Stayin’ alive… again

Photo: Greg Hamil

The momentum has shifted in the Western Conference Finals.

Jeff Glass (2-0) made 40 saves and the Rockford IceHogs staved off elimination for a second straight night with a 3-1 victory over the Texas Stars in Game 5 on Friday.

The Stars’ 3-0 series lead is down to 3-2, but Texas still has two more chances to wrap it up as the teams head back to Cedar Park. Game 6 is set for Monday night.

Cody Franson opened the scoring with a wrister from the center point through traffic at 3:01 of the first period, his sixth goal of the playoffs.

Rockford doubled the lead at 8:15 when Luke Johnson took a backhand pass from Victor Ejdsell and slipped home his third goal of the series and fourth of the postseason.

The Stars pulled to within 2-1 on a Roope Hintz goal at 9:17 of the second, but a bit of puck luck restored the IceHogs’ two-goal lead and sent them on their way to victory.

David Kampf let a harmless floater go from the left point that hit the blocker of Mike McKenna, tumbled over and behind him and landed in the net with 8:47 to play in the third. Kampf’s goal, his first since Dec. 23, made it 3-1.

McKenna (10-4) finished with 18 saves on the night.

Glass, who made his Calder Cup Playoff debut in Game 4, has allowed three goals on 71 shots in his two starts (1.47, .958).

Western Conference Finals – Series “N” (best-of-7)
P2-Texas Stars vs. C4-Rockford IceHogs
Game 1 – Fri., May 18 – TEXAS 4, Rockford 2 | Recap/Highlights
Game 2 – Sun., May 20 – TEXAS 3, Rockford 2 (OT) | Recap/Highlights
Game 3 – Tue., May 22 – Texas 6, ROCKFORD 5 (OT) | Recap/Highlights
Game 4 – Thu., May 24 – ROCKFORD 3, Texas 2 (OT) | Recap/Highlights
Game 5 – Fri., May 25 – ROCKFORD 3, Texas 1
Game 6 – Mon., May 28 – Rockford at Texas, 8:00
*Game 7 – Tue., May 29 – Rockford at Texas, 8:00
*if necessary… All times Eastern