The Rockford IceHogs put together a pair of wins at the BMO Center over the weekend. The IceHogs snapped a three-game losing streak in doing so. They also managed to gain a bit of ground on the top four teams in the Central Division.
Rockford (19-22-5-1, 44 points) picked up a 6-3 victory over Chicago on Friday night, then pulled off a 4-3 win over Springfield the following evening. Both wins came despite having starting goaltender Drew Commesso out of action with a right ankle sprain.
February 14-Rockford 6, Chicago 3
The IceHogs raced out to a 3-1 first period advantage against the Wolves. They would build a 5-1 lead before a brief Chicago comeback bid in the middle of the third period. Goals by Bradly Nadeau and Scott Morrow thirty seconds apart created some nerves among the BMO Center crowd, but that’s as close as things got.
Mitchell Weeks secured the win, stopping 30 of the 33 shots he faced. Offensively, Marcel Marcel opened and closed the scoring with a goal 2:28 into the game and an empty-netter late in the final frame. His four-point night (2 G, 2 A) is easily a career-best for the second-year forward.
Jackson Cates and Zach Sanford each posted a goal and two helpers to aid the IceHogs cause. Rockford also got goals from veterans Joey Anderson and Andreas Athanasiou.
February 15-Rockford 4, Springfield 3
Anderson and Athanasiou were the catalysts for Saturday’s triumph. It was was a back-and-fourth affair decided in the closing moments of action.
Two goals by Anderson (11 G, 7 A in 16 games) and another by Brett Seney had the IceHogs up 3-1 early in the second period. However, the Thunderbirds knotted the contest with goals by Hugh McGing and Matthew Peca in the last half of the frame.
Things stayed even throughout the third period, until Cavan Fitzgerald sent a clearing pass out of the Rockford zone to Anderson. Anderson came down the ice with Athanasiou on his left, entering the offensive zone with a 2-to-1 advantage.
Athanasiou handled Anderson’s pass and skated across the crease. He then beat the pad of Thunderbird’s goalie Colten Ellis with a backhand at the right post. The game-winner came with 1:59 remaining.
Ben Gaudreau made his second start since being recalled from the ECHL’s Indy Fuel last week. He stopped 18 shots to pick up his second win of the season for the IceHogs.
Weekend Notes
- Anderson and Athanasiou have played in a combined 29 games since they were assigned to Rockford by the Blackhawks earlier this season. The two players have combined for 32 points (18 G, 14 A) in those games.
- The IceHogs had one power play goal in seven chances over the two games. They gave up two goals on eight penalty kills. Rockford’s PK unit is still third in the league with an 84.9 success rate.
- Rockford and Springfield split the two-game series between the two teams this season. The Thunderbirds beat the IceHogs 2-1 in overtime back on December 7.
This Week
Rockford has two more home games at the BMO Center this weekend. They host Iowa on Friday and Lehigh Valley on Saturday. Before that, the IceHogs make a quick jaunt to Des Moines on Monday night to take on the Wild at Wells Fargo Arena. Puck drop for all three games is set for 7:00 p.m. CST.
