Stephen Johns skated up the right side and stuffed a wraparound attempt in the net 23 seconds into overtime for a 3-2 win and to complete a three-game sweep of the defending champion Texas Stars in the first-round of the Calder Cup Playoffs at the BMO Harris Bank Center on Wednesday night.
The sweep is Rockford’s first playoff round victory since 2008. Rockford outscored the Stars 11 to 5, allowing no more than two goals during the three-game series.
Oh my Johns! @stjohns28 with an incredible individual effort to seal it in OT! @goicehogs advance! #RFDvsTEX pic.twitter.com/RXdMpbTfA3
— AHL (@TheAHL) April 30, 2015
“It’s the most incredible feeling I’ve ever felt, I think, in my hockey career” Stephen Johns on his OT winner, advancing #IceHogs to 2nd rd
— ChrisBlock (@ChrisBlock) April 30, 2015
Rockford #IceHogs and Texas Stars hand shake. Hogs eliminate and sweep Texas 3-0. pic.twitter.com/V7IPYQaYHX
— ChrisBlock (@ChrisBlock) April 30, 2015
Phillip Danault opened the scoring when he parked himself in front of Stars’ goaltender Jussi Rynnas and knocked in a rebound for a 1-0 lead at 3:43.
The Stars responded when Devin Shore sent a slapshot past Michael Leighton with 38.4 seconds to go in the first to tie into heading into the first intermission. Texas would add another late goal with 1:19 left in the second period by Scott Glennie.
Danault netted his second goal while falling to the ice to tie it 2-2 with 10:09 left in regulation.
This thing of beauty by @phildanault is the reason why everyone is having heart palpitations right now. #TEXvsRFD pic.twitter.com/xfb5HYEHgE
— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) April 30, 2015
Leighton allowed two goals on 41 shots in the win.
Follow Second City Hockey on Twitter at @2ndCityHockey and Like us on Facebook. You can follow Brandon Cain on Twitter at @