CHICAGO 4, ROCKFORD 3
Chicago scored four power play goals in a span of 7:37 during the second period and held on for a 4-3 win over Rockford on Sunday at the MetroCentre in Game 6 of the West Division finals.
AHL MVP Jason Krog tallied two goals – including the game-winner – and added an assist for the Wolves, who knotted the series at three games apiece. Chicago will the host Game 7 on Tuesday.
Rockford’s Petri Kontiola opened the game’s scoring with a power play goal of his own at 4:27 of the first period. The IceHogs took that 1-0 lead into the middle stanza.
Krog began the Wolves’ power play onslaught at 10:48 of the second period and closed it with another goal at 18:25. In between, Chicago received markers from defensemen Joel Kwiatkowski and Nathan Oystrick, who scored his first career Calder Cup Playoff goal.
Kontiola netted his second of the night at 19:02 of the second period, making it a 4-2 game.
Kris Versteeg then tallied a power play goal just 58 seconds into the final stanza to bring Rockford within one score. Kontiola picked up an assist on that goal to finish with a three-point evening (2-1-3).
But the Wolves held on for the victory, as rookie goaltender Ondrej Pavelec finished with 31 saves on 34 shots.
Kwiatkowski (1-2-3) joined Krog with three points for Chicago, and Darren Haydar chipped in a pair of assists. The Wolves went 4-for-7 on the power play, while the IceHogs were 2-for-8.
Chicago’s victory ensured that both division finals in the Western Conference will go the distance. Toronto and Syracuse are slated to play Game 7 of the North Division finals on Monday at Ricoh Coliseum, and the Wolves and IceHogs will suit up for their decisive game on Tuesday at Allstate Arena.
