Hogs' Frank Nazar Shines as Rockford Downs Stars 5-2

(Credit: Kristin Ostrowski/Rockford IceHogs)

The Texas Stars wanted to make sure they carried over the momentum from their third period come-from-behind win in Iowa Saturday and out on a full 60-minute effort Tuesday night in Rockford, Illinois, to close out their Midwest swing. At first, it didn’t look like the Stars needed to hit the snooze button when they jumped out to a 2-1 lead in the first period, but the first-round talent for Rockford took over and sent the Stars back to Texas with a 5-2 loss Tuesday at the BMO Center.

It was yet another incomplete effort on the road from the Stars, who fell to 3-4-0 outside the friendly confines of the H-E-B Center this season. The IceHogs improved to 5-8-0 with the win, and while they currently sit in the bottom half of the Central Division standings, they featured 11 Chicago Blackhawk draft picks in their lineup, including three of the Hawks’ recent first rounders.

Their most recent first rounder, Frank Nazar (13th overall, 2022), stole the spotlight tonight with two goals in the win for the rookie. Nazar featured heavily for the IceHogs in all situations and looked absolutely lethal whenever he was on the ice.

Justin Hryckowian and Antonio Stranges had the goals for the Stars, bringing their team leading point totals to 15. Stranges and Kole Lind both extended their point streaks to five games in the loss as well.

Hryckowian got the Stars on the board first at 9:33 of the first period where he was able to slip past double coverage in the slot to bang in a loose puck past Rockford goaltender Mitchell Weeks to make it 1-0. The rookie continued to build on his promising debut late last season, and his ability to out maneuver the defense in dangerous areas of the ice rewarded him with his team-leading 15th point.

The IceHogs were able to answer not long after on the power play, though, when Nazar fired a laser that beat Stars goaltender Magnus Hellberg over his left shoulder seconds into Rockford’s first power play of the evening.

Texas was able to answer back a mere 30 seconds later when Stranges tucked in his fifth goal of the season to make it 2-1.

After some adjustments in the first intermission, the Stars came out in control during the first half of the second period, but every time Nazar and his line hit the ice rookie was immediately able to put the Stars on the back foot. He made Texas pay while on the long change in the second period when Rockford was able to force a mismatch that the youngster could take advantage of.

With Texas’ fourth line stuck on the ice for an extended shift, the IceHogs were able to quickly regroup in the neutral zone and force an odd man rush for Landon Slaggert, who slid the puck across the ice to an oncoming Nazar for an easy score to make it 2-2. The goal was Nazar’s second of the game.

Rockford took their first lead of the night at 16:32 of the second period when, again, the IceHogs were able to take advantage of a tired fourth line when Colton Dach banged in a rebound to make it 3-2. Dach would add his second goal of the night at 17:22 of the second to make it 4-2 for Rockford.

The IceHogs' Marcel Marcel added an empty net tally to make it 5-2 and seal the win in the first of a three-game set with the Stars this week. Texas will look to regain their form with a rematch Friday night at the H-E-B Center where the Stars have been 5-1-0.

Tonight’s Lines
Stranges-Hryckowian-Lind
Wheatcroft-Hyry-Blümel
Pettersen-Hughes-McKenzie
Seminoff-Becker-Arcuri

Capobianco-Petrovic
Bischel-Kyrou
Karow-White

Hellberg

Injuries, scratches and notes
Krys, Romano, McDonald, Looft (scratch)

Tonight’s attendance was 2,440.

AHL Gamesheet - Texas at Rockford - November 19 2024