On Tuesday, the Rockford IceHogs held media availability as the team prepares for Game Three of their opening round series against the Chicago Wolves on Thursday night. The IceHogs have wins in games One and Two over Chicago and have a chance to sweep the 2017-18 Central Division Champs in their best-of-five opening round.
Rockford IceHogs Media Day Audio: 4/24/18
With Game Three in Rosemont looming on Thursday night, Rockford knows that the task at hand is going to be a difficult one. The IceHogs have not won a playoff series since 2015 and have only advanced past the first round twice since joining the American Hockey League in the 2007-08 season. Two of the biggest keys to the series through the first two games has been the special teams play of both squads and the quality play in net from IceHogs goaltender Collin Delia.
Collin Delia makes a save against the Chicago Wolves. (Courtesy: Todd Reicher)
After finishing last in the AHL in powerplay success and towards the bottom in penalty-kill success, Rockford has had the better of the man-advantage chances against Chicago, as well as locking down the penalty-kill, and have used five powerplay goals to help them to their 2-0 series lead.
For Delia, he has locked down a high-powered Wolves offense through the first two games. Only allowing 3 goals against in the first two games, Delia takes a 1.51 GAA and a .952 save-percentage into Game Three against Chicago.
With the chance to sweep the Central Division Champions on Thursday, hear from head coach Jeremy Colliton, Cody Franson, Carl Dahlstrom, and Adam Clendening as they get ready for Game Three, as well as the first of, hopefully many, IceHogs playoff beard updates.
Head Coach Jeremy Colliton
Cody Franson
Carl Dahlstrom
Adam Clendening
What’s Next?
With a win in Game Two, the IceHogs take a 2-0 series lead back to Chicago on Thursday for Game Three, in what is now an elimination game in the best-of-five series. Here is the full first-round schedule for Rockford and Chicago:
- Game One – Rockford IceHogs def. Chicago Wolves, 2-1 (RFD leads series 1-0)
- Game Two – Rockford IceHogs def. Chicago Wolves, 5-2 (RFD leads series 2-0)
- Game Three – at Chicago, Thursday, April 26 – 7pm
- Game Four * – at Rockford, Sunday, April 29 – 4pm (if necessary)
- Game Five * – at Chicago, Monday, April 30 – 7pm (if necessary)
Winner of the Rockford-Chicago series will go on to face the winner of the Manitoba Moose-Grand Rapids Griffins series in the Western Conference Semi-Finals.