The Rockford IceHogs are currently mired in a three-game losing streak. Rockford has been hard at work preparing for a three-game weekend that begins at the BMO Center Friday night.
The IceHogs host Central Division rival Milwaukee for the first time this season to kick off this weekend’s action. Saturday and Sunday, Rockford travels to DesMoines for two games with the Iowa Wild.
The 5-5 IceHogs are tied with Milwaukee and Grand Rapids with ten points in the standings. Iowa, who picked up a 4-2 win at the BMO Center November 10, is just ahead of Rockford with 13 points.
The IceHogs struggled to light the lamp in their three losses last week, culminating in a 5-0 defeat in Rosemont to the Chicago Wolves last Sunday. Rockford coach Anders Sorensen admitted at the team’s weekly media session on Tuesday that losing streaks happen over the course of a long season.
“The biggest thing is that you go through it,” Sorensen stressed. “You’ve just got to embrace it and live for it and just go through it.”
Weekend Opponents
The Admirals split two road games with first-place Texas last weekend. This includes a 5-4 overtime victory on November 11. Milwaukee is paced by Denis Gurianov (3 G, 7 A) on the offensive side. However, defense has been the team’s forte this season. The Admirals are fourth in the AHL in that category, surrendering just 2.70 goals per contest. Milwaukee’s goalie, Yaroslav Askarov, is sporting a 1.60 goals against average and a .935 save percentage in his five starts.
Iowa has also received solid goaltending from Jesper Wallstedt (2.01 GAA, .932 save percentage). Wallstedt is 6-2 for the Wild this season. He’s been in net in both Rockford meetings with Iowa; a 6-2 IceHogs win at the BMO October 27, and last Friday’s 4-2 Iowa victory.
Rockford will attempt to get their league-best power-play unit back on track this weekend. The IceHogs still pace the AHL with a 29.7 success rate despite going 0-8 against the Wolves Sunday afternoon. Rockford is led offensively by veterans Joey Anderson (5 G, 7 A), Brett Seney (5 G, 5 A), and David Gust (3 G, 7 A).
Roster News
On Wednesday, D Filip Roos was recalled to the Chicago Blackhawks. To sure up the blueline, the IceHogs recalled D.J. King and Ross MacDougall from the ECHL’s Indy Fuel.
Forward Kale Howarth is still in the AHLs concussion protocol. Howarth has been out since Rockford’s opening game in San Jose October 13.
Puck Drops
The action at the BMO Center gets underway for the IceHogs at 7:00 p.m. CDT on Friday night. Saturday’s game in Iowa begins at 6:00 p.m. CDT, while the Sunday rematch starts at 3:00 p.m. CDT.
