The Rockford IceHogs won three of four games this past week, winning three in a row for just the third time this season. The Hogs also got the overtime monkey off their backs.
Rockford won in overtime for the first time this year in Milwaukee Friday night, then prevailed in a shootout the next evening over San Antonio at the BMO. In all, the IceHogs played five straight games that went past regulation before Sunday’s win over the Admirals.
A couple of Hogs have been stepping up as the team snapped an eight-game losing streak this weekend. Let’s take a look at some of the players who made an impact.
Sam Carrick was a big part of Rockford’s big weekend. After notching a single goal in his first 25 games with the IceHogs, Carrick has come on of late. He has eight points (6 G, 2 A) in his last ten games.
Carrick had the overtime winner Friday night in Milwaukee. He also scored the key goal Sunday against the Admirals, putting in his own rebound to give Rockford a third-period lead. He now is even with Spencer Abbott for the team lead in goals (11). Carrick’s 23 points is third on the club.
Newcomer Michael Latta has also provided another capable two-way center to the lineup. Latta came over to Rockford in the trade that sent Cameron Schilling to Ontario. He hasn’t scored for the Hogs yet, but had four assists over the weekend.
Brandon Mashinter had a two-point game Friday in the win in Milwaukee, then sprung Carrick on a breakaway Sunday that turned the tide in the Hogs win. Mashinter did not register a point Saturday, but his third-round shootout goal was the game-winner over the Rampage.
On the other side of the ledger, Mark McNeill has not scored a goal in his last 15 games. He last entered the cage January 8 against Chicago. McNeill, who has found himself skating on Latta’s wing, has four helpers in that span and is scuffling offensively.
Roster Moves
The IceHogs sent forwards Chris DeSousa and Tyler Barnes to Indy on Wednesday. Rockford released defenseman Jonathan Carlsson on Friday so that he could pursue an opportunity to play in Europe.
Saturday, the Blackhawks sent Tanner Kero, Vinnie Hinostroza, Nick Schmaltz and Gustav Forsling to Rockford. None of the four was in the lineup for Sunday’s game with Milwaukee.
Robin Press did see his first action in an IceHogs sweater, skating Sunday against the Ads. Missing from that game was Pierre-Cedric Labrie, who left midway through Saturday’s win over San Antonio. Nolan Valleau went to the locker room early in Sunday’s matinee and did not return.
Recaps
Tuesday, February 7-Chicago 2, Rockford 1 (OT)
For the third straight game, Rockford took it into extra time but could not prevail, dropping its eighth-straight decision.
Starting goalies Lars Johansson and Ville Husso were stingy on this night. Neither team found the net until the latter stages of the contest. The Wolves drew twine first at 12:23 of the third period on a Reid McNeill one-time blast from the point.
With 1:53 remaining and Chicago still up a goal, Ted Dent pulled Johansson coming out of a time out. Sam Carrick skated into the Wolves zone, fired from above the left circle, and circumvented Husso to even the game at 1-1 with just 1:06 left.
Unfortunately, the Hogs were unable to take the game straight into a shootout. Just 1:19 into overtime, an Andrew Agozzino shot from the left dot glanced off of the shoulder of the Hogs goalie. It landed near the right post, where Petteri Lindbohm and Carl Dahlstrom vied for position. One of the two made contact with the puck, which trickled across the goal line to end the game in favor of the Wolves.
Lines (Starters in italics)
Tyler Motte-Jeremy Langlois-Kyle Baun
Martin Lundberg-Michael Latta-Mark McNeill (A)
Brandon Mashinter-Sam Carrick-Spencer Abbott
Pierre-Cedric Labrie (A)-Jake Dowell (C)-Luke Johnson
Viktor Svedberg-Robin Norell
Carl Dahlstrom-Erik Gustafsson
Nolan Valleau-Ville Pokka
Lars Johansson
Power Play (0-3)
Mashinter-Abbott-Motte-McNeill-Svedberg
Carrick-Baun-Matta-Gustafsson-Pokka
Penalty Kill (Wolves were 0-4)
Dowell-Carrick-Pokka-Valleau
Lundberg-McNeill-Gustafsson-Dahlstrom
Motte-Langlois-Norell-Svedberg
Friday, February 10-Rockford 3 , Milwaukee 2 (OT)
Rockford got ahead early, with Brandon Mashinter getting behind the Ads defense and receiving a pass from Michael Latta. Mashinter drove to the net and beat Marek Mazanec’s glove to light the lamp 1:15 into the game.
Milwaukee evened the score a few minutes later. The goal was set up by a puck Hogs goalie Jeff Glass sent into the corner. Rockford was not able to control the pass, leading to a Mat White goal 4:38 into the first. Midway through the opening frame, Adam Payerl scored to give the Admirals a 2-1 advantage.
Both teams were held scoreless in the second period, as well as much of the third. The Hogs converted a power play at the 13:54 mark. Ville Pokka’s slap shot struck the skate of Milwaukee’s Alexandre Carrier and found the net. Erik Gustafsson and Mashinter, who came in to win a faceoff to start the man advantage, had the helpers on the tying goal.
For the fourth straight game, the IceHogs were headed to Gus Macker Time. On this night, Rockford was able to take the third point. Late in the extra session, Sam Carrick took possession of the puck from Gustafsson above the left circle. Striding to the dot, Carrick let fly and beat Mazanec for the game-winner with 23 seconds remaining.
Carrick and Mashinter were voted the game’s First and Second stars, respectively.
Lines (Starters in italics)
Tyler Motte-Jeremy Langlois-Kyle Baun
Brandon Mashinter (A)-Sam Carrick-Spencer Abbott
Martin Lundberg-Michael Latta-Mark McNeill
Pierre-Cedric Labrie (A)-Jake Dowell (C)-Luke Johnson
Viktor Svedberg-Robin Norell
Erik Gustafsson-Carl Dahlstrom
Nolan Valleau-Ville Pokka
Jeff Glass
Power Play (1-3)
Motte-Abbott-Carrick-Mashinter-Svedberg
McNeill-Latta-Baun-Gustafsson-Pokka
Penalty Kill (Milwaukee was 0-1)
Motte-Langlois-Dahlstrom-Pokka
Lundberg-McNeill-Gustafsson-Norell
Dowell-Baun-Dahlstrom-Pokka
Saturday, February 11-Rockford 4, San Antonio 3 (SO)
Rockford saw a two-goal lead evaporate but was able to win their second in a row in front of 5743 at the BMO Harris Bank Center
The IceHogs got on the board 2:51 into the game on Tyler Motte’s fifth goal of the season. The play was set up by the effort of Robin Norell, who kept a puck from leaving the Rampage zone. Michael Latta took Norell’s pass and found Motte in the high slot. Motte’s aim was too good for San Antonio goalie Kent Simpson and Rockford held a 1-0 advantage.
San Antonio tied it up at 12:04 of the first. J.T. Compher was able to weave around defensemen Erik Gustafsson and Ville Pokka before getting his shot past Hogs net-minder Lars Johansson.
The Hogs seemed to establish control in the middle frame with a pair of early goals. Kyle Baun capped off a strong shift by Rockford by knocking in a pass from Michael Latta from the right post at 3:09 of the second. The IceHogs took a 3-1 lead minutes later when Luke Johnson took a similar from Latta and beat Simpson to the twine.
Compher got the Rampage to within a goal midway through the second period. San Antonio made it a 3-3 contest when Rocco Grimaldi put back a rebound that required a video review to confirm.
For the fifth straight game, it would require extra time to decide a victor. Neither team claimed the point in overtime. After Sam Carrick was denied, Latta and Brandon Mashinter got the best of Simpson in the shootout. Johansson gave up a goal to Compher before stymieing Grimaldi and Joe Whitney to pick up the win.
Latta, with three assists on the night, nabbed First Star honors. Compher and Mashinter were the second and third stars.
Lines (Starters in italics)
Martin Lundberg-Jeremy Langlois-Kyle Baun
Brandon Mashinter (A)-Sam Carrick-Spencer Abbott
Tyler Motte-Michael Latta-Mark McNeill
Pierre-Cedric Labrie (A)-Jake Dowell (C)-Luke Johnson
Viktor Svedberg-Robin Norell
Erik Gustafsson-Ville Pokka
Nolan Valleau-Carl Dahlstrom
Jeff Glass
Power Play (0-2)
Motte-Abbott-Carrick-Mashinter-Svedberg
McNeill-Latta-Baun-Gustafsson-Pokka
Penalty Kill (Rampage was 0-3)
Motte-Langlois-Dahlstrom-Pokka
Lundberg-McNeill-Gustafsson-Norell
Dowell-Baun-Dahlstrom-Pokka
Sunday, February 12-Rockford 2, Milwaukee 1
For a change of pace, the IceHogs picked up two points in regulation for the first time since January 18.
The contest was scoreless through the first two periods. Rockford outplayed the Admirals for much of that time but couldn’t get a puck past Milwaukee goalie Jonas Gunnarsson.
8:34 into the final period, Brandon Mashinter hit Sam Carrick entering the Ads zone. Carrick’s breakaway attempt was stopped by Gunnarsson. However, Carrick followed his shot, backhanding the rebound into the far corner of the net to break the stalemate.
In the final minute, Jeremy Langlois potted an empty netter after a Vladislav Kamenev roughing penalty put the Hogs on the power play. That turned out to be the game-winner; Trevor Murphy spoiled Jeff Glass’s shutout bid with a slap shot with nine seconds remaining.
Carrick, Glass (who stopped 25 of 26 shots), and Langlois were the game’s three stars.
Lines (Starters in italics)
Martin Lundberg-Jeremy Langlois-Mark McNeill (A)
Brandon Mashinter (A)-Sam Carrick-Kyle Baun
Tyler Motte-Michael Latta-Luke Johnson
Evan Mosey-Jake Dowell (C)
Viktor Svedberg-Carl Dahlstrom
Erik Gustafsson-Ville Pokka
Nolan Valleau-Robin Norell
Robin Press
Jeff Glass
Power Play (1-3, coming on an EN)
Mashinter-Carrick-Langlois-Gustafsson-Pokka
Motte-Latta-McNeill-Dahlstrom-Svedberg
Penalty Kill (Milwaukee was 0-2)
Motte-Langlois-Dahlstrom-Pokka
Lundberg-McNeill-Gustafsson-Norell
Dowell-Baun-Dahlstrom-Pokka
Coming Up
The IceHogs are in the middle of a five-game home stand, their longest of the 2016-17 campaign. The boys must rise early Wednesday for a 10:30 a.m. start with Cleveland. Rockford also hosts the Monsters on Friday night before welcoming Charlotte to the BMO Saturday.
Follow me @JonFromi on twitter for Hogs-related fun and frolic all season long.
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