On Thursday night, the Rockford IceHogs played in what they hoped was the first of four ‘win or go home’ games, trying to get a four-game win streak started and comeback from an 0-3 series hole to the Texas Stars. It was the first elimination scenario that the IceHogs had faced all postseason, having won seven-straight games prior to facing the Stars in the Western Conference Finals. Looking for any way to get the upper-hand, Rockford made a lineup change that seemed impossible just a week ago.
Head Coach Jeremy Colliton turned to Jeff Glass to take over in net for Collin Delia and maybe spark some Calder Cup Playoffs magic. Through ten games in the postseason, Delia worked a 7-1-2 record with a 2.34 GAA and a .924 save-percentage. As a whole, nothing to scoff at. But in the Western Conference Finals against Texas, Delia has lost all three of his starts, two in overtime, and had a 4.16 GAA and .843 save-percentage. Glass would make his first Calder Cup Playoffs start of his professional career and in yet another overtime game, the IceHogs would find a way in the end to extend the series with a 3-2 victory.
Game Four: Rockford IceHogs def. Texas Stars, 3-2 (OT)
With Glass in net, the IceHogs pulled no punches to begin Game Four. With a powerplay chance early and out-shooting the Stars just over six minutes into the game, Rockford controlled the action to begin their must-win game. It was then that Victor Ejdsell continued his tremendous play in the Calder Cup Playoffs, beating two Texas defenders on his way to the net and beating Mike McKenna for the opening goal of the game. Ejdsell’s sixth goal of the postseason gave Rockford exactly the start they were looking for.
Victor Ejdsell celebrates a goal with his teammates in Game Four of the Calder Cup Playoffs Western Conference Finals. (Courtesy: Rockford IceHogs)
The IceHogs’ hot start continued through the period, including hitting the post twice but not finding the back of the net. The first period was playing mostly within the Rockford zone, but back-to-back penalties by the IceHogs forced them in to their first adversity of the game. On a 5-on-3 powerplay, Travis Morin was able to go high on Glass and tie the game up 1-1 with just over six minutes remaining in the period. Morin’s fourth of the Calder Cup Playoffs marked the fourth-straight game in which the IceHogs had allowed a powerplay goal. The period would end tied at 1-1, with Rockford holding a 16-14 shots on goal advantage.
In the second period, the IceHogs and Stars would be more evenly matched and the early ice-tilt that favored Rockford wouldn’t be felt as much in the second. At the mid-way point of the period, Rockford had a chance at a two-on-none chance, catching Texas on a line-change. Unfortunately, the puck skipped off of Victor Ejdsell’s stick and Rockford couldn’t capitalize. Carl Dahlstrom would create another quality scoring chance for Rockford off the rush, but was dragged down with no call coming on the play and the game carried on into the latter half of the second period, still tied 1-1.
Carl Dahlstrom drives to the net in Game Four of the Western Conference Finals against the Texas Stars. (Courtesy: Rockford IceHogs)
Late in the second period, the IceHogs would be called for a penalty away from the play and with less than a minute to play in the period, Matt Mangene would get a fortunate bounce and give the Stars the late 2-1 lead on his seventh goal of the post season. Another powerplay goal given up by Rockford put them in considerably their most desperate point of the season: down a goal with just one period between them and the off-season.
In the third period, the Stars would play a “keep away” strategy to begin, and it stifled the IceHogs offense early on in the final frame. As the third period reached the mid-way point, Rockford has mustered up the only two shots on net in the period, but still couldn’t find the equalizing goal. The IceHogs would pick up the pace and begin to build momentum with just about seven minutes remaining in the period as Lance Bouma and David Kampf started to create scoring chances late.
Cody Franson (center) celebrates his game-tying goal against the Texas Stars in Game Four of the Calder Cup Playoffs Western Conference Finals. (Courtesy: Rockford IceHogs)
With 6:58 to play in the third period, Rockford would find their breakthrough as Luke Johnson would tip a shot from the point and it would find its way through traffic and into the net. Johnson’s third of the Calder Cup Playoffs and the game would be tied 2-2. Jeff Glass would come up big late in the third period with a pad save in close with 3:24 to play in the third, it would be the first shot on net he would see in the period. He would be called upon a few more times to keep the tie intact and the horn would sound, signaling the third-straight overtime game that the IceHogs and Stars would need in the series. It would also be the eighth overtime game in 13 Calder Cup Playoff games for the Stars in which they would go to overtime.
In the overtime period, the IceHogs would draw a penalty just 37 seconds into the extra frame marking the third man-advantage for Rockford on the night. It would be all the time that the IceHogs would need as Victor Ejdsell would bury his second goal of the night to cap-off a three-point game and send the series to a Game Five on Friday night in Rockford.
GAME FOUR HIGHLIGHTS: Rockford IceHogs def. Texas Stars, 3-2 (OT)
Jeff Glass would make 28 saves on 30 shots faced, while Mike McKenna made 33 saves on 36 shots faced from the IceHogs. Glass gets his first win in the Calder Cup Playoffs of his professional career and will like remain the starter for Friday night’s Game Five.
Victor Ejdsell notched three points in the win, making his total for points in the Calder Cup Playoffs 11 (7G, 4A) in 11 games played. His total since joining the IceHogs this season is 12 points in 16 games.
Postgame Reaction
After the win, Head Coach Jeremy Colliton, Luke Johnson, Victor Ejdsell, and Jeff Glass spoke to the media. Take a listen to what they had to say as Rockford prepares for Game Five:
Head Coach Jeremy Colliton
Luke Johnson
Victor Ejdsell
Jeff Glass
With the quick turnaround to Game Five, the IceHogs look to build on their momentous win and force the Western Conference Finals back to Texas.
What’s Next?
This Western Conference Finals series marks the third time in AHL history that the IceHogs and Stars have met in the postseason. Both teams hold a series sweep over the other with Texas winning a first-round series in 2010, and Rockford winning a first-round series in 2015.
Here is the schedule for the IceHogs and Stars in the Calder Cup Playoffs Western Conference Finals:
- Game One: Texas Stars def. Rockford IceHogs, 4-2 (TEX leads series 1-0)
- Game Two: Texas Stars def. Rockford IceHogs, 3-2/OT (TEX leads series 2-0)
- Game Three: Texas Stars def. Rockford IceHogs, 6-5/OT (TEX leads series 3-0)
- Game Four: Rockford IceHogs def. Texas Stars, 3-2/OT (TEX leads series 3-1)
- Game Five: Texas Stars at Rockford IceHogs, Friday, May 25, 7pm
- * Game Six: Rockford IceHogs at Texas Stars, Monday, May 28th, 7pm (*If Necessary)
- * Game Seven: Rockford IceHogs at Texas Stars, Tuesday, May 29th, 7pm (*If Necessary)
The Winner of the series will advance to the Calder Cup Finals and play the winner of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and Toronto Marlies.