IOWA FALLS TO ROCKFORD 4-2
Nov 4, 2018Iowa Wild (7-3-0-0; 14 pts.) dropped the final game of a three-in-three set, losing 4-2 to the Rockford IceHogs (6-3-1-2). Despite the loss, Iowa’s 14 points are the most ever in franchise history through the first 10 games of the season.
Rockford opened up the scoring 7:29 into the game when forward Dylan Sikura potted his fourth goal of the season. Sikura and forward Victor Ejdsell skated in on a 2-on-1 and Ejdsell slid the puck over to Sikura for a scoring chance. Sikura then wristed a shot past goaltender Andrew Hammond (35 saves) blocker side to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
The IceHogs doubled its lead just more than a minute later as Anthony Louis scored his team-leading fifth goal of the season at 8:34 in the first period. Louis wristed a shot over Hammond’s right shoulder to give Rockford a 2-0 lead.
Defenseman Matt Bartkowski scored his first goal in an Iowa Wild sweater to cut Rockford’s lead to 2-1 at 11:54 in the first period. Defenseman Brennan Menell sent a pass to forward Cal O’Reilly to kickstart a 3-on-1 opportunity for the home team. O’Reilly passed the puck to Bartkowski and the defenseman waited out goaltender Anton Forsberg (31 saves) before snapping the puck under his right arm for the tally. Menell’s assist marked the sixth consecutive game he’s registered a point, the longest such stretch of his career and the longest active point streak by a defenseman in the AHL.
Rockford led 2-1 at the end of the first period, with the Wild outshooting the IceHogs 12-9.
Iowa tied the game at 2-2 with a power-play goal by forward Justin Kloos. The Wild offense spent the full 1:44 of the man advantage in the Rockford zone, culminating with Kloos having the puck on his stick in the slot. Kloos ripped a shot that snuck through Forsberg for his fourth of the season at 3:52 in the middle frame. O’Reilly earned his second assist of the game and defenseman Eric Martinsson registered the secondary helper, his sixth assist of the season.
Rockford took the lead back at 16:44 when the IceHogs capitalized on the man advantage. Defenseman Lucas Carlsson launched a slap shot from the point, which was tipped by forward Jacob Nilsson. The redirection was stopped by Hammond, but Nilsson then chipped the rebound over Hammond’s right pad to give the away side the 3-2 lead. Forward Terry Broadhurst recorded the secondary assist on the play.
Through two periods, Rockford led 3-2 and had a 27-23 shot advantage.
Rockford iced the game when Louis scored an empty net goal at 18:44 in the third period. His score was his second of the game and Carlsson earned his second assist of the night.
Rockford finished the game outshooting Iowa 39-33. The Wild went 1-for-5 on the power play and 5-of-6 on the penalty kill.
Iowa and Rockford will close out three consecutive games as opponents Wednesday morning as a part of the IceHogs’ school day game. Puck drop is scheduled for 10:30 a.m.
The Iowa Wild 2018-19 season is presented by Mercy Medical Center and runs from October through April. For more information, please contact the Wild office by calling 515-564-8700 or by visiting www.iowawild.com.