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Calder Cup Playoffs: IceHogs 4, Wild 3 (OT) Recap

For the second straight game – and ninth time in 14 meetings total this season – the Rockford IceHogs and Iowa Wild needed overtime to determine a winner. Luckily, it was the IceHogs taking this one 4-3 in Game 2 of the best-of-3, first-round series.

Rockford will now face the Central Division Champion Texas Stars in the semifinals. Last year, the IceHogs were swept in the same round by the eventual Calder Cup winners, the Chicago Wolves.

Game Recap

Iowa kicked things off 5:49 into the first period as Damien Giroux knocked in the rebound created from Daemon Hunt’s long shot from near the blue line.


The IceHogs answered on the power play with 2:33 left in the first period. Michal Teplý setup Issak Phillips at the top of the left circle, the latter of whom wired a wrist shot into the net to make it 1-1.


David Gust gave the IceHogs a 2-1 lead with 3:50 remaining in the second period after going end-to-end and finishing with a power move in close.


The Wild re-tied the game just 20 seconds into the third period. D.J. Busdeker mishandled the puck on the penalty kill and Marco Rossi jumped on it, immediately scoring with a laser to make it 2-2.


The Wild went up 3-2 just under six minutes into the third period. Rossi powered through the IceHogs’ defense to get a shot in close, and Adam Beckman knocked in the rebound for the goal.


Michel Teply evened the score at 3-3 with 10:26 left in regulation. Filip Roos started the play by getting a long shot through tot he net, Busdeker attempted to cash in on the initial rebound, and then Teplý finished on the second rebound opportunity.


As with the previous game, the IceHogs and Wild played some extra hockey to decide the game. The decision came 17:55 into overtime when the IceHogs scored on yet another rebound. This time, it was Buddy Robinson shoveling the loose puck created by Alex Vlasic’s shot from the left circle that put the IceHogs up 4-3 for the win.


Prospect Notes:

  • It wasn’t surprising that the Wild were focused on shutting down the Lukas Reichel line with Rocco Grimaldi and Joey Anderson, considering how the trio ran amok the last game. Reichel still got some nice opportunities – he had seven shot attempts, three on net – but didn’t pick up a point. He also had at least one bad turnover on the power play that led to a big shorthanded chance against.
  • On the other hand, the Teplý line with Busdeker and Robinson really broke out this game, accounting for nine of the IceHogs’ 33 shots on goal. Teplý, in particular, had a great showing when it came to transition and playmaking.
  • Vlasic had another strong defensive game, but he also added two helpers and had several other offensive opportunities. He’s never going to be the prettiest or fastest skater, but Vlasic is good at maneuvering his big frame well on both sides of the ice – and he was especially good on the penalty kill.
  • Alec Regula had a bit of a rough game: he lost a few puck battles, including one that led to a goal against, and took a bad late penalty in the third that could have prevented Rockford from making it to overtime. It wasn’t all bad – he really does do well at generating offensive opportunities for teammates – it just wasn’t his best defensive showing.
  • Outside of his goal, Phillips had a pretty quiet game – not necessarily a bad thing for a defender. He and Regula were tasked with taking on the Rossi-Beckman line – the most dangerous for Iowa. While he didn’t make any major mistakes, he also didn’t stand out like last game. Still, he ended the game with five shot attempts, three on goal, and scored a goal.
  • Roos had a strong, well balanced outing. He hasn’t stood out much among the Blackhawks prospects in Rockford, but he’s also been fairly steady and consistent in his level of play. In Friday’s game, Roos made some impressive stops along the blue line, broke up more than a few plays against, and was one of the best defensemen in activating on offense.
  • Söderblom didn’t have quite as impressive a performance as last game – he saved 26 of 29 shots for a .897 save percentage – but he was big when needed. His best three saves were: on Michael Milne shorthanded after Reichel turnover late in the first period, against Rossi on a power play in the second and against Steven Fogarty 28 seconds into overtime. Not only were all the shots/scrambles great saves, they were absolutely key in helping the IceHogs win the game.

What’s next

The IceHogs face the Texas Star Friday April 28 at BMO Center for Game 1 of Central Division Semifinals for a 7 p.m. start.

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