Ronning OT Winner Gives Wild Sweep in Rockford
ROCKFORD, IL – Ty Ronning scored 1:47 into overtime to help give the Iowa Wild a 3-2 victory over the Rockford IceHogs on Saturday evening. Iowa scored two third period goals and had three tallies over the final 21 minutes of the game. The victory helped the team sweep the two-game set in Rockford. Zane McIntyre made 27 saves in the victory.
Michael Tepley had the only tally through the first 40 minutes of the contest, scoring 5:11 into the game. D.J. Busdeker threaded a perfect pass onto the stick of Tepley in the slot, who lifted a wrist shot past the glove of McIntyre for his fourth goal of the year.
The IceHogs defense was clamping down on Iowa through the first two periods, holding the club to just four shots in the first and six more in the second. However, the action picked up in the third, leading to three goals, two by the Wild.
The first came just 31 seconds into the final frame when Marco Rossi had control of the puck behind the net. He moved it out in front to Steven Fogerty, who shoveled it past Dylan Wells for his seventh goal of the season and second in as many nights.
The IceHogs retook the lead just before the 10-minute mark of the third, capitalizing on the man advantage. Adam Clendening took a shot that McIntyre kicked aside, but right onto the stick of Cole Guttman, who put it home for his sixth of the season.
A little over four minutes later, it was the Wild using their power-play to tie the score. Mike O’Leary took a shot that was knocked down in front, but no one was able to gain control of the puck. That allowed Kevin Conley to swoop in, tucking the puck just inside the right post to beat Wells to tie the score at two.
Neither team to take the lead over the final six minutes, sending the game to overtime. That is where Ronning came away with the game-winning goal. At 1:47, he forced a turnover in the neutral zone, going into the Rockford end. His initial shot was saved by Mitchell Weeks, but he recovered his own rebound, poking it through the goaltender for his seventh goal of the season.
The victory moves the Iowa Wild (11-8-4) one point behind Rockford in the Central Division standings. The club returns home to welcome the IceHogs (12-7-3) on Tuesday. Face-off is set for 7:00.
by Robert Pannier
