NO ESCAPE: IOWA STUMBLES IN ROCKFORD WITH 8-3 DEFEAT
Feb 8, 2014IOWA STUMBLES IN ROCKFORD WITH 8-3 DEFEAT
Wild Points Streak Comes to a Halt
Rockford, IL – The Iowa Wild (20-17-5-4, 49 points) were defeated by the Rockford IceHogs (23-21-4-2, 52 points) 8-3 in front of 5,310 fans at the BMO Harris Bank Arena on Saturday night. IceHogs forward Jeremy Morin led the way, registering the first-ever hat trick allowed by the Wild. Trailing 3-0 to start the second period, Iowa narrowed the deficit to one on two separate occasions before Rockford pulled away late in the second. The defeat ends Iowa’s stretch of 10 straight games with a point. It also ends the team’s streak of seven straight overtime/shootout decisions. Wild goalie Johan Gustafsson (8-10-2) suffered the loss, he was pulled after 40 minutes of work, with 26 saves and six goals allowed. Rockford goalie Kent Simpson (9-12-0) stopped 30 shots in the victory. Five different IceHogs compiled multi-point games, dropping Iowa to 10-6-2-3 on the road this season. Marc Hagel scored twice for Iowa, which ended its four-game winning streak over Rockford. Forward Erik Haula (2a), and defenseman Brian Connelly (1g,1a) also picked up a multi-point game. Iowa visits Milwaukee at 7 p.m. on Friday night.
In the first, Rockford jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a pair of goals merely 14 seconds apart. Phillip Danault scored his third goal of the year at 2:39 for the 1-0 lead. Drew LeBlanc and Brad Winchester each picked up an assist on the game’s opening goal. Shorty after, Jeremy Morin scored his 12th goal of the season to make it 2-0 Hogs. Zach Miscovic and Pierre-Marc Bouchard each had an assist on the goal.
The IceHogs made it 3-0 just 6:30 into the second period with Drew Leblanc’s seventh goal of the season. Iowa charged back with a pair of goals 45 seconds apart, starting with Brian Connelly’s goal at 7:11 of the second period. Connelly’s fourth goal of the year was assisted by Tyler Graovac and Justin Mercier. At 7:55, Marc Hagel scored his first goal of the night, his fifth goal of the year, trimming Rockford’s lead to 3-2. Kris Foucault and Erik Haula each added an assist on the play. Rockford pushed back to regain the two-goal lead at 11:48 on Danault’s second of the night, his fourth of the year. Morin and Theo Peckham each had an assist, as Rockforrd made it 4-2. Iowa clawed back to trim the Rockford lead to 4-3 at 15:23 on Hagel’s second goal of the night. Haula and Connelly each had an assist on the power-play goal. Rockford added two goals before the period ended, scoring a pair just 1:15 apart late the in the second period. Terry Broadhurst made it 5-3 at 18:03 of the second period with his tenth of the season. Defenseman Adam Clendening made it 6-3 at 19:18 of the second period with his seventh of the season.
At 4:28 of the third period. Morin scored his second goal of the night, his 13th of the season, making it 7-3 Rockford. Morin completed his hat trick at 9:08, scoring his 14th goal of the season. Klas Dahlbeck and Bouchard each had an assist on the power-play goal that made it 8-3 Rockford. Iowa goalie John Curry stopped seven of nine shots in a relief appearance for the third period.
Iowa heads into the All-Star break. The team returns to the ice after the break, playing in Milwaukee on Friday, Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. The team returns to Wells Fargo Arena on Saturday, Feb. 15 at 7:05 p.m. to host the Rockford IceHogs. Saturday the Wild celebrates Pink in the Rink, presented by Sammons Financial. In a partnership with the Susan G. Komen of Iowa, the Wild are encouraging fans to wear pink to create awareness for breast cancer awareness. The players will wear Pink in the Rink themed jerseys for the game. Fans will have a chance to purchase the game-worn jerseys in a live postgame jersey auction. The auction benefits Susan G. Komen of Iowa. Also, the first 5,000 fans in attendance will receive Pink LED light-up thundersticks. The team will conclude a weekend set with Rockford on Sunday, Feb. 16 at 4:05 p.m. The game is Superheroes Day, where superheroes and local mascots, including Cy and Herky, make an appearance. The first 2,000 fans in attendance receive an Iowa Wild superhero poster. Fans may also purchase the Subway Family Four Pack for the game, which features four tickets, four hot dogs, four sodas, and Subway coupons starting at $44.
Fans may purchase single game tickets multiple ways, either through the team's website – www.Iowawild.com, Wells Fargo Arena box office or Dahl's Ticketing. Tickets are available online at www.iowawild.com under the single game tickets tab. Fans may also purchase tickets by calling 1-866-55-DAHLS (32457) or by visiting one of 13 Dahl's Food Stores locations in the greater Des Moines area, and in Ames. In order to purchase group tickets (10 or more), please call the Iowa Wild ticketing department at 515-564-8700. Fans interested in buying full season, or smaller season packages may call the Iowa Wild front office at 515-564-8700.
The Iowa Wild regular season is presented by Mercy Medical Center. Season tickets to see the Wild play at Wells Fargo Arena start at just $9 per game. For more information on tickets, please contact the Wild ticket office by calling 515-564-8700 or go to www.iowawild.com.
-- IOWA WILD --
· BECOME AN IOWA WILD SEASON TICKET HOLDER
For more info on season ticket packages call 515-564-8700 or email ticketing@iowawild.com
· IOWA WILD IN THE COMMUNITY
To schedule a Wild appearance, contact Jenna Bieri, marketing and community relations manager, at 515-564-8714 or email jenna.bieri@iowawild.com.
· IOWA WILD CORPORATE SPONSORSHIPS
To create a customized advertising package for your company contact Ed Chamberlain, VP of corporate sales, at 515-564-8704 or email at edward.chamberlain@iowawild.com.
###