On Wednesday night, the Rockford IceHogs were able to snap a three-game win-less streak by getting a 3-1 win over the San Antonio Rampage. Behind the two-goal effort of rookie forward Matthew Highmore and the performance in net from Collin Delia, the IceHogs kept pace in the AHL Central Division and get back into a Calder Cup Playoff spot in the AHL Western Conference.
Wednesday: Rockford IceHogs def. San Antonio Rampage, 3-1
The IceHogs and Rampage would exchange scoring chances early on in the first period and looked to be heading for a scoreless tie after the first 20 minutes. But with under two minutes to play in the period, Highmore got the IceHogs on to board with his 19th goal of the season. Highmore was able to get a stick on a Viktor Svedberg slapshot and found the back of the net to give Rockford the 1-0 lead after the first period.
In the second period, the Rampage would even the scoring with a goal from Felix Girard just past the eight minute mark of the middle frame. Girard was able to out-battle Luc Snuggerud behind the IceHogs net and but the puck up high past Delia for the equalizer. Rockford wouldn’t find an answer in the second period, but a late powerplay would carry over into the third period and just 22 seconds into the third period, it would be Highmore again getting Rockford the lead.
HIGHLIGHTS: IceHogs def. Rampage, 3-1
Highmore’s backhander was his second of the night and 20th goal of the season to give the IceHogs the 2-1 lead early in the third period. With 20 goals on the season, Highmore becomes just the second IceHogs rookie to hit the 20-goal mark since Rockford moved into the AHL. It would be a banner night for the IceHogs’ powerplay as just past the eight-minute mark, Adam Clendening was able to find the back of the net on the powerplay to give the IceHogs the 3-1 lead. Anthony Louis set-up Clendening for a one-timer from the blue-line and it found the back of the net for Clendening’s third goal of the year, second since re-joining the IceHogs in January.
Delia would be able to shut the door the rest of the way, making 33 saves on 34 shots faced, giving the IceHogs the 3-1 win over the Rampage. Delia improved his record to 7-5-2 on the season, going 6-1-2 over his last 9 starts for Rockford.
Highmore Poised To Break Scoring Record
With his fifth multi-goal game of the season, Matthew Highmore joined current teammate Tanner Kero as the only rookies to reach the 20-goal mark. Kero was able to tally 20 goals in his AHL rookie season with Rockford in 2015-16, in 60 games played. Highmore has been able to reach the 20-goal mark this season in 49 games played and is on pace for 30 goals over a full 76 game season. If Highmore were to reach that 30-goal mark, he would be the first to do it for Rockford since the 2012-13 season when Jeremy Morin scored 30 goals, and just the fourth to do so since the IceHogs joined the AHL (Morin, Jeff Taffe, Troy Brouwer).
Matthew Highmore of the Rockford IceHogs. (Courtesy: Greg Hamil)
In a rookie class that has been the life-force behind the IceHogs this season, Highmore has continually been in the spotlight as a finisher and reliable centerman in all situations. Highmore ranks 9th in the AHL for rookie scoring with 31 points and his 20 goals places him in a tie with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s Daniel Sprong for second-place among rookie goal scorers and just one goal behind Charlotte’s Warren Foegele for the rookie goal scoring lead.
What’s Next?
The IceHogs return to action on Friday night as they host the Milwaukee Admirals at the BMO Harris Bank Center in Rockford. The IceHogs and Admirals are both right in the middle of the hunt for spots in the Calder Cup Playoffs and for ground in the Central Division standings. Entering Friday’s game, Rockford sits in fifth-place in the division with a 25-18-6 record, 56 points, and a .571 point-percentage, while the Admirals are in sixth-place with a 22-20-4 record, 48 points, and a .522 point-percentage.
The Admirals come into Friday’s game with a 3-7-0 record over their last ten games and Rockford would be wise to take advantage of an Admirals team in a bit of a slump. Puck drop is scheduled for 7pm Central Time on Friday night.