Sports stats



AHL Rockford IceHogs

Week 17 Recap: IceHogs and Wolves Skate to Split

February 2, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Rockford IceHogs News Release


Week 17 Results:

Friday, Jan. 30, Chicago 2 vs. Rockford 3 (OT)

Saturday, Jan. 31, Rockford 1 at Chicago 4

Week 18 Schedule:

Friday, Feb. 6, at Milwaukee, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 7, vs. Milwaukee, 7 p.m.

Week 17 Recap:

The IceHogs picked up a pair of points in their Midwest Division home-and-home series with the Chicago Wolves this past weekend, to begin a string of five-straight games against divisional rivals. Rockford defended their home building with a 3-2 overtime win on Friday, before falling 4-1 at Allstate Arena the following night in the rematch.

Bacon Bits:

-Goalie Michael Leighton is unbeaten in regulation (5-0-2) over his last eight appearances, dating back to a Dec. 31, 2014 game in Grand Rapids

-During the same stretch, Leighton has a 1.15 goals against average, a .965 save percentage and two shutouts

-Of those eight games, five of them extended beyond regulation time

-Overall, Leighton ranks in the AHL's top five in goals against average (2.01, T-4th), save percentage (.931, T-2nd) and shutouts (4, T-2nd)

-The IceHogs completed their fifth home-and-home series this season (all against Chicago or Milwaukee) and the team is 2-6-2-0, but have not won any of the 10 games in regulation

-In non-home-and-home situations, the IceHogs are 24-8-2-2

-Rockford has three home-and-homes remaining on their regular season slate, including this weekend against Milwaukee

-Jamie Wise scored his first-career overtime goal on Friday night, giving the IceHogs their first OT win since 11/21/14, snapping a four-game OT losing streak

-Center Drew LeBlanc notched Rockford's lone goal on Saturday in Chicago, his first marker since 12/3/14

-Saturday's loss against the Wolves came in their fifth matchup against their in-state rival in the month of January, a stretch the IceHogs finished 3-2-0-0

-Only two meetings remain on the schedule between Rockford and Chicago, the next comes March 15 at Allstate Arena

-Rockford just needs two standings points over their last two games against the Wolves to clinch the Illinois Lottery Cup

-The IceHogs drew their second straight sellout on Friday night (6,339), the fourth overall on the season, and are expected to be sold out on Saturday once again

-Defenseman Adam Clendening was traded to the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night, in exchange for 18-year-old blueliner Gustav Forsling

-After the Clendening's trade, the core seven players for Rockford from the end of the 2012-13 season are now in the NHL with other teams (Clendening and Ryan Stanton-Vancouver; Jimmy Hayes, Dylan Olsen and Brandon Pirri-Florida, Jeremy Morin-Columbus; Carter Hutton-Nashville)

-Defenseman Klas Dahlbeck is the only regular still on Rockford's roster from two seasons ago

-The IceHogs are in the middle of a stretch in which the team will play just four games in 19 days between 1/15-2/12

-Beginning Feb.13, Rockford will play six games in nine days

Hot Hog: Week 17

Goaltender Michael Leighton (1-0-0, .933 SV%, 1.93 GAA)

Goalie Michael Leighton finished off a sterling January with his fourth win of the month on Friday. Leighton stopped 28 of the 30 Chicago Wolves shots fired at him in helping Rockford to a 3-2 overtime win. In January, the veteran backstop went 4-0-2-0 with .969 save percentage and a 1.05 goals against average. Leighton recorded two shutouts in the month, not including a 1-0 overtime loss to Milwaukee on 1/9/15.

Upcoming Games:

Friday, Feb. 6 at Milwaukee Admirals: Game starts at 7 p.m. The IceHogs begin their February schedule in the BMO Harris Bradley Center. The Hogs have a 3-4-1-0 record against the Ads this season. Rockford holds a 22-17-1-2 record all-time in Milwaukee.

Saturday, Feb. 7, vs. Milwaukee Admirals: Puck drops at 7 p.m. The IceHogs pay homage to their all-time leading goal scorer when they return to the BMO for Jeremy Morin Bobblehead Night against the Admirals. The first 2,500 fans will receive a bobblehead of the former IceHog, courtesy of Dental Dimensions.

HOG TALK RETURNS TONIGHT WITH MCNEILL AND DENT

Rockford, Ill.- The Rockford IceHogs weekly talk show "Bud Light Hog Talk" returns to Mulligan's Pub tonight from 6-7 p.m.

The popular talk show which features IceHogs play-by-play announcer Mike Peck or color commentator TJ Hogan hosting players and coaches, will be broadcast live from Mulligan's Pub most Monday nights throughout the season from 6-7 p.m. The show returns tonight with All-Star forward Mark McNeill and head coach Ted Dent as the guests.

Each week Peck and Hogan will get to know each player and coach, along with reviewing the previous week's games and looking ahead to the IceHogs next opponent.

The live show is a great chance for fans to meet the players and coaches, ask questions, sign up to win prizes courtesy of the IceHogs, and enjoy some great food and drink specials at Mulligan's. Mulligan's Pub & Grill is located at 2212 N Main Street in downtown Rockford.

For those that can't make it to the show, it will be aired on WIFR's 23.2 "Antenna TV" on Tuesday from 7-8 p.m.

This season fans will be allowed to ask their favorite players and the coaching staff questions. To submit a question for the show, log on to Twitter and use #HogTalk or comment on the IceHogs Official Facebook page.

For a complete list of Bud Light Hog Talk show dates, visit the IceHogs community calendar on IceHogs.com.

Check out the Rockford IceHogs Statistics

• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...

American Hockey League Stories from February 2, 2015


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.

Other Recent Rockford IceHogs Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central