The Rockford IceHogs picked up five of a possible six points in a three-in-three slate last weekend. With Thanksgiving approaching, the IceHogs will look to feast on a couple of Central Division rivals. It’s three games in the next four days for the Chicago Blackhawks AHL affiliate.
Rockford (7-5-1, 15 points) moved into second place in the Central Division standings. After rallying to pick up a point in an overtime loss to Milwaukee last Friday, the IceHogs went to DesMoines and took two games from the Iowa Wild.
Manitoba visits the BMO Center Wednesday night to get this week’s action started. The chance to settle the score with the Admirals comes over the weekend, when Rockford has a home-and-home with Milwaukee. Friday, the two teams lock up at the BMO; the action moves to Milwaukee Saturday, closing out Rockford’s November schedule.
This Week’s Opposition
The IceHogs won the first two meetings with the Moose (6-7, 12 points) this season, sweeping a two-game series in Manitoba on November 4 and 5. However, the Moose have played well on the road this season, with a 4-1 record. Leading Manitoba in scoring is rookie forward Nikita Chibrikov (5 G, 9 A), who is currently on a three-game goal streak.
The Admirals (7-6) are right behind Rockford in the standings with 14 points. Over the past five season. Milwaukee has been right at home at the BMO Center, with a 12-3-1-1 mark in that span. The IceHogs came from behind three times to force overtime on November 17 but ultimately lost on a Cal O’Reilly goal in the extra session.
Rockford’s chances to avenge last Friday’s defeat improve if they can keep veteran Denis Gurianov (4 G, 8 A) off the scoresheet this weekend. Gurianov has a five game point streak going heading into Milwaukee hosting Iowa on Wednesday.
The IceHogs will likely see both Admirals goalies. Yaroslav Askarov (2.17 GAA, .913 save percentage) was 5-2-1 against Rockford a season ago. Troy Grosenick (3.12, .891) has split starts with Askarov and was the winning goalie in the November 17 clash between Milwaukee and Rockford, making 33 saves.
Hogs In Need Of Heat
David Gust (3 G, 9 A) picked up a couple of helpers in Rockford’s 4-3 shootout win in Iowa Saturday. However, Gust will be looking for his first goal since October 27, a drought of nine games.
Cole Guttman (2 G, 4 A) is on a six-game pointless streak. Michal Teply (3 G, 2 A) has been sans goals over his last seven outings. Both forward Brandon Baddock and defenseman Josh Healey are still looking for their first points of the season.
Defensemen Nolan Allen and Louis Crevier each have two assists but are looking for their first professional goals. Crevier played in 62 games last year and twelve games so far this season. He’s been close, but that first lamp-lighter evades him heading into Wednesday night.
On The Other Hand…
Joey Anderson (7 G, 9 A) and Anders Bjork (4 G, 8 A) have been steady veteran point producers for Rockford in the first two months of play. Anderson has points in nine of his thirteen games, including two goals and two helpers last weekend. Bjork found the scoresheet in all three games (2 G, 3 A). Brett Seney (5 G, 7 A) has also been consistent on the offensive end. Seney has not gone more than one game this season without registering a point for the IceHogs.
On a team that has lacked scoring punch from the rookies, Colton Dach’s goal explosion was a welcome sight. Dach picked up his first goal of the season last Friday, then posted a hat trick the following night in Iowa. This included Dach ending the game with his third-round shootout goal.
Roster News
The team announced on Monday that Mike Hardman would be out for the next week after suffering a shoulder injury Friday against Milwaukee. Rockford also has placed rookie Jalen Luypen in the AHL’s concussion protocol. Luypen was injured in the second period in Iowa on Sunday after being attacked by Wild forward Kale Kessy along the boards in the Rockford zone. Kessy was given a game misconduct and was suspended three games by the AHL for his actions.
The IceHogs recalled center Ryan Gagnier from the ECHL’s Indy Fuel on Tuesday to help with the forward depth. Gagnier has two goals and five assists with the Fuel in ten games this season.
Puck Drops
Wednesday’s action at the BMO Center with Manitoba gets underway at 7:00 p.m. CDT, as does Rockford’s Friday tilt with Milwaukee. The back end of the home-and-home on Saturday begins at 6:00 p.m. CDT at Milwaukee’s UW-Panther Arena.
