The Rockford IceHogs are having trouble finding their offense as the month of November comes to a close. After a 4-1-1 start to the month, the IceHogs found themselves on a season-long six-game winless streak heading into the final game of November against the Chicago Wolves on Sunday afternoon at 0-4-2. After a win on the road, the IceHogs closed the month by snapping said six-game skid to salvage the month at 5-5-3 over 13 games.
Rockford IceHogs Limp Into December
The IceHogs began the month of November on a hot start with points in five of their first six games, going 4-1-1 over that stretch. Scoring three or more goals in four of their six games to begin the month, Rockford saw their success drop drastically after a 4-3 win over the Chicago Wolves on November 10. Going 1-4-2, the IceHogs scored just 11 goals over their lasy seven games and only broke out for more than two goals in a game once in a 3-2 win on Sunday against the Wolves.
Needless to say, the offensive struggles for the IceHogs are very apparent. While Jordan Schroeder and Anthony Louis have pulled their weight over the last seven games, with Schroeder having five points (G, 5A) in six games and Louis having four (2G, 2A), but the rest of the Rockford roster has been lacking of late.
The top-point producers and those counted on to generate offense have been snake-bitten, it seems, over the last seven game stretch:
- Dylan Sikura: 3 points (G, 2A)
- Victor Ejdsell: 2 points (G, A)
- Jacob Nilsson: 2 points (G, A)
- Darren Raddysh: 2 points (G, A)
When teams hit tough stretches, one would expect the secondary scorers should be able to pull-through. While the top-end of the offensive generators have been struggling, that hasn’t been the case for the IceHogs. Multiple players have just a single point over the last seven games including Henrik Samuelsson, Graham Knott, Nathan Noel, and Joni Tuulola. As December rolls around, the IceHogs will need to take advantage of the offensive chances that they are seeing while their defense and goaltending continue to keep them in games.
Anton Forsberg of the Rockford IceHogs. (Courtesy: Iowa Wild)
While the offense has been lacking for Rockford, their goaltenders have been more than pulling their own weight during the last seven games. Anton Forsberg, returning from an illness earlier in the month, returned to make two appearances against the Chicago Wolves in the final three games of November. Forsberg would make 18 saves on 25 shots on Friday against the Wolves, followed up by a redeeming 29 save performance on 31 shots on Sunday.
In the absence of Forsberg, Collin Delia made five appearances with four starts over the last seven games of November. Delia would go 0-2-2 over that stretch with a 2.45 GAA in his four starts and a 0.932 save-percentage. Kevin Lankinen also made one start over the last seven games, a 2-1 loss to the San Antonio Rampage on November 17. Lankinen made 19 saves on 21 shots.
Johnson, Lankinen Return To IceHogs Roster
Ahead of Sunday’s contest, the Rockford IceHogs were a part of a pair of roster moves that saw Luke Johnson and Kevin Lankinen return to the Rockford lineup. The Chicago Blackhawks reassigned Johnson, while the IceHogs recalled Lankinen from the Indy Fuel.
For Johnson this season, he has been in and out of the lineup for the Chicago Blackhawks mostly this season. In 13 NHL games this season, Johnson has just one assist. He added a goal against the Wolves on Sunday to make it three points (2G, A) in three AHL games this season.
For Lankinen, he has seen time for both the IceHogs and Fuel this season after starting the year in Rockford. In his four starts for the Fuel, Lankinen has a 4-0-0 record with a 2.50 GAA and a 0.910 save-percentage. In his three appearances for Rockford, Lankinen is 0-2-1 with a 2.98 GAA and a 0.852 save-percentage.
Stats For Your Consideration
- IceHogs began November 4-1-1, but finished 1-4-2 for a final 5-5-3 monthly record (13 points)
- Rockford is 4th in the Central Division on points (23), 5th on point-percentage (0.523)
- Rockford ranks 21st on the powerplay (15.4%), 3rd on the penalty-kill (86.6%)
- The IceHogs rank 28th in the AHL in goals for (53), 18th in goals allowed (64)
- Luke Johnson has two goals and an assist in his three AHL games this season.
- Anthony Louis, with a goal against the Wolves Sunday, has 11 points over his last 14 games vs. Chicago
- Dylan Sikura ranks in a four-way tie for 5th in AHL rookie point-scoring (15pts)
- Collin Delia ranks 6th in the AHL for GAA (2.35), 3rd in the AHL in save-percentage (0.932)
What’s Next?
The IceHogs are off until December 1, when play host for a Saturday Night game against the Milwaukee Admirals at the BMO Harris Bank Center in Rockford. Puck drop is set for 6pm CT. After that, the IceHogs host the San Antonio Rampage for a Sunday afternoon contest. Puck drop at the BMO Harris Bank Center is set for 4pm CT on Sunday.