On Tuesday night, the Rockford IceHogs continued their successful, albeit tense, march toward the Calder Cup Playoffs with a 3-2 overtime win over the Iowa Wild. With the win, the IceHogs are winners in three of their last four games and have gained at least one point in each of those four games. After the win, Rockford sits in fifth-place in the AHL Central Division, .026 percentage-points behind the fourth-place Grand Rapids Griffins for the final Central Division playoff spot.
Tuesday: Rockford IceHogs def. Iowa Wild, 3-2 (OT)
Collin Delia would get the start for Rockford, having a 10-2-3 record coming into the game since Jan. 6th, but Tuesday night’s game didn’t start out the way the IceHogs would have hoped. After an early boarding penalty on Luc Snuggerud, the Wild were able to capitalize on the ensuing powerplay with a goal from Kyle Rau. Down early to the Wild, 1-0, in a one of the final home games of the season put the IceHogs in desperation mode early on.
Rockford would be able to equalize just past the mid-way point of the opening period with a goal from Lance Bouma. His first of the season since joining the IceHogs late last month, knotting it up at 1-1. With a primary assist on the Bouma goal, forward Anthony Louis tallied his 35th point of the season to tie Matthew Highmore for the team lead this season.
The breathing room wouldn’t last long for Rockford, though, as the Wild were able to re-gain the lead with just over two minutes to play in the period as Brennan Menell was able to score the 2-1 goal on a third-chance effort in front of Delia. The first period would end 2-1 in favor of Iowa and that would hold into the third period.
The Rockford IceHogs celebrate a goal against the Iowa Wild. (Courtesy: Todd Reicher)
Though the opening frame was more open and scoring chances were high for both sides, the second period of action was a much more tightly contested period and it bleed over into the third period. Both teams played a more aggressive fore-check and the quality scoring chances were limited until later in the third period when Henrik Samuelsson was able to find Rockford’s second equalizer of the game. Parked on the doorstep in front of Iowa starter Steve Michalek, Samuelsson was able to pot home the rebound off a Cody Franson shot for his fourth goal of the season, making it a 2-2 game.
Delia would fight off a number of Iowa chances late in the third period and helped the IceHogs force the overtime frame. The game would be the third-straight that Rockford would need extra time to find a result. In the overtime period, the IceHogs wouldn’t allow a shot on net en route to Andreas Martinsen tipping home the game-winning goal on a shot from Franson. Martinsen’s 12th goal of the season gave Rockford the 3-2 win and an important two-point result against a Central Division opponent.
With the win, Collin Delia improved his overall record to 12-6-3, with a 2.64 GAA, and a save-percentage of .904. Since January 6, Delia is 11-2-3 and his GAA over that period is 2.42 with a save-percentage of .900. With Jeff Glass and J.F. Berube rotating between the IceHogs and Chicago Blackhawks this season, Delia has been the constant for Rockford in net and his 33-save performance against the Wild was another statement start for the rookie net-minder.
Postgame Reaction: Head Coach Jeremy Colliton
Calder Cup Playoff Race
Heading into Wednesday night’s action, the IceHogs sit in fifth-place in the AHL Central Division. The Central Division race for the Calder Cup Playoffs is one of the tightest in the league with the difference between third and sixth place being separated by just four points and .034 percentage-points.
Here are the Central Standings as of Wednesday, March 14 (Games remaining):
- Manitoba Moose: 36-17-8, 80 pts, .656 pct (15)
- Chicago Wolves: 33-19-9, 75 pts, .615 pct (15)
- Iowa Wild: 28-18-14, 70 pts, .583 pct (16)
- Grand Rapids Griffins: 32-22-7, 71 pts, .582 pct (15)
- Rockford IceHogs: 31-24-7, 69 pts, .556 pct (14)
- Milwaukee Admirals: 31-25-5, 67 pts, .549 pct (15)
- Cleveland Monsters: 20-32-7, 47 pts, .398 pct (17)
With the fewest games remaining, Rockford has work to do. The good news for them is that they still control their own fate for the rest of the season. With 14 games remaining, ten are against Central Division opponents, including the next seven-straight games. The bad news is that of the 14 games remaining, only four will be played at home for the IceHogs. They do control their path, but there is work to be done.
What’s Next?
Rockford is back in action on Friday night when they begin a three-game road stretch. On Friday, the IceHogs take on the Grand Rapids Griffins in Grand Rapids. Puck drop is scheduled for 6pm Central time on Friday. After that, Rockford travels to Rosemont to take on the Chicago Wolves on Saturday night. Puck drop for Saturday’s game is scheduled for 7pm Central time at the Allstate Arena.