The undefeated Rockford IceHogs return home tonight with an opportunity to sweep the Milwaukee Admirals in Game 3 of their Central Division Semifinal series. Rockford holds a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series after winning the first two games on the road in Milwaukee.
Rockford took both contests at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena, a building where the Admirals had tied for the second-best home record in the regular season. Game 1 saw the IceHogs win 3-2 in overtime. They followed that with a decisive 6-1 victory in Game 2.
The Game 2 victory set or tied multiple franchise postseason records for the IceHogs. Joey Anderson became the first player to record a hat trick and a four-point game for Rockford in the Calder Cup Playoffs. His opening goal at 1:09 of the first period was the fastest goal to start a game in the team's Calder Cup Playoff history. The five-goal margin was the largest in the AHL era for the team.
Anderson leads the IceHogs and is tied for the postseason points lead among skaters with six points, including four goals. Goaltender Drew Commesso has also contributed to the strong start, posting a 0.96 goals against average in four starts and not allowing more than two goals in a game this postseason. Since early March, Commesso has a 14-3-2 record over 19 games. He joins Arvid Soderblom and Michel Robinson as the only goaltenders in franchise history with a postseason shutout.
Several prospects have elevated their play. Blueliner Kevin Korchinski has tallied two goals and four points in four games, using his skating ability. Forward Gavin Hayes has two assists and found his footing after an injury earlier in the season. Aidan Thompson, who joined the team after the Frozen Four, has scored his first professional goal and added two assists, often centering a line with Hayes and Samuel Savoie that has been effective for the IceHogs bottom six forwards.
The Admirals, who finished the regular season as division champions, face elimination. They have lost two straight home games for the first time since January. Milwaukee coach Karl Taylor acknowledged the need for his team to play better following the Game 2 defeat. The Admirals will be without defenseman Jake Livingstone, who is serving a one-game suspension. Goaltender Matthew Murray, who had a strong regular season, allowed five goals on 18 shots in Game 2.
Game 3 is scheduled for tonight in Rockford. Game 4 is Friday, May 9, also in Rockford, if necessary. A potential Game 5 would be Sunday, May 11, back in Milwaukee. Fans can Watch on FloHockey or Listen on Mixlr. Game Three Tickets are available.
Despite the deficit, Admirals captain Kevin Gravel expressed belief in his team's ability to respond. "I can’t stress enough how much I believe in this group, how confident I am in this group," Gravel said this week at practice. "It’s going to take our best effort, but all we’ve got to do is win a game."
