a four-game residency at the BMO Harris Bank Center on Wednesday as they take on the Adirondack Flames (30-23-6-1). Face-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Fans coming to the game can get plenty of bang for their buck, as Wednesday is a WXRX Dollar Day at the BMO. Hot dogs, sodas, beers and companion tickets will all be available for only $1. For tickets, visit in person at the BMO Harris Bank Center box office or at any Ticketmaster location, call 815-968-5222 or log on to IceHogs.com.
Those unable to make it to the game can catch the action live locally on 23.2 Antenna TV, as well as online at AHLLive.com. Television coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. with the IceHogs Warm Up Pre-Game Show. For instant updates during the game, follow the IceHogs on Twitter (@GoIceHogs).
The last leg of Rockford's season also happens to be the busiest, as Wednesday begins a frantic sprint to the finish that has the IceHogs playing 16 games in 32 days. Fortunately for them, ten of those 16 games will take place at the BMO, starting with the season-long four-game homestand.
As the calendar nears April and the race for the Calder Cup Playoffs continues to tighten, Rockford is hoping to keep pace with the top teams in the Western Conference. Entering Week 24 of the AHL season, the IceHogs occupy fifth place in the West, three points back from the San Antonio Rampage from the fourth seed and the home-ice advantage that accompanies it.
Picking up points in nine of their last 12 games since Feb. 13, Rockford returns home on the heels of a weekend split on the road against a couple of divisional foes. After falling to the Midwest Division-leading Grand Rapids Griffins 3-1 on Saturday night, the IceHogs bounced back to defeat the Chicago Wolves 4-3 the following afternoon. Sunday's triumph clinched a win in the season series against Rockford's in-state rival, and with it the Illinois Lottery Cup.
A dominant three-goal second period paved the way to the IceHogs' fourth victory of the season at Allstate Arena - a club record. Brandon Mashinter, Spencer Abbott and Ryan Hartman all tallied within an eight-minute window late in the period to build a 3-0 cushion after the opening frame ended scoreless.
With a goal and assist in Chicago, Abbott now has enjoyed multi-point nights in two of his four games with Rockford since coming over from the Toronto Marlies last month. Also wielding a hot stick is veteran center Peter Regin, who has notched points in five straight games and eight of his last ten (3g-5a).
While the IceHogs' playoff prospects sit on steady ground, their opponents on Wednesday are fighting for their postseason lives. Adirondack enters the week in ninth place and on the wrong side of the Western Conference bubble, trailing the Hamilton Bulldogs by two points for the eighth and final playoff berth. The Bulldogs, Flames, Wolves and the Marlies are in the midst of a four-team battle for the eighth spot, separated by only four points.
The Calgary Flames affiliate is coming off of a tough week where they played four games in six days, picking up points in three of them (1-1-2-0). They are embarking on a week-long tour through the Midwest that has them stopping in Rockford tonight and Saturday and in Grand Rapids on Sunday.
Adirondack's two leading point scorers - center Drew Shore (12g-25a) and right wing Emile Poirer (14g-16a) - are currently up with the big club, but rookie wingers David Wolf (16g-13a) and Garnet Hathaway (15g-13a) are both players to keep an eye on. Fellow first-year Ken Agostino has points in six straight games, potting two goals and six assists over that span.
Brad Thiessen (10-6-2, 2.96 GAA) and Doug Carr (2-1-0, 3.01 GAA) have divvied up the Flames' goaltending duties over the last three weeks, but their team defense has been an area of struggle as of late. Adirondack has been torched for 19 goals against over their last three games, and an average of 4.5 goals against across their previous eight.
The only prior meeting this season between Rockford and Adirondack came in the second week of the season, during a 4-2 come-from-behind IceHogs victory in New York on Oct. 16. The two squads will finish their four-game season series in short order, meeting three times in the next ten days.
Next Home Game: Saturday, March 21 vs. Adirondack Flames: Face-off is at 7 p.m. The IceHogs and Flames meet up again during Country Night at the BMO Harris Bank Center. Local band Long-Shot will be providing live music, and the first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive an IceHogs BBQ apron courtesy of Vienna Beef.
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