For the first time in AHL history, the Tucson Roadrunners and Rockford IceHogs will take the ice together. The IceHogs travel to Tucson this weekend to take on the Roadrunners in a back-to-back set of games on Friday and Saturday night. The games mark the first meeting between the teams since the Roadtunners joined the AHL in 2016.
Rockford IceHogs Head West To Face Tucson
Friday night in Tucson marks a historical night for the IceHogs and Roadrunners as it will be the first meeting between the teams in AHL history. Rockford is coming off of winning back-to-back games last weekend over the Hershey Bears and Texas Stars behind solid goaltending from Collin Delia. After scoring just three goals combined in the first two games of the season, the IceHogs bounced back to score five goals in both games last weekend. Delia won both games at home, stopping 70 of 75 shots faced over last weekend.
The Rockford IceHogs celebrate a victory. (Courtesy: Rockford IceHogs)
Rockford comes into the weekend with a 2-2-0 record, good for four points in the standings and sit in fifth-place in the newly expanded AHL Central Division. The IceHogs’ special teams units are off to a good start with the powerplay ranking 16th in the AHL with a 20.0-percent success rate (3-for-15) and riding a three-game powerplay goal streak. On the penalty-kill, Rockford ranks tied for third in the AHL with a 91.7-percent successful kill-rate (11-for-12) and has not conceded a goal short-handed in back-to-back games.
Tucson Roadrunners Report
The Roadrunners come into the weekend without a loss in regulation through the first four games of the season. A three-game winning streak to begin the year was stopped with a shootout loss to the San Jose Barracuda on Monday night in San Jose. The Roadrunners are paced in scoring by defenseman Dakota Mermis and Adam Helewka, both with four points through the first four games of the year. Helewka’s four points have all come from goals, with tallies in back-to-back games heading into the weekend set.
The weekend will also see former IceHogs forward Laurent Dauphin face his former team. Dauphin has three points in four games to begin the year with Tucson.
Tucson has been lacking in the special teams departments to begin the year with the 26th ranked powerplay in the AHL with an 8.7-percent success rate (2-for-23) and a short-handed goal against. Tucson holds the league’s 22nd ranked penalty-kill unit with a 75-percent successful kill-rate (9-for-12).
In net, the Roadrunners have split their four games between second-year pro Hunter Miska and fourht-year pro Adin Hill. Miska is 1-0-1 in his two starts, making 76 saves on 80 shots faced while Hill is 2-0-0 with 41 saves on 46 shots faced.
Sikura Brothers Leading The Way
While the IceHogs got off to a slow start, the bounce back last weekend was powered by the newly reunited Sikura borthers. Both Tyler Sikura and Dylan Sikura tallied points in both win last weekend and both carry three-game point streaks heading into the weekend against the Roadrunners.
You have to call me Dragon.
…You have to call me Nighthawk. pic.twitter.com/AMMEHmCSut
— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) October 3, 2018
The IceHogs are led in scoring by Tyler and Dylan, both with four points each to start the year. If the IceHogs are to continue their success, the Sikura brothers keeping up the production is going to be a key factor. Playing on the same line routinely, Tyler and Dylan have connected a number of chances this season, converting twice with Dylan setting up Tyler for both of his goals this year.
Luke Johnson Returns To Rockford
The IceHogs should have a bit of an offensive boost welcomed back into the lineup as the Chicago Blackhawks reassigned forward Luke Johnson to Rockford as a result of Corey Crawford returning to health and the NHL roster.
Luke Johnson is being assigned to the IceHogs to create a roster spot for Corey Crawford.
— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) October 18, 2018
Johnson played in three games for the Blackhawks before being a healthy-scratch in the last two games before being sent to Rockford. Johnson recorded no points in his first 3 NHL games, but returns to Rockford where he tallied 30 points in 73 games last season.
Both Friday night and Saturday night puck drops between the Roadrunners and IceHogs are scheduled for 7:05pm MT/ 8:05 pm CT.