IceHogs In Playoff Hunt 2/26/13
By: Scott Leber
Updated: February 26, 2013
Rockford, Illinois-Every time it looks like the IceHogs might fade out of the AHL playoff race they bounce back. And now they're bouncing back in a big way. They've won their last five games.
They're winning games every way imaginable. They scored seven goals in one game during the streak. They pitched a shutout in another. And everyone on the team is contributing.
"No one's doing anything outstanding out there," says defenseman Joe Lavin. "Everyone's playing hard and playing well. Guys are putting pucks in the net. Goalies are making saves and defensemen are playing pretty strong."
"Once you get rolling and you start playing with confidence, you just go out and you realize OK we did something successful last game, and we'll just keep going on that page," says defenseman Adam Clendenning.
The IceHogs have climbed from fifth place to third in their division. More importantly they're only three points out of the last playoff spot in the Western Conference. With the month of March here...the Hogs next game is Friday, March 1st....there's a sense of urgency.
"I just think guys are understanding the urgency that we need to have every game right now to give ourselves at least a chance to try and make the playoffs," says head coach Ted Dent. "Everyone is doing it collectively and understanding that every night now is like a playoff game."
Goaltenders Henrik Karlsson and Carter Hutton are both playing well. The Hogs power play unit led by Martin St. Pierre and Brandon Pirri ranks second in the AHL. And Jeremy Morin is on a hot streak. He's scored points in nine of his last ten games. Still it won't be easy nailing down a playoff spot.
"We don't have the luxury of taking a night off here or there," says Clendening. "There's no time for that for us. We need to make a push now."
"Right now they're starting to finally realize that we're getting close," says Dent. "We just have to keep it going."
The IceHogs will host Peoria Friday night and Milwaukee Saturday night.
They're winning games every way imaginable. They scored seven goals in one game during the streak. They pitched a shutout in another. And everyone on the team is contributing.
"No one's doing anything outstanding out there," says defenseman Joe Lavin. "Everyone's playing hard and playing well. Guys are putting pucks in the net. Goalies are making saves and defensemen are playing pretty strong."
"Once you get rolling and you start playing with confidence, you just go out and you realize OK we did something successful last game, and we'll just keep going on that page," says defenseman Adam Clendenning.
The IceHogs have climbed from fifth place to third in their division. More importantly they're only three points out of the last playoff spot in the Western Conference. With the month of March here...the Hogs next game is Friday, March 1st....there's a sense of urgency.
"I just think guys are understanding the urgency that we need to have every game right now to give ourselves at least a chance to try and make the playoffs," says head coach Ted Dent. "Everyone is doing it collectively and understanding that every night now is like a playoff game."
Goaltenders Henrik Karlsson and Carter Hutton are both playing well. The Hogs power play unit led by Martin St. Pierre and Brandon Pirri ranks second in the AHL. And Jeremy Morin is on a hot streak. He's scored points in nine of his last ten games. Still it won't be easy nailing down a playoff spot.
"We don't have the luxury of taking a night off here or there," says Clendening. "There's no time for that for us. We need to make a push now."
"Right now they're starting to finally realize that we're getting close," says Dent. "We just have to keep it going."
The IceHogs will host Peoria Friday night and Milwaukee Saturday night.
