ICEHOGS FALL 3-0 AT HOME TO CHICAGO WOLVES

Photo by Greg Hamil
IceHogs fall to 4-1-0-0 at home to the Wolves

Rockford, Ill.- After only being shut out three times in the first 72 games of the 2009-10 season, the IceHogs are blanked for the second time in three games. This time it came at the hands of goalie Drew MacIntyre and the Chicago Wolves on Saturday at the Rockford MetroCentre.

"We had a lot of chances," said right wing Jack Skille. "From what I saw, I thought we had a good effort. Some people may not agree with that, but we saw a lot of opportunites to score."

Matt Anderson scored his 15th goal of the season when he picked up a loose puck and flipped it over Corey Crawford at 1:27 of the first period. Arturs Kulda and Jason Krog were credited with the assists.

Then Chicago added one more on an Ivan Vishnevskly's blast. With the Wolves on the power play, Matt Anderson dished the puck to Vishnevskly, who fired it to the back of the net from the blue line to put Chicago up 2-0 at 9:29 in the second period.

Spencer Machacek scored his 19th goal of the season on the power play at the 17:14 mark of the third period. Krog chipped in his second assist on the night, along with Johnny Pohl.

"They had a lot of power plays and we did a great job of killing them except that last one," said Skille. "Krog made a great dish. He's a highly skilled player and you have to expect that."

The IceHogs peppered MacIntyre with 33 shots on goal, but the Chicago goaltender was perfect to pick up his 20th win on the season.

"You can't control how many great saves the goalie is going to make," said Skille. "You just have to worry about getting the puck to the net. We had a couple of back door chances that didn't go in. When those chances aren't going in and the goalie is making great saves, it makes it a lot harder."

Crawford was tagged with the loss, after turning away 18 of 21 shots on goal. Chicago was 2-for-5 on the man advantage, while the IceHogs could not score on five opportunities. The team has now lost two straight on Jersey Auction Night after winning eight of their first nine.

Next Home Game: Friday, April 2 vs. Lake Erie Monsters. The game starts at 7:05 p.m. The IceHogs open up their final home weekend of the 2009-10 regular season. The first 1,500 kids 14 and under will pick up an IceHogs Youth Hockey Stick courtesy of McDonalds and 97ZOK. Also, the first 1,500 fans to the game will receive a 2009-10 IceHogs Team Photo.

HOGS BEAT PEORIA 4-3 AT HOME THANKS TO BIG SECOND PERIOD

IceHogs finish season series 5-3-1-1 against the Rivermen

Rockford, Ill.- The Rockford IceHogs scored three goals in the first 2:56 minutes of the second period to beat the Peoria Rivermen 4-3 at the Rockford MetroCentre on Friday.

In his first game back from an 18-game injury, Mark Cullen notched three assists to lead the IceHogs. Corey Crawford turned away 32 of 35 shots to improve to 5-1-1 this season against the Rivermen.

Pete MacArthur gave Rockford a lead in the first period when he picked up a drop pass from Cullen and back-handed it past Joe Fallon at 2:06 in the first period. Danny Richmond also figured in on the play.

"Last week, (Peoria) scored on us early, so that changed the game a bit," said winger Danny Bois. "Getting the first goal tonight changed a lot of aspects of the game."

The Rivermen responded with a goal of their own to tie the game at 12:17 in the first period. Cam Paddock picked up the puck, drove in on Crawford and slipped it right under him. Daryl Boyle and Chris Porter registered the assists.

Then Adam Cracknell gave Peoria the lead when he fired one past Crawford at 17:53 in the first period with help from Boyle and Fallon.

The IceHogs came storming back in the middle frame to regain the lead. Matt Keith tied the game at two with his 20th goal on the season. MacArthur and Cullen were credited with the assists.

"We were hungry tonight," Bois said. "We had all week to think about last week's loss. They wanted a chance to get back into the playoff race and we didn't want to let them do that tonight."

Then with the IceHogs on the power play, Shawn Lalonde fired the puck past Fallon at 2:35 in the second period to put the Hogs up 3-2. Cullen was credited with his third helper on the night, along with Kyle Greentree.

Bryan Bickell added another one with help from Adam Hobson and Evan Brophey to put Rockford up 4-2 just 21 seconds later. The goal chased Fallon from the game as he was replaced by Ben Bishop.

"We're a good enough team that it's hard to beat us three games in a row," Bois said. "We know we can lose one or two here and there, but three is just unacceptable."

In the third period, Cracknell brought the Rivermen within one when he flipped the puck past Crawford at 17:49 with helpers from Chris Porter and Boyle. Rockford held the league's third best power play off the board in six attempts.

Rockford recorded one power play goal on four chances. Fallon stopped 12 shots in 22:56 while Bishop was a perfect 10 of 10 in 35:42 of ice time.

Next Home Game: Saturday, March 27 vs. Chicago Wolves. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m. The IceHogs will wear special commemorative jerseys and they will get auctioned off immediately following the game in the 11th Annual Rockford IceHogs Jersey Auction. All proceeds from the auction will be donated to the Rockford IceHogs Charitable Foundation and then in return benefit several not-for-profit charities in the Rock River Valley. The first 2,500 fans to the game will receive an IceHogs Jersey Auction T-shirt courtesy of WXRX and 13 WREX.

TEXAS BLANKS THE ICEHOGS 2-0 AT METROCENTRE

Photo by Greg Hamil
IceHogs get shut out by Texas for the second time in the season

Rockford, Ill.- The Texas Stars proved to be too much for the Rockford IceHogs, as the Stars shut out the IceHogs 2-0 on Saturday at the Rockford MetroCentre.

"They play a smart defensive game," defenseman Richard Petiot said. "They don't give up a whole lot and really pack it in, in our offensive zone. They blocked a lot of shots. Offensively we just have to get some dirty goals. We just have to find a way to get it through."

The game marks the forth time on the season that the IceHogs have been blanked, two have come at the hands of the Texas Stars. The other two were by the Hamilton Bulldogs.

Texas got off to a quick start with a goal less than one minute into the game. Mathieu Beaduoin scored his 17th goal of the season, assisted by Andrew Hutchinson and Perttu Lindgren.

Then just as a Stars power play expired in the second period, the Hogs couldn't clear the puck, and Texas tacked on one more. Lindgren picked up a feed from Travis Morin at 8:14 and one-timed the puck past Corey Crawford on the short side. Hutchinson was also credited with an assist, marking his 25th assist on the season.

That was all that Texas needed as the IceHogs had chances but couldn't break Brent Krahn.

"We have to get traffic in front of him and shoot to score every time," Petiot said. "We had a few chances to score tonight and he made some great saves."

Krahn turned away 29 shots to pick up his 14th win on the season and fourth straight since returning from injury, while Crawford stopped 20 shots in a losing effort.

Both teams' special teams were a non-factor as Rockford was 0-for-5 and Texas was 0-for-3.

Next Home Game: Friday, March 26 vs. Peoria Rivermen. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m. The IceHogs and Rivermen meet for the final time in 2009-10, the teams’ tenth overall meeting. The first 2,500 fans to the MetroCentre will receive an IceHogs Zamboni courtesy of ESPN Radio 1380 and FOX 39.

PEORIA SPOILS THE REUNION PARTY WITH A 3-1 WIN

Rockford, Ill.- With the Peoria Rivermen coming to town and reuniting the Rockford IceHogs with former players Joe Fallon and Daryl Boyle, Peoria had the final say, taking the contest 3-1 on Friday night at the Rockford MetroCentre.

The combo was traded to the St. Louis Blues organization for Hannu Toivonen and Danny Richmond on March 1.

"Playing against your former team is always a special opportunity," Toivonen said, "Obviously a little disappointed that we didn't get the outcome that we wanted."

Ryan Reaves scored the first goal of the game at the 5:19 mark of the first period. Nate Guenin and Matt McIlvane were credited with the assists.

The IceHogs responded with a goal of their own by Rob Klinkhammer. Klinkhammer knocked home a Richard Petiot rebound at 13:10 of the first period on the power play. Matt Keith also figured in on the play to extend his point streak to eight games.

Former Hogs defenseman Daryl Boyle scored on his old team at 1:18 of the second period to give Peoria the lead. Boyle scored his sixth goal of the season, with assists from Adam Cracknell and Cam Paddock.

Then Pascal Pelletier scored his fourteenth goal of the season, an empty-net goal, at 19:51 of the third period to put the Rivermen ahead 3-1 and put the game away. Nate Guenin tallied his ninth assist of the season on the empty-net goal.

"We've got to fix a few things in our game and try to go back at it tomorrow," Toivonen said.

Former IceHogs goaltender Joe Fallon saved 28 of 29 shots in the win, while former Toivonen was tagged with the loss while turning away 29 of 31 shots.

Rockford went one for six on the man advantage, but held Peoria off the board on three power play opportunities.

Next Home Game: Saturday, March 20 vs. Texas Stars: Game time is 7:05 p.m. The first 5,000 fans to the big orange box will receive an IceHogs Car Flag from U.S. Cellular.

ROCKFORD FINISH OFF THE WEEK WITH A 3-2 SHOOTOUT WIN

The IceHogs take the season series with Houston 5-2-0-0 with the win

Rockford, Ill.- The Rockford IceHogs came from behind again on Sunday to take a 3-2 shootout win over the Houston Aeros at the Rockford MetroCente.

After a scoreless first period, the Aeros took advantage of a funny bounce in front of the net to take a 1-0 lead in at 2:05 in the second period.

Petr Kalus picked up the loose puck dangling in front of the open net and buried it. Ryan Gunderson dumped the puck into the zone, it bounced off the glass and set in the deep slot ripe for the picking. Nathan Smith was also credited with the assists.

But the IceHogs came back and tallied two goals of their own.

"We knew we had to weather the storm a bit," Pete MacArthur said. "We did that and then we started to play our game and take it to them."

Danny Bois fired in his tenth goal of the season with help from Rob Klinkhammer and David Phillips at 11:33 to tie the game at 1-1.

Then as the puck was loose in the Houston zone, MacArthur gave the Hogs the lead at 18:49 in the second period. MacArthur fought off a Houston hit, found the puck and wrapped it past Anton Khudobin. MacArthur was set up by Matt Keith and Richard Petiot.

Houston's Justin Falk then evened the score and forced overtime when he beat Crawford at 16:02 in the third period with his third goal of the season. Duncan Milroy and Kalus registered the assists on the play.

In the shootout, Crawford was perfect as he denied all Houston shooters, while Evan Brophey and Bois slipped their chances by Khudobin to give the IceHogs a hard-fought 3-2 win.

"That's what pro hockey is all about," said MacArthur. "Just grind it out at this time of the season."

Crawford turned away 25 shots to earn his 20th win on the campaign and Khudobin was tagged with the loss while stopping 28 shots.

Next Home Game: Friday, March 19 vs. Peoria Rivermen: Game time is 7:05 p.m. The first 3,000 fans into the building will pick up a player figurine of either Mike Brennan, Evan Brophey or Jake Dowell courtesy of EcoHome Expert, Inc. Kanga Roof. Also, the IceHogs will be giving away five game-worn jerseys. The jerseys that will be given away include Matt Keith, Daryl Boyle, Ryan Flinn, Jack Skille and Brian Connelly.

SPECIAL TEAMS LEAD ROCKFORD OVER MANITOBA

Photo Courtesy Manitoba Moose
Hogs convert three power play goals in 6-3 win

Winnipeg, Man.- A night after the special teams failed the Rockford IceHogs, the same units carried them to a 6-3 win over the Manitoba Moose at the MTS Centre. Rockford scored three power-play goals while holding Manitoba to one power-play tally on five opportunities.

With the win, Rockford earned a split on the weekend set before returning home on Sunday to open a season long seven-game homestand against the Houston Aeros.

The power play put both clubs on the board in the first period on Saturday. Rockford struck first when Matt Keith found Richard Petiot on the backdoor and the defenseman buried his seventh goal of the season at 10:05.

Manitoba responded with a pair of Guillame Desbiens goals to take a 2-1 lead into the first intermission. Desbiens’ first came on the power play when he dug a puck out underneath Corey Crawford and found the back of the net at 12:16.

Then at 17:02, Mike Keane’s face-off win went to his point man Nathan McIver, whose shot deflected off of Desbiens skate in traffic and past Crawford for his 15th goal of the season.

In the second period Kyle Greentree would tie the game at 2-2 with Rockford on the 5-on-3 power play. Greentree picked up a Bracken Kearns rebound and knocked in his 23rd goal past Cory Schneider at 3:37.

Evan Brophey later gave Rockford the lead back with his 13th tally. In transition, Keith found Brophey streaking down the left wing, and the Hogs center beat Schneider shortside at 6:50. The sequence was set up by a long David Phillips pass.

Rockford found themselves on another 5-on-3 power play in the third period and once again took advantage. Jack Skille stepped out in front of Schneider and shelved his 21st goal of the season at 4:28. Bickell and Pete MacArthur set it up.

Manitoba reduced Rockford’s lead back down to a goal at 18:18 of the third period. Michael Grabner poked in a rebound off of a Lawrence Nycholat shot for his 15th marker of the campaign making it 4-3.

But Rockford added a pair of empty net goals to seal the win. Greentree buried his second marker of the night at 19:14 before Danny Bois added his ninth goal of the season at 19:54.

The IceHogs outshot Manitoba 34-26 in the win and Crawford earned his 19th win of 2009-10 after turning away 23 Moose shots.

MOOSE TROUNCE ROCKFORD IN MANITOBA

Photo by Greg Hamil
Rockford falls hard for the second straight game

Winnipeg, Man.-For the second straight game the Rockford IceHogs were on the wrong end of a blowout. Rockford was knocked out 6-1 by the Manitoba Moose at the MTS Centre on Friday night.

Despite outshooting Manitoba 12-6 and carrying the play for most of the first period, Rockford found themselves down 2-0 after the first 20 minutes. Both goals were tallied by Matt Pope who had just one marker in 32 games entering play on Friday.

Pope put the Moose on the board at 13:16 when Marco Rosa found him in front of the Rockford goal and the winger slipped his first of the night past Hannu Toivonen. Later in the frame, with Manitoba’s power play ticking down, Rosa found Pope streaking through the IceHogs zone and he shelved his second tally of the game over the glove of Toivonen at 15:23.

In the second period Manitoba chased Toivonen from the game with a short handed tally. Matt Pettinger picked up a fanned shot by Brian Connelly and skated end-to-end and beat Toivonen five-hole at 3:56 for his 14th goal of the season.

Corey Crawford replaced Toivonen and was greeted rudely at 5:58 of the second period. Peter Olvecky’s shot from the left circle deflected off of Rosa and past Crawford for Rosa’s 20th goal of the season making it 4-0.

The barrage didn’t end there for Rockford as Manitoba tacked on one more in the second frame on the power play. Yan Stastny picked up a Guillaume Desbiens feed and beat Crawford between the pads at 13:37 for his 11th tally of the season.

Rockford stopped the bleeding with a late second period goal from Matt Keith. Keith picked up a Pete MacArthur cross-ice pass and beat Cory Schneider backdoor for his 19th goal of the year.

Manitoba added one more in the third period when Olvecky picked Adam Hobson’s pocket and shoved his 12th goal of the season past Crawford at 14:13.

Both teams finished with 29 shots and Toivonen was tagged with the loss after blocking six of nine shots. In relief, Crawford turned away 17 of 20 Moose attempts while Schneider made 28 saves for Manitoba.

Next Home Game: Sunday, March. 14 vs. Houston Aeros. Game time is 5:05 p.m. Join in the celebration at the Rockford MetroCentre for Hammy's Birthday. The first 2,500 fans into the arena will receive an IceHogs cereal bowl courtesy of General Mills and WROK. The game is also a WXRX Student Rush Night and fans can get Family Four Packs, including four tickets, four hot dogs, four soft drinks and four popcorns for just $44. Plus, the IceHogs are giving away game-worn jerseys of Bracken Kearns, Mike Brennan, Simon Danis-Pepin, Mark Cullen and Evan Brophey. All jersey winners will be drawn at random and fans can sign up to win at the game.

ROCKFORD TRAMPLED BY RAMPAGE

Photo by Darren Abate
Hogs end first leg of five-game trip with 7-2 loss

San Antonio, Tex.-One team was desperate for a win on Sunday afternoon in San Antonio and it wasn’t the Rockford IceHogs. It showed as the IceHogs were blown out at the AT&T Center 7-2 by the Rampage.

One night after holding the Rampage without a power play, Rockford gave them a season high 10 on Sunday (San Antonio converted two of them). The Rampage committed 53 penalty minutes of their own, most by Francis Lessard (38), the most by an IceHogs opponent.

Sunday’s game featured three goals early in the first period, including two by Rockford. For the second straight contest the IceHogs scored in the first minute of the game and this time it was Bryan Bickell lighting the lamp. Bickell picked up a Richard Petiot pass and fired home his 14th goal of the season past Josh Tordjman :34 into the game.

Matt Keith came into the game with goals in three straight games against San Antonio and he made it four straight 4:37 into the first frame. On a five-on-three power play, Keith hammered in a Pete MacArthur centering pass for his 18th goal of the season. That’s all Rockford had in the tank, however, on Sunday.

San Antonio responded moments after Rockford’s second power play expired. Kyle Turris hopped out of the penalty box and Jeff Hoggan hit Turris with a pass behind the IceHogs defense and the second year winger shelved his 19th goal of the campaign over the glove of Corey Crawford at 6:33.

With Rockford on another power play, the Rampage would tie the game at 2-2. Hoggan picked up a loose puck at the San Antonio blue line, skated the length of the ice and netted a shorthanded tally at 17:29 of the opening frame for his tenth goal of the year.

In the second period San Antonio grabbed a two goal lead and chased Crawford from the game. Alexandre Picard tallied his first of two markers on the afternoon 1:49 into the middle stanza when he finished off a Brett MacLean centering pass on the power play.

Then at the 4:44 mark Picard struck against when he backhanded a David Spina rebound over Crawford for a 4-2 lead, his 19th goal of the year. That lead was extended at 14:49 when David Schlemko blasted his fourth goal of the season past Hannu Toivonen on the power play.

San Antonio tacked on two more in the third period to finish off the IceHogs. Sasha Pokulok netted his second goal of the season moments after a Rampage power play expired at 11:29 before MacLean knocked in his team-leading 26th tally at 15:13.

Crawford was given the loss after making 13 saves on 17 shots faced while Toivonen stopped 25 of 28 San Antonio attempts. After a rocky start, Tordjman rebounded and made 27 saves.

Next Home Game: Sunday, March. 14 vs. Houston Aeros. Game time is 5:05 p.m. Join in the celebration at the Rockford MetroCentre for Hammy's Birthday. The first 2,500 fans into the arena will receive an IceHogs cereal bowl courtesy of General Mills and WROK. The game is also a WXRX Student Rush Night and fans can get Family Four Packs, including four tickets, four hot dogs, four soft drinks and four popcorns for just $44. Plus, the IceHogs are giving away game-worn jerseys of Bracken Kearns, Mike Brennan, Simon Danis-Pepin, Mark Cullen and Evan Brophey. All jersey winners will be drawn at random and fans can sign up to win at the game.

TOIVONEN, RICHMOND HELP LEAD ROCKFORD OVER RAMPAGE

Photo by Greg Hamil
San Antonio, Tex.- If this is how the Rockford IceHogs are going to treat Hannu Toivonen, he’s going to like his stay with the IceHogs. Rockford scored three first period goals, including one just :27 in, during a 4-1 win over the San Antonio Rampage at the AT&T Center.

Toivonen, acquired on Monday from the St. Louis Blues with Danny Richmond, made 32 saves to pick a win in his first Rockford start. Richmond chipped in three assists in the victory.

Entering play on Saturday Matt Keith led the IceHogs with five goals against the Rampage and it didn’t take him long to add to that total. The winger solved Josh Tordjman :27 into the opening frame when he fired home his 17th goal of the season off a Pete MacArthur pass to put Rockford up 1-0.

For the second straight night Derek Nesbitt found the back of the net for Rockford. Nesbitt beat Tordjman far post at 14:12 for his third goal of the year. The marker was set up by Richmond.

Then later in the first period Bracken Kearns would finish off a two-on-one breakaway when he beat newly inserted San Antonio goalie Miika Wiickman over the blocker for his 15th goal of the year, helped by Richmond and Brian Connelly.

In the second period Jeff Hoggan would cut into the IceHogs lead at 8:15. Off a face-off win, Hoggan put a rebound from a David Schlemko shot past Toivonen for his ninth goal of the campaign.

But Rockford responded to restore their three goal cushion. Richmond would complete his playmaker at 13:55 when his slap shot from the point was deflected past Wiikman by Nesbitt for his second goal of the contest.

That’s all that Toivonen and the IceHogs needed as he would turn away all 12 third period San Antonio shots to pick up his first win with Rockford. For the second time this season, the IceHogs didn’t give the opposition a power play chance.

Next Home Game: Sunday, March. 14 vs. Houston Aeros. Game time is 5:05 p.m. Join in the celebration at the Rockford MetroCentre for Hammy's Birthday. The first 2,500 fans into the arena will receive an IceHogs cereal bowl courtesy of General Mills and WROK. The game is also a WXRX Student Rush Night and fans can get Family Four Packs, including four tickets, four hot dogs, four soft drinks and four popcorns for just $44. Plus, the IceHogs are giving away game-worn jerseys of Bracken Kearns, Mike Brennan, Simon Danis-Pepin, Mark Cullen and Evan Brophey. All jersey winners will be drawn at random and fans can sign up to win at the game.

ROCKFORD EARNS A POINT WITH OVERTIME LOSS

Cedar Park, Tex.- Keeping pace is just as important as winning games right now for the Rockford IceHogs. The IceHogs did just that on Friday night as they earned a point in the standings with a 4-3 overtime loss against the Texas Stars at the Cedar Park Center.

Both the Chicago Wolves and Milwaukee Admirals also earned points on Friday as the West Division foes fell in separate shootouts.

Pete MacArthur gave Rockford the early 1-0 lead. On a delayed penalty call on Texas, MacArthur jumped into the play as the extra Rockford attacker and Evan Brophey found him in the slot and MacArthur ripped home his sixth goal of the season.

Later in the opening frame Derek Nesbitt moved Rockford’s lead to 2-0. Nick Boynton’s initial blast from the point was turned away by Matt Climie, but Nesbitt was there to clean up the rebound for his second marker of the campaign at 11:39.

The Stars came storming back in the second period and erased their two-goal deficit. Ray Sawada began the comeback when he hammered home a Warren Peters pass for his fourth goal of the season at 4:38 of the frame.

In his first game since Jan. 2, Landon Wilson would pull the Stars even and then give them the 3-2 lead on nearly identical plays. Moments after a Texas power play expired, Aaron Gagnon found Wilson on the back door and the winger knocked in his third goal of the season at 8:40.

Then again seconds after the IceHogs killed off a Stars advantage, Wilson struck again. The veteran winger was set up backside by Travis Morin at 12:04 to give Texas a 3-2 lead heading into the second intermission.

Down a goal in the third period Matt Keith would tie the game for Rockford. The winger redirected a Danny Richmond slapshot past Matt Climie at 12:41 to lock up the game at 3-3.

In the overtime Jack Skille had an opportunity to win the contest for Rockford, but his shot rung off of the Texas goal post after beating Climie and the Stars would go down the other way for the game winner. Travis Morin picked up a Trevor Ludwig shot from the point and worked it around Corey Crawford 3:40 into the OT.

Crawford made 29 saves in the loss while Climie turned away 26 Rockford shots. The IceHogs held the Stars to 0-6 on the power play while the Stars kept Rockford’s advantage at bay, 0-3.

Next Home Game: Sunday, March. 14 vs. Houston Aeros. Game time is 5:05 p.m. Join in the celebration at the Rockford MetroCentre for Hammy's Birthday. The first 2,500 fans into the arena will receive an IceHogs cereal bowl courtesy of General Mills and WROK. The game is also a WXRX Student Rush Night and fans can get Family Four Packs, including four tickets, four hot dogs, four soft drinks and four popcorns for just $44. Plus, the IceHogs are giving away game-worn jerseys of Bracken Kearns, Mike Brennan, Simon Danis-Pepin, Mark Cullen and Evan Brophey. All jersey winners will be drawn at random and fans can sign up to win at the game.

ROCKFORD SCORES IN EACH PERIOD TO PICK UP 3-2 WIN

By: Nate Haeni
Hogs pick up win before going on five-game road trip

Rockford, Ill.- The Rockford IceHogs are finding ways to win.

The Hogs have trailed in three of their last six victories including Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Lake Erie Monsters at the Rockford MetroCentre.

"Coming from behind is huge for the confidence of the team, knowing that we can do it," said defenseman Richard Petiot. "Finding ways to win is what we're doing right now and hopefully it will carry through the rest of the season."

Lake Erie got it started when T.J. Hensick finished off a breakaway 31 seconds into the game to put the Monsters up 1-0. The Monsters' leading scorer flew into the play with Darren Haydar playing the puck on a breakaway, picked up a pass and slipped it under Corey Crawford.

The IceHogs responded with a goal of their own when Jack Skille fed Bracken Kearns for a short-handed goal at 4:14 in the first frame. Petiot was also credited with an assist.

"We dropped the puck in on the rush," Petiot said. "And then that was a great pass from Skille. I don't know how Skille saw him, but he did. Kearns had a great shot. It was nice for us to pick up a shorthanded goal when we were down 1-0."

Then with Lake Erie still on the power play, Justin Mercier took advantage of a bit of miscommunication on the defensive side 40 seconds later to put the Monsters back up 2-1. Rowe figured in with his second assist of the night, along with help from Brent Skinner.

"Having new defensive partners coming in," Petiot said. "It's important for us to talk and help each other out as much as we can, not playing with each other in the past, we don't know their tendencies so we have to keep talking."

The IceHogs received two new defensemen since playing last. The Chicago Blackhawks traded for Danny Richmond on Monday and Nick Boynton on Wednesday.

The IceHogs came back again and tied the game at 2-2 when Pete MacArthur found Evan Brophey streaking to the net with Rockford on a power play. Brophey picked up the puck and chipped in his 12th goal of the season at 7:20 in the second period. Matt Keith was also credited with a helper.

In the third period, Bryan Bickell picked up a Kearns pass and blasted it by John Grahame on the power play to put the Hogs up 3-2 at 11:27. Brian Connelly also registered an assist.

"Two power play goals, that's good," Petiot said. "Our power play has been down a bit lately so hopefully we can keep it going."

But after that second power play goal, the IceHogs locked it down and held Lake Erie off the board including a 6-on-4 empty-net power play to finish out the game.

Corey Crawford stopped 20 of 22 shots faced, while Grahame made 22 saves. All of Rockford's three goals were on the special teams, with goals coming on two of their five power plays. Lake Erie capitalized on one of their five power plays.

Next Home Game: Sunday, March. 14 vs. Houston Aeros. Game time is 5:05 p.m. Join in the celebration at the Rockford MetroCentre for Hammy's Birthday. The first 2,500 fans into the arena will receive an IceHogs cereal bowl courtesy of General Mills and WROK. The game is also a WXRX Student Rush Night and fans can get Family Four Packs, including four tickets, four hot dogs, four soft drinks and four hot dogs for just $44. Plus, the IceHogs are giving away game-worn jerseys of Bracken Kearns, Mike Brennan, Simon Danis-Pepin, Mark Cullen and Evan Brophey. All jersey winners will be drawn at random and fans can sign up to win at the game.