The Rockford IceHogs will be playing Grand Rapids in the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs. Nothing will change that fact. However, the IceHogs still have plenty to play for in the final week of the regular season.
Rockford (37-25-5-2, 81 points) picked up two wins this past weekend to close the gap to a point behind the Griffins with three games remaining for both teams. The IceHogs can leapfrog Grand Rapids for second place in the Central Division, earning home-ice advantage in what should be a tightly-contested division semifinal.
The key to second place may lay in running the table in those last three games. Rockford wraps up the regular season with a three-game weekend; the IceHogs host Chicago on Friday night, travel to Milwaukee on Saturday, then visit Allstate Arena on Sunday afternoon to play the Wolves. Grand Rapids is in Iowa for games with the Wild on Wednesday and Friday before ending the regular season in Milwaukee.
Four-Point Weekend For IceHogs
Rockford blanked the Griffins at Van Andel Arena this past Friday, besting Grand Rapids 2-0 behind goals by Michal Teply and Wyatt Kaiser. Jaxson Stauber picked up his second shutout of the season, stopping 27 shots to pick up his twelfth-straight victory.
The Admirals held off a late charge by the IceHogs on Saturday night, beating Rockford 3-2 at the BMO Center. Rem Pitlick and Zach Sanford scored for the IceHogs in the losing effort.
Rockford earned redemption the following afternoon, coming out on top of a 4-2 decision over the Admirals. Stauber, with 25 saves, ran his franchise record of consecutive wins by a goalie to 13 games. IceHogs goals came from Mike Hardman, David Gust, Pitlick and Bryce Kindopp.
Rockford continues to be the Western Conference’s hottest team. The IceHogs have won eighteen of their last 22 games. Rockford has won eight of its last ten entering its final weekend of regular-season hockey.
Roster Moves
The IceHogs signed Martin Misiak to an ATO on Saturday. Misiak is a second-round selection of the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2023 NHL Draft and spent this past season with Erie of the OHL. He has yet to skate a game for Rockford.
The team also recalled defenseman D.J. King from the ECHL’s Indy Fuel on Sunday. King has four goals and seven helpers in 57 games with the Fuel.
Rockford also got one of its top defenders back on Sunday when the Blackhawks returned D Ethan Del Mastro (7 G, 30 A).
With the IceHogs roster bursting at the seems, several players missed some action this weekend. Luke Philp sat out Saturday and Sunday’s games. Brett Seney and Filip Roos were out Sunday due to illness. Sanford was struck by a puck late in Saturday’s loss and may be out for a bit. Rookie defenseman Nolan Allan has been out since March 29 with a lower body injury.
Rockford’s depth has allowed them to continue its solid play in spite of several injuries. Recent prospect signings like Paul Ludwinski, who made his pro debut on Saturday, will get a chance to break into the lineup while the IceHogs give some weary players a chance to recharge for the playoffs.
Unsung IceHogs
Every team needs some glue guys; role players that don’t always show up on the score sheet. Two of Rockford’s more impactful AHL contracts this season have been Jackson Cates and Brandon Baddock.
Cates was signed to a PTO on December 10 and earned a standard contract on December 29. He’s been excellent at the faceoff dot for Rockford. On Sunday, Cates set a career-high in points with a pair of assists against Milwaukee. In 48 games with the IceHogs, he has eleven goals and fourteen assists.
Baddock signed with Rockford just before the start of the 2023-24 campaign. He’s been a steady, physical presence on the IceHogs fourth line. Along with veteran defensemen Josh Healey, Baddock hasn’t shown up on the scoreboard, but has put some much-needed snarl in the Rockford lineup.
About Jaxson Stauber…
Stauber has a 1.92 goals against average and a .927 save percentage during his winning streak dating back to February 10. Stauber has improved his overall numbers to a 2.77 GAA and a .904 save percentage after struggling in the opening months of the season. Stauber also leads all AHL goalies in scoring; his helpers in Grand Rapids on Friday and Sunday against the Admirals give him a goal and four assists.
Along with owning the IceHogs franchise record for consecutive wins, Stauber also has a 14-game unbeaten streak. That’s one game short of tying another team record.
Stauber is a restricted free agent following the season. He’s definitely made his case for getting another contract from the Chicago Blackhawks.
