Simpson's Brilliant Performance Not Enough for IceHogs
Published on October 5, 2013 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Rockford IceHogs News Release
San Antonio, Tex.-Kent Simpson knows from experience that as a goalie you always need to be ready. Slated to back up on Saturday, Simpson was summoned into goal after an injury forced Antti Raanta out of the game just 5:36 into the contest.
Simpson's team record 49 saves weren't enough as San Antonio skated away with a 3-1 win. Raanta stopped all four shots he faced as Rockford gave up a single game team record 56 shots on goal. Simpson's last appearance for Rockford in last season's finale was also in relief and he set the single game record despite sitting out 5:57 of time on Saturday.
San Antonio peppered Raanta and Kent Simpson with 21 shots in the first period alone, but the game remained scoreless at the first intermission.
In the second period, the Rampage capitalized on a power play which carried over from the first period. Rockford failed to clear the puck out of their zone and Jon Matsumoto was set up by Greg Rallo for a wide open goal moments later at 47-seconds of the period.
Rockford evened the game at 1-1 one-minute into the third period. Alex Broadhurst, making his pro debut, picked up a puck in the Rockford zone, skated end-to-end and wrapped his first career goal past Scott Clemensen to tie the game.
After a sequence of saves by Simpson, Matsumoto found himself on the backdoor once again where he buried his second tally of the night at 11:47 to put San Antonio on top 2-1. Alex Petrovic put the game out of reach with an empty goal at 19:17.
With the loss, Rockford is now 0-2-1-1 all-time in season openers on the road.
Next Home Game: Saturday, Oct. 19 vs. Grand Rapids. Game time is 7 p.m. Rockford opens the home portion of their regular season schedule against the Griffins. The first 5,000 fans to the game will receive an IceHogs calendar courtesy of Stateline Staffing Services. For tickets, call (815) 968-5222.
American Hockey League Stories from October 5, 2013
- San Antonio out-shoots Rockford 56-25 in victory - San Antonio Rampage
- B-Sens Battle Back for 4-3 OT Win over the Crunch - Binghamton Senators
- Manning Scores Overtime Winner - Adirondack Phantoms
- Morin's Big Game Leads Texas to 4-1 Opening Night Victory - Texas Stars
- Checkers Top Barons, Sweep Season-Opening Set - Charlotte Checkers
- Simpson's Brilliant Performance Not Enough for IceHogs - Rockford IceHogs
- Phantoms Take Overtime Win in Season Opener - Hershey Bears
- Wolves Dropped 4-1 by Stars - Chicago Wolves
- Falcons Open Season with Shootout Win over Monarchs - Springfield Falcons
- Admirals Open Season with 3-2 Shootout Win at Hartford - Norfolk Admirals
- Conner, Zolnierczyk Down Tigers in Opener - Bridgeport Islanders
- Penguins Open Season with Victory over Sound Tigers - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Little Too Much - Manchester Monarchs
- Late Goal Earns Point Despite Shootout Loss - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Crunch Stunned by Senators in Season Opener - Syracuse Crunch
- Monsters Get First Win Thanks to Third-Period Heroics - Cleveland Monsters
- Heat Edged 3-2 by Lake Erie - Abbotsford Heat
- P-Bruins Fall to IceCaps 5-1 - Providence Bruins
- IceCaps Thump Bruins 5-1 - St. John's IceCaps
- Griffins Fall to Marlies 4-3 in Overtime - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Toronto Drops Grand Rapids 4-3 in Season Opener - Toronto Marlies
- Papa John's Partners with Manchester Monarchs - Manchester Monarchs
- All Monsters Games to Air Live on Radio Network; Nine Also on TV - Cleveland Monsters
- Rangers Assign J.T. Miller to Hartford - Hartford Wolf Pack
- IceCaps Sign Three Skaters to PTOs - St. John's IceCaps
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