IOWA EDGED BY ROCKFORD 4-3 IN OT
Nov 21, 2014IOWA EDGED BY ROCKFORD 4-3 IN OT
Iowa Plays in Chicago on Saturday, Returns Home Sunday
ROCKFORD, IL – The Iowa Wild (4-11-1-0, 9 points) were defeated by the Rockford IceHogs (12-4-0-1, 25 points) 4-3 in overtime in front of 3,130 fans at the BMO Harris Bank Center on Friday night. Rockford’s Ryan Hartman evened the game early in the third period and supplied the overtime game winner to lift the IceHogs over Iowa. The Wild picked up a point in the first overtime appearance of the season. The team never trailed until the game’s final goal. Defenseman Justin Falk scored a goal and added an assist in the defeat. Rockford goalie Scott Darling (6-2-0) stopped 22 of 25 shots in the victory. Iowa goalie Johan Gustafsson (4-8-0) made 37 saves on 41 shots in the defeat. Center Tyler Graovac and forward Kurtis Gabriel also scored, as the Wild slipped to 2-1-1-0 in the first four games under new Head Coach John Torchetti. Iowa will visit Chicago at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
Iowa claimed an early lead with a power-play goal in the opening two minutes of the contest. With a power play beginning in the Rockford zone, Iowa capitalized off the faceoff. Michael Keranen picked up the puck off the draw and sent a back-door feed to center Tyler Graovac, who finished for his fifth goal of the season and 1-0 lead. It marked the fourth straight game in which the Wild scored first.
In the second period, Rockford tied the game 1-1 at 3:32 off a goal by Ryan Schnell. The Hogs’ forward walked off the right-wing boards and feathered a shot through traffic and past goalie Johan Gustafsson. Schell’s third goal of the year was assisted by Adam Broadhurst and Pierre-Cedric Labrie. The Wild pushed back in front 2-1 at 13:57 of the second period off Justin Falk’s first goal of the year. The Iowa defenseman snapped a wrist shot from the goal line that banked in off Scott Darling and the goal post for the 2-1 lead. Rookie forward Zack Mitchell and Jon Blum each had an assist on the tally. Rockford countered less than a minute later at 14:40 when defenseman Viktor Svedberg scored his second goal of the year for the 2-2 score. The IceHogs’ defenseman blasted a shot from the blueline, which banked in off the post to the left of Gustafsson. Forwards Garrett Ross and defenseman Stephen Johns each had an assist on the goal. Iowa reclaimed its lead at 15:02 of the middle frame, as Gabriel jammed in a rebound 22 seconds later for his second goal of the year. Captain Stephane Veilleux and Falk each had an assist as Iowa carried a 3-2 lead into the second intermission.
The IceHogs tied the game at 8:52 of the third period as Ryan Hartman buried a rebound goal for the 3-3 tie. Hartman potted a rebound off a Schnell shot for his third goal of the year. Patrick Regin also picked up an assist on the tally, which eventually force overtime.
Hartman ended the contest at 3:14 of overtime, scoring off a rebound of a T.J. Brennan shot. Brennan carried the puck behind the Wild net and sent a backhand shot to the crease. Gustafsson kicked the rebound out and Hartman scored his second of the night, his fourth of the year, for the 4-3 final.
After a stop in Chicago on Saturday, Iowa returns home at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 23 to face Milwaukee. On Sunday fans can bring skates to take part in the postgame skate after the game, sponsored by Grip-Tite Foundation Repair. Fans are encouraged to bring canned foods to the game on Sunday to support a canned food drive presented by Fire Creek Grill. It’s also a Subway Family Four Pack game, where fans may buy four tickets, four sodas and four hot dogs, starting at $48.
The Iowa Wild 2014-15 season is presented by Mercy Medical Center, it runs from October through April. Fans may purchase seats to see any of the team’s 38 regular season home games at Wells Fargo Arena. Season tickets to see the Wild play at Wells Fargo Arena start at just $9 per game. For more information on tickets, including ticket plans and group seating, please contact the Wild ticket office by calling 515-564-8700 or go to www.iowawild.com.
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