AHL Rockford IceHogs

Third Period Lead Doesn't Hold up for Rockford

Published on October 15, 2011 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Rockford IceHogs News Release


Abbotsford, B.C.- For a third straight game, the Rockford IceHogs carried a one-goal lead into the third period. The IceHogs, however, couldn't preserve the lead on Friday and dropped a 4-3 decision to the Abbotsford Heat at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre.

Rockford had two, two-goal leads on Friday and notched all three of their tallies in the first period.

In his first game back since suffering a concussion on Jan. 15, Jeremy Morin found the score sheet and put Rockford on top early into period one. Morin picked up a Chris DiDomenico pass and worked himself out of pressure in the Heat zone and the winger slid his first goal of the season through the legs of Leland Irving at 5:09 of the opening frame.

For the third straight game Rockford winger Kyle Beach lit the lamp. The second year winger blew his third goal of the campaign past Irving in traffic at 18:52 off of a feed from Brandon Pirri.

The Heat reduced Rockford's lead back down to a goal at 12:12 of the opening stanza. Ben Walter picked up a centering pass from Greg Nemisz from behind the Rockford goal and beat Alec Richards five-hole for his first tally of the year.

Rockford's two-goal lead was restored with a Pirri power-play marker. From on top of the right circle, Pirri blasted his first goal of the year past Irving 19:21, set up by Brian Connelly.

The two-goal lead was short lived as Abbotsford retaliated on the bump up shift. Paul Byron earned his second goal of the season when he snuck a shot under Richards at 19:38.

After five combined goals in the opening period, the second frame went scoreless, but not without opportunity. Abbotsford's Lance Bouma was awarded a penalty shot after Ryan Stanton slashed him on a breakaway, but Richards denied Bouma's attempt at 11:21 to keep the IceHogs on top heading into the second intermission.

The one-goal advantage wouldn't last long into period three for Rockford as Abbotsford struck twice early in the final frame to take a 4-3 lead. John Rheault got the equalizer with a breakaway marker 1:01 into the period. Then just 44-seconds later Nemisz would finish off a transition rush when Dustin Sylvester found him on the doorstep for his second goal of the season and the Heat's first lead of the game.

Both teams finished with 29 shots on goal and Richards was tagged with the loss after making 24 saves. Rockford went 1-5 on the power play while holding Abbotsford to just one power play try, which the Heat came up empty on.

Next Home Game: Saturday, Oct. 22 vs. Chicago Wolves. Game time is 7:05 p.m.The IceHogs welcome the Chicago Wolves to the BMO Harris Bank Center for the first of 12 meetings. Fans can purchase a special family four pack for $49 that includes four tickets, four Culvers concrete mixers and four tickets to the Discovery Center's "Peanuts....Naturally" exhibit. The four pack can be purchased at the BMO Harris Bank Box Office, Discovery Center or at any Rockford area Culver's locations.

Check out the Rockford IceHogs Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from October 15, 2011


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