Emilio Pettersen’s two-goal performance was not enough to get the Stars over their opponent in a tough road matchup.
In a game of close calls and intense competition, Texas and Rockford went back and forth throughout the game tonight. In the end, Texas fell 4-2 in Rockford, ending a four-game winning streak for the club.
Though the final score indicated an out-of-reach contest, the Stars outshot their opponents throughout all three periods and ended with a shot output of 38-23. The physicality of the game could not go unrecognized either as 11 total penalties were called between the two squads.
The IceHogs started with a bang as they were able to gain an early lead within the first minute of the game with a goal from center Cole Guttman. However, Stars hockey has shown time and time again that trailing early in the game does not determine the outcome of the game.
Unfazed, Texas’ Emilio Pettersen broke through the Rockford defense with a ricochet score off netminder Drew Commesso’s legs with assists from Kole Lind and Michael Karow to tie the game at 1.
Pettersen’s equalizer granted the winger his fifth goal of the season, and Lind’s assist pushed the 26-year-old forward over the 40-point threshold to make him the sixth player on his team to cross that milestone on the year.
There was no doubt the Stars were putting it all on the ice as they went on to outshoot their opponent 13-7 in the first period and imposed a high-pressure defense in their territory.
Rockford took advantage of a defensive miscommunication as Stars’ players crashed into each other and left forward Paul Ludwinski open on goalkeeper Magnus Hellberg’s right side for an easy finish as they regained the lead to make the game 2-1.
The tables turned for the Stars in the second period as they demonstrated better puck possession and great playmaking to put them in a position to tie the game in addition to keeping the Illinois team without a shot on goal for the first five minutes of the period
The defensive pair of Kyle Capobianco and Luke Krys assisted another game-equalizing goal for Pettersen just over halfway through the second period.
The away team came back from the equalizer with an aggressive mindset in an effort to push their squad to their first lead of the game but fell short after back-to-back penalties were given to Antonio Stranges and Capobianco. These calls resulted in a 5-on-3 power play goal for Rockford’s Zach Sanford for the 3-2 lead over Texas in the final two minutes of the second period.
The Stars came out swinging with plenty of scoring chances, but the team could not stuff the puck in the back of the net despite outshooting their opponents 10-3 with eight minutes left in the game.
After defenseman Capobianco was penalized for tripping, Stars coach Neil Graham pulled Hellberg for the extra man on the ice but was no good in the equalizing attempt as opposing forward Joey Anderson took advantage of an empty net and scored from his own zone.
The top star of the game Commesso had an impressive outing tonight and saved 36 of 38 shots.
The Stars will look to start another winning streak March 9th as they play the Chicago Wolves at Allstate Arena in an afternoon match up at 3 PM.
Tonight's lines
Blümel-Hryckowian-McKenzie
Stranges-Hughes-Wheatcroft
Pettersen-Hyry-Lind
Romano-Becker-Ertel
Capobianco-Krys
Kyrou-Petrovic
Karow-White
Hellberg
Injuries, scratches and notes
Poirier, Seminoff, Looft (scratch)
Tonight's attendance was 5,037.
 |
| (Credit: Jenna Spanola) |
In a game of close calls and intense competition, Texas and Rockford went back and forth throughout the game tonight. In the end, Texas fell 4-2 in Rockford, ending a four-game winning streak for the club.
Though the final score indicated an out-of-reach contest, the Stars outshot their opponents throughout all three periods and ended with a shot output of 38-23. The physicality of the game could not go unrecognized either as 11 total penalties were called between the two squads.
The IceHogs started with a bang as they were able to gain an early lead within the first minute of the game with a goal from center Cole Guttman. However, Stars hockey has shown time and time again that trailing early in the game does not determine the outcome of the game.
Unfazed, Texas’ Emilio Pettersen broke through the Rockford defense with a ricochet score off netminder Drew Commesso’s legs with assists from Kole Lind and Michael Karow to tie the game at 1.
Pettersen’s equalizer granted the winger his fifth goal of the season, and Lind’s assist pushed the 26-year-old forward over the 40-point threshold to make him the sixth player on his team to cross that milestone on the year.
There was no doubt the Stars were putting it all on the ice as they went on to outshoot their opponent 13-7 in the first period and imposed a high-pressure defense in their territory.
Rockford took advantage of a defensive miscommunication as Stars’ players crashed into each other and left forward Paul Ludwinski open on goalkeeper Magnus Hellberg’s right side for an easy finish as they regained the lead to make the game 2-1.
The tables turned for the Stars in the second period as they demonstrated better puck possession and great playmaking to put them in a position to tie the game in addition to keeping the Illinois team without a shot on goal for the first five minutes of the period
The defensive pair of Kyle Capobianco and Luke Krys assisted another game-equalizing goal for Pettersen just over halfway through the second period.
The away team came back from the equalizer with an aggressive mindset in an effort to push their squad to their first lead of the game but fell short after back-to-back penalties were given to Antonio Stranges and Capobianco. These calls resulted in a 5-on-3 power play goal for Rockford’s Zach Sanford for the 3-2 lead over Texas in the final two minutes of the second period.
The Stars came out swinging with plenty of scoring chances, but the team could not stuff the puck in the back of the net despite outshooting their opponents 10-3 with eight minutes left in the game.
After defenseman Capobianco was penalized for tripping, Stars coach Neil Graham pulled Hellberg for the extra man on the ice but was no good in the equalizing attempt as opposing forward Joey Anderson took advantage of an empty net and scored from his own zone.
The top star of the game Commesso had an impressive outing tonight and saved 36 of 38 shots.
The Stars will look to start another winning streak March 9th as they play the Chicago Wolves at Allstate Arena in an afternoon match up at 3 PM.
Tonight's lines
Blümel-Hryckowian-McKenzie
Stranges-Hughes-Wheatcroft
Pettersen-Hyry-Lind
Romano-Becker-Ertel
Capobianco-Krys
Kyrou-Petrovic
Karow-White
Hellberg
Injuries, scratches and notes
Poirier, Seminoff, Looft (scratch)
Tonight's attendance was 5,037.
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