As the AHL reaches the All-Star break and the Rockford IceHogs have nearly a week off, The-Rink takes a look at how the IceHogs have performed so far this season. Sitting in a tie for sixth-place in the AHL Central Division with a 19-19-8 record, good for 46 points in the standings, the IceHogs have work ahead of them in the back portion of the season if they are going to make a return to the Calder Cup Playoffs.
Grading The Rockford IceHogs: Goalies
The Rockford IceHogs have a lot of work ahead of them if they are going to make a run to a Calder Cup Playoffs spot. What they have going for them is the ability to stop pucks. As mentioned yesterday in the Defensemen grades piece, the IceHogs rank 10th in the AHL in goals allowed. Boasting a collective 2.66 GAA and a 0.916 save-percentage among the three goalies to have played for Rockford this season, the IceHogs have a chance to get at least a point on a nightly basis just by who they put into net.
While Collin Delia was recalled to the Chicago Blackhawks when we was at the top of the league in GAA and save-percentage, Anton Forsberg and Kevin Lankinen have stepped up their games and are giving the IceHogs their best heading into the back-half of the season.
Incompletes (Less than 10 AHL games played)
- None
IceHogs Goalies Report Cards
- Collin Delia (17 GP, 7-5-4, 2.34 GAA, 0.933 Save%)
- As stated before, Delia was at the top of the AHL this season in GAA and save-percentage at the time that the Blackhawks recalled him to replace an injured Corey Crawford. The 2018-19 version of Delia has been in the works for just over a year as his development with the IceHogs last season was a rough around the edges piece of coal, now turned (possibly) into the next Blackhawks diamond in net. Grade: A
Rockford IceHogs goaltender Collin Delia makes a save against the Grand Rapids Griffins. (Courtesy: Rockford IceHogs)
- Anton Forsberg (19 GP, 9-9-1, 2.68 GAA, 0.917 Save%)
- Forsberg has not had the best of times in the Blackhawks organization. Originally brought in to be the backup option behind Corey Crawford last season, Forsberg wasn’t able to lock down the spot or take over as the starter when Crawford went down last season. Fast forward to this season and yet again, Forsberg is passed over. His time with the organization is no doubt limited, but for what he has done in Rockford this season, with limited goal support, he has put them not far from playoff contention. Grade: B
Rockford IceHogs goaltender Anton Forsberg. (Courtesy: San Antonio Rampage)
- Kevin Lankinen (11 GP, 3-5-3, 2.50 GAA, 0.907 Save%)
- While the wins and losses record isn’t very appealing, those numbers don’t tell the full story of Lankinen’s time with the IceHogs this season. Much like Delia last season, Lankinen’s development has been accelerated due to injury and he has adapted nicely. With minimal goal support in most games (3 regulation losses when allow 2 goals or fewer), Lankinen looks to have solidified a place with the organization for the near future. Grade: B
Kevin Lankinen makes a save against the San Antonio Rampage. (Courtesy: Rockford IceHogs)
- Indy Fuel – Matt Tomkins (ECHL: 33 GP, 18-11-3, 2.95 GAA, 0.911 Save%)
- From The-Rink Indy Fuel Writer Evan Miller: “Tomkins has improved greatly this season and has become a stud on the back-end for the Fuel. Although he has some inconsistencies to overcome, he has the potential to go a long way in the Blackhawks organization.” Grade: A-
Matt Tomkins / © Whiteshark Photography
I felt the need to add Tomkins into the mix since his season with the Indy Fuel has been going extremely well, despite not receiving a recall to the IceHogs yet this season. While the injury status of Corey Crawford and the expiring contract of Cam Ward at the end of this season make Chicago’s organizational depth at goalie a bit of a cloudy outlook, the performances from Tomkins, Lankinen, and most notably Collin Delia give hope that if replacements in net are needed right away, the IceHogs and Blackhawks have capable players in-house.
- If you missed Tuesday’s Forwards group, you can find the grades here.
- If you missed yesterday’s Defensemen group, you can find the grades here.
- And if you missed today’s Chicago Blackhawks assignment of Henri Jokiharju to the IceHogs, you can find that story here.
What’s Next?
The Rockford IceHogs return to action following the AHL All-Star break on Friday, February 1 as they host the Chicago Wolves in another installment of the Illinois Lottery Cup Rivalry this season. Following Friday night’s game in Rockford, the IceHogs travel North to Milwaukee to take on the Admirals on Saturday night.
Puck drop on Friday at the BMO Harris Bank Center is scheduled for 7pm CT. The IceHogs hold a 4-3-1 record against the Wolves this season. On Saturday night, puck drop is scheduled for 7pm CT at the UW-Panther Arena in Milwaukee. The IceHogs hold a 3-2-1 record against the Admirals this season.