Rockford fights off three-goal deficit to top Komets
January 18, 2006 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Rockford IceHogs News Release
Rockford, Ill.- Down 4-1 midway through Wednesday's game, the Rockford IceHogs fought back to knock off the Fort Wayne Komets 5-4 at the Rockford MetroCentre. The IceHogs scored four unanswered goals to complete the comeback and move Rockford's home record to 19-2-2 on the season.
Fort Wayne tallied twice in the opening frame to bring a lead into the first intermission. Winger Matt Hunter knocked in a rebound from underneath Hogs goalie Michel Robinson at 7:25 to put Fort Wayne on top 1-0. Later, winger Andrew Luciuk poked in a wrap around attempt on the power-play at 16:41 for a 2-0 advantage.
Rookie winger Robin Big Snake got Rockford on the board 4:35 into the second period when he fired a shot over the shoulder of Komets goalie Kevin Kurk. But the Komets responded 20 seconds later to grab their two-goal lead back when winger Jonathon Goodwin hammered in Fort Wayne's third marker at 4:55. The Komets tacked on another to make their lead 4-1 at 7:59 with Hunter's second goal of the night.
With the Hogs down by three, rookie winger Chaz Johnson began the Hogs comeback on the power-play, tipping in a perfect feed from fellow rookie Yannick Tifu on a 2-on-1 breakaway at 10:29. Then Rockford skated on a 5-on-3 advantage later in the second and center Preston Mizzi blasted in his 17th goal of the season, tying Big Snake for the team lead, at 13:10 to cut the lead to 4-3.
In the third period the IceHogs tied the contest with the first goal of the season from defenseman Steve Pelletier at 5:37. The game-winner was later snuck in by Tifu, his 11th of the season, on a wrap around at 12:39 of the final period. The Hogs held the Komets off the board the rest of the way, including the games final 1:57 with an extra skater on and Kurk on the bench.
Robinson picked up the win making 28 saves while Kurk was given the loss after turning away 30 shots. Rockford went 2-for-9 on the power-play with the Komets converting 1-of-6.
Next Home Game: Friday, Jan. 18 vs. Port Huron Flags. The Hogs and Flags hook up at the MetroCentre. The first 1,000 fans to the game will receive IceHogs Poster #4 from Medicine Man, Johnson Press, Pepsi and the Rockford Register Star.
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