Hogs put bite on Chops

In the second part of a home and home series, the Rockford IceHogs returned the favor and defeated the Iowa Chops 6-4 Friday in play at the MetroCentre. Corey Crawford put on a show, keeping the Hogs in the battle as the Chops blistered the goalie with 37 shots on goal and four power plays, keeping them to just two goals.

Meanwhile the Rockford offense went one for four on power plays, putting 27 shots on goal, but six past David LeNeveu.

Rockford took the lead in the first frame with a Dan Bertram goal with 8:23 remaining. Although Ryan Donally tied the score with 6:46 remaining, Rockford replied with a power play goal by Adam Pineault. From there, things went into the tank for the Chops as the Hogs scored twice more in the second frame, interrupted by an Chops goal with 1:03 remaining in the second, and two more Hogs goals in the third.

Jake Dowell and Pineault had a goal and an assist each while two assists were notched by Petri Kontiola. Danny Groulx went +3 on the night. For Iowa, T J Trevelyan put seven shots on goal with one goal, teammate Troy Brodie had six shots on goal.

Pineault, who was acquired by the Chicago Blackhawks in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets for Mike Blunden January 10, is in his seventh game for the Hogs.