Simpson Backstops Hogs to 2-1 Win
February 1, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Rockford IceHogs News Release
Utica, NY - The only puck to beat Rockford's Kent Simpson on Saturday night came in the first minute of play. From there, the IceHogs' backstop shut down the Utica Comets as the Hogs held on for a 2-1 win.
Rockford's league worst penalty kill lived up to the billing in the opening moments of the first period on Saturday. Just 28 seconds into the game Pascal Pelletier fired home a Cal O'Reilly pass past Kent Simpson for his eighth goal of the season, just nine seconds into the Comets first power play.
The IceHogs got the goal back though moments later when rookie winger Pat Mullane banked his fourth marker of the season off of Comets goalie Joacim Eriksson and in at 2:05 set up by Zach Miskovic and Jeremy Morin.
In the second period, after killing off their second 5-on-3 power play of the game, Rockford grabbed a 2-1 lead. Joakim Nordstrom set up Brandon Mashinter at 10:33 and the winger fired his sixth goal of the season top shelf over Eriksson's right shoulder.
The score would hold heading into the third period and Utica kept the pressure in the Rockford zone for the majority of the frame, but Simpson was up to the task as he made 14 saves in the stanza to preserve the win.
Next Home Game: Tuesday, Feb. 4 vs. Hamilton Bulldogs. Puck drop is 7 p.m. for another WXRX Dollar Day at the BMO. Fans can take advantage of one dollar beers, hot dogs, soft drinks and companion tickets.
• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...
American Hockey League Stories from February 1, 2014
- Postma Delivers Unwanted Mail - Manchester Monarchs
- Chicago Sneaks Past Iowa 3-2 in OT - Iowa Wild
- Fortunus, Stars Steamroll Marlies 6-0 - Texas Stars
- Rattie's Rocket Lifts Wolves over Iowa - Chicago Wolves
- Hartford beats Albany in shootout - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Monsters Fall to Charlotte 5-3 - Cleveland Monsters
- Sharks edge the Bruins 3-2 in a thriller in front of 7,966 at DCU Center - Worcester Sharks
- Simpson Backstops Hogs to 2-1 Win - Rockford IceHogs
- Sens Pummel Pirates 7-1 - Binghamton Senators
- Sound Tigers blank Falcons - Bridgeport Islanders
- Checkers Survive Rally in Lake Erie - Charlotte Checkers
- Americans Shut out Penguins, 4-0 - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- P-Bruins Fall to Sharks 3-2 - Providence Bruins
- Falcons Blanked By Sound Tigers - Springfield Falcons
- Wolf Pack earn comeback victory over Albany - Albany Devils
- IceCaps Complete Perfect Road Trip with 3-1 Win - St. John's IceCaps
- Drew Shore Returned to Rampage - San Antonio Rampage
- Admirals Win Eighth Shootout of Season - Norfolk Admirals
- Admirals Win Eighth Shootout of Season - Norfolk Admirals
- Lightning Reassign Goaltender Kristers Gudlevskis To Syracuse - Syracuse Crunch
- Copps Coliseum Officially Renamed FirstOntario Centre - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Phantoms Bounce Bears in Philadelphia - Adirondack Phantoms
- Nashville Predators Recall Simon Moser from Milwaukee - Milwaukee Admirals
- Phantoms Snap Bears' Win Streak - Hershey Bears
- Oilers Assign Mark Arcobello to Oklahoma City - Oklahoma City Barons
- Comets Hit 7th Sell Out - Utica Comets
- Crunch Sign Goaltenders Allen York and John Park to Tryout Contracts - Syracuse Crunch
- Iowa Signs Downing to a PTO - Iowa Wild
- Comet Tales: Behind Enemy Lines with Jeremy Morin - Utica Comets
- Gameday: Comets vs. Rockford - Utica Comets
- Pirates Face Senators for First Time Since 2012 - Portland Pirates
- Heat Down Bulldogs 6-0 - Abbotsford Heat
- Bulldogs Burned by Heat 6-0 - Hamilton Bulldogs
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.
