The Rockford IceHogs hosted the Grand Rapid Griffins for Game 1 of the best-of-five playoff series. After being up for two periods, the Hogs gave up the lead and fell in overtime. The Hogs’ loss did have some controversy at the end.
The Hogs rolled out these lines to start the game
Our first lines of the playoffs👀 pic.twitter.com/lbMgPRc1Q2
— x – Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) April 27, 2024
Jaxson Stauber got the start in net on his 25th birthday. The current plan is to alternate goalies in this playoff series, similar to the regular season.
First period
In the first period, the IceHogs jumped out to the early lead. Michal Teply got Rockford on the board first.
TEPLY SCORES FIRST pic.twitter.com/SnHFUiNrWk
— x – Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) April 28, 2024
Teply was a fourth-round pick of the Blackhawks in 2019. He is appearing in this third straight AHL playoff.
The first period ended with the Hogs leading 1–0 despite being outshot.
Second period
In the second period, Zach Sanford doubled the lead to 2–0.
FISH BOWL GOAL🐟🐟 pic.twitter.com/80Fsmh7Bmf
— x – Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) April 28, 2024
Sanford was claimed off waivers from Arizona by the Blackhawks earlier this season. Sanford appeared in 18 games for the Hawks and 13 games for the Hogs in the regular season.
The second period ended with the Hogs leading 2–0.
Third period
In the third period, the Griffins finally got on the score sheet. The Griffins had been outshooting the Hogs and came out hard to start the third period. Dominik Shine got Grand Rapids on the board with a goal. The AHL veteran has been with Grand Rapids since 2016–17.
The Griffins were not done scoring as they tied the game with a goal from Amadeus Lombardi. The fourth-round pick of the Wings in 2022 was appearing his first AHL playoff game.
Stauber was able to settle down and send the game to overtime with the score deadlocked at 2–2.
Overtime
With less than seven minutes gone by, Brett Seney was crushed against the boards on what looked to an illegal hit. IceHogs teammate Filip Roos went after the player who hit Seney. While Seney was on the ice, Jonatan Berggren able to slip a shot past Stauber on the short side for the game winner for the Griffins.
Analysis
Despite the loss, it was a strong showing for the IceHogs. Lukas Reichel was able to use his speed to create scoring chances for his teammates. The young defensemen of the Hogs were generally solid, and Isaak Phillips stood up for Stauber when the Griffins took whacks at him after the whistle.
The Hogs now have to regroup after a tough loss and come back in Game 2.
The next game is on the road Wednesday in Grand Rapids at 6 p.m. CDT.