On Friday night, the Rockford IceHogs and Texas Stars had little time to rest after their overtime contest in Game Four of the Western Conference Finals. On Thursday, the IceHogs came out winners in the third-straight overtime game in the series and avoided elimination for at least one more game. Behind Jeff Glass‘ 28-save performance in his Calder Cup Playoffs debut, Rockford got a game-winner from Victor Ejdsell and setup yet another do-or-die game. Head Coach Jeremy Colliton would stick with Glass in net for Game Five and get a dandy of a start from the 32-year old goaltender en route to a 3-1 win over the Stars and a Game Six in Texas on Monday night.
Game Five: Rockford IceHogs def. Texas Stars, 3-1
The IceHogs hoped to begin Game Five with the same momentum that they ended Game Four with. Early in the first period, they would do just that with a goal from Cody Franson to open the scoring just under three minutes into the period. Franson’s sixth goal of the playoffs gave Rockford the 1-0 lead. Fitting in with that narrative from head coach Jeremy Colliton of getting off to a good start in every game, the IceHogs would net a second goal within the first half of the first period as Luke Johnson would tally his fourth goal of the Calder Cup Playoffs and give the home team a 2-0 lead nearing the mid-way point of the period. Assists would go to Adam Clendening and Victor Ejdsell on Johnson’s goal, continuing their respective hot-streaks in the postseason, continuing to drive Rockford’s offense.
Luke Johnson celebrates his goal in Game Five of the Western Conference Finals. (Courtesy: Rockford IceHogs)
The IceHogs couldn’t have asked for a better start to another elimination game, including getting the better of a Curtis McKenzie vs. Cody Franson scrap. Jeff Glass would stop a,l 15 shots he faced in the first period and secured the 2-0 Rockford lead into the second period.
Rockford began the second period, weathering an early push from the Stars, as they tried to get off to a fast start to revive their game being down 2-0. Early in the second, the IceHogs were forced to kill-off their first penalty against them in the game and it was Glass that would come to the rescue early. However, as the second period reached the mid-way point, the Stars would find their way to the scoreboard. Roope Hintz scored his third goal of the playoffs and cut the Rockford lead to 2-1.
The Stars would continue to pressure the IceHogs as the second period would go on, forcing Jeff Glass to answer the bell as Texas out-shot Rockford in the period 14-6. Glass was able to make 13 saves in the period, keeping the IceHogs lead at 2-1 heading into the third period.
Jeff Glass makes a save in Game Five of the Western Conference Finals. (Courtesy: Rockford IceHogs)
With 20 minutes separating Rockford from forcing a Game Six back in Texas, the IceHogs would have to continue to weather the spirited effort from the Stars early on. Two breakaway chances for Texas came up empty with Glass and his friend, the goal-post, doing what they could to keep the 2-1 Rockford lead alive. That theme would continue as the third period shifted into the latter half, and that would be when the Hockey God’s would smile upon David Kampf. Looking for his first point of the Calder Cup Playoffs after 12 games, Kampf shot the puck on Mike McKenna on a routine dump-in, and McKenna mishandled it into his own net. It would be the luckiest of bounces for Kampf and the IceHogs, leading to a 3-1 Rockford lead late in the third period.
With Kampf’s goal, all 18 regular skaters for the IceHogs have tallied at least one point in the 12 Calder Cup Playoff games played.
GAME FIVE HIGHLIGHTS: Rockford IceHogs def. Texas Stars, 3-1
The final five and a half minutes would have a football-esqe feel, with starts and stops every few seconds as the IceHogs looked to hold onto their two-goal lead and play defensively sound. With just about three and a half minutes to play in the period and having a powerplay opportunity, the Stars would pull McKenna from their net and go with a six-on-four attack. Jeff Glass and the IceHogs would be able to hold off the Stars’ attack in the final moments of the game and get a well-deserved 3-1 win over Texas and send the Western Conference Finals series to a Game Six.
Jeff Glass celebrates a win in Game Five of the Western Conference Finals over the Texas Stars. (Courtesy: Rockford IceHogs)
Glass made 40 saves on 41 shots faced, making him 68 for 71 on shots faced in Games Four and Five combined. Mike McKenna made 18 saves on 21 shots faced for the Stars. Game Six will be in Texas on Monday night and it will most certainly be Glass back in net for the IceHogs as he has come off the bench and led this Rockford team back from the brink of elimination.
Postgame Reaction
After the game, IceHogs head coach Jeremy Colliton, Jeff Glass, and Cody Franson spoke to the media about getting the win, forcing a Game Six and what it means to play with a never-say-die attitude. Watch the postgame reaction here:
WATCH: Jeremy Colliton Postgame – GAME FIVE
WATCH: Jeff Glass Postgame – GAME FIVE
WATCH: Cody Franson Postgame – GAME FIVE
Game Six will be on Monday night in Cedar Park, Texas, with the IceHogs attempting to avoid elimination, once again, and potentially force a Game Seven.
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: Rockford IceHogs def. Texas Stars, 3-1 (TEX leads series 3-2)
- Game Six: Rockford IceHogs at Texas Stars, Monday, May 28th, 7pm
- * 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 Toronto Marlies. Toronto swept the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in the Eastern Conference Finals and will have home-ice advantage in the Calder Cup Final. Games One and Two will be held in Toronto on June 2 and 3 to begin the Calder Cup Final.