IceHogs Find Success Against the Wild

ROCKFORD, Ill. – The Iowa Wild and Rockford IceHogs came into this weekend’s series looking to gain some positive momentum, as both have not been unable to string two wins together this season. 

Iowa and Rockford had an interesting start to their Saturday evening. Gabriel Dumont gave the Wild the 1-0 lead 4:26 into the game. It took Iowa six shots to crack Collin Delia’s code. On the IceHogs side of things, accuracy was no issue during the first period. Both Cody Franson and Matej Chalupa were able to get the IceHogs on the board with the team only registering three shots on goal.

Part of the Wild’s problem could stem from the fact they don’t put a ton of muscle behind their shots. The Wild tend to shoot these beautiful looking wristers that kind of float in the air. As visually pleasing as those shots are, they are easy for a goaltender or defenseman to track.

Franson ended up scoring his second goal of the night to give the IceHogs the 3-1 lead just 10 seconds into a power play.

A few minutes later, the WIld thought they scored a goal off of the faceoff. Upon further review, Will Bitten turned his skate at the wrong time, causing a distinct kicking motion. The “no goal” call didn’t prevent the Wild from drawing up the same exact play on the next faceoff. This time, the puck went in without a hitch, thanks to Cody McLeod snatching up the rebound.

At the end of the second period, the IceHogs led the Wild, 3-2. 

The Wild were never able to match the IceHogs level of energy. When the horn sounded, they had fallen to the IceHogs, 3-2. 

It’s worth noting that Delia is the main reason why the IceHogs had such a strong hold on the lead in the third period. If he hadn’t made an incredible save on his back to stop a puck with his legs, the game would have gone into overtime. 

The reverse "Bend and Snap" #IceHogs #WildTogether #IAvsRFD @FPC_AHL pic.twitter.com/80JIviyZ2q

— Elaine Shircliff (@imaraindancer) March 7, 2021

The Wild started the first seven minutes of Sunday night’s game with no registered shots on goal, although they were in the offensive zone for a good chunk of the opening minutes. The Wild just couldn’t find any quality shots to give them the edge.

Unlike Saturday night’s game, the IceHogs were the first to light the lamp on Sunday. With 11:41 to play in the first period, Andrei Altybarmakian picked up the puck at center ice and swiftly moved towards the net. Keeping his feet evenly spread apart, he glided from the left faceoff circle to the crease before popping the puck into the net. 

Altybarmakian was also a big presence on the power play during the first period. He spent a lot of time zipping around the neutral and offensive zone trying to get close to the net. Unfortunately for the IceHogs, the Wild’s penalty kill was quick to stop him at every turn.

In the waning minute of the first period, Connor Dewar tied the game at one, scoring on the power play for the Wild. Damien Giroux was posted on the crease creating a screen on Delia. This allowed Dewar to snipe the shot into the net from the left circle. 

A mere 17 seconds into the second period, Calen Addison lifted the puck out play, causing a delay of game penalty for the Wild. Despite their best effort, the IceHogs couldn’t convert their early power play into a goal. However, 10 seconds after the man advantage expired, Evan Barratt wound up while sitting atop the left circle and smacked the puck into the net to give the IceHogs the 2-1 lead. 

The Iowa Wild were not exactly pleased with the early goal from the IceHogs and decided to score two of their own. 

After multiple attempts to scoop up a rebound, Dewar scored his second goal of the night 4:21 into the second to tie the game at two. The hustle he put into scoring this goal was amazing. Delia stopped the initial shot from Addison, but lost sight of the puck as it rolled across the right side of the crease. From the near faceoff circle, Dewar quickly rushed the crease before smacking it into the net for the goal. 

The hustle is strong with Connor Dewar.

He was denied multiple juicy rebounds before he scored 4:21 into the second period to tie things up at two for the @IAWild #IceHogs #WildTogether #IAvsRFD @FPC_AHL pic.twitter.com/YIyMg5bNtM

— Elaine Shircliff (@imaraindancer) March 7, 2021

Around two minutes later, the Wild took the 3-2 lead when Addison snuck the puck through traffic to Damien Giroux, who whacked it into the net for the goal. The Wild worked hard to make something positive happen for 20 seconds leading up to Giroux’s goal. They basically played keep away from the IceHogs in an attempt to find open lanes. 

At the end of the second period, the Wild led the IceHogs, 3-2. The score would have been a lot different if the IceHogs had better accuracy at point blank range. A great example of this came with 2:32 left in the second, when D.J. Busdeker missed the net by a hair while Hunter Jones was out of place. 

Wow. Insane.

Hunter Jones was caught out of place on the left side of the crease. Jarrett Burton slid into the crease and the net to play as a second netminder.
Poor D.J. Busdeker had the whole top half of the net open and missed.#IceHogs #WildTogether #IAvsRFD @FPC_AHL pic.twitter.com/OeUaXfLS7T

— Elaine Shircliff (@imaraindancer) March 7, 2021

Busdeker had his chance to shine with 11:49 left in the third period by scoring on the power play. He went backhand to forehand while powering through Josh Atkinson. As Busdeker neared the net, he lifted the puck past Jones for the tying goal, 3-3.

Both teams spent a good chunk of time in the third drawing up plays, but none of them were converted into goals. They would need a bit of extra time to settle this match. 

During the first 30 seconds of overtime, Mason Shaw, Will Bitten, and Addison played keep away from the IceHogs. By the time they made it to the Wild’s defensive zone, the IceHogs were in desperate need of a personnel change. While they were changing lines, Bitten had a breakaway shot but fired the puck just high of the net. On the next play, Altybarmakian sealed the deal for the IceHogs with a snipe down the slot. 

The WIld battled hard during both games, but at the end of the day it wasn’t enough to walk away with a win.