ROCKFORD, IL – Gerry Mayhew is making the most of his return to the Iowa Wild, scoring two goals and adding an assist to help lead the Wild to a 5-3 victory over the Rockford IceHogs on Sunday evening. Mayhew now has three goals in three games since returning from Minnesota. Gabriel Dumont added a goal and two assists and Hunter Jones earned his first professional victory, stopping 33 of 36 shots.

Mayhew put his team on top 9:30 into the contest with a power play goal. Mason Shaw had the puck near the left face-off circle. He passed in front to Dumont, who tried to redirect it past Rockford netminder Matt Tomkins, but the goaltender stood his ground, stopping the attempt. The rebound bounced loose right behind Dumont, where Mayhew swept in, firing a wrist shot into the upper corner for his second goal of the season.

Iowa held the 1-0 lead into the second period, despite being outshot 10-6. The IceHogs would continue to put on the pressure in the second, outshooting the Wild 14-8, and that would help them to take a 2-1 lead.

At 3:47, Reese Johnson won the draw just outside of the Iowa zone. The puck came back to Cody Franson at center ice, who blasted a shot over the shoulder of Jones for his third goal of the year.

Just before the 13-minute mark, Rockford took the lead. While on the power-play, the IceHogs set up inside the Wild zone. The puck came back to Franson at the point, who fired a wrist shot that McKenzie Entwistle deflected over the shoulder of Jones for his second goal of the season.

The lead did not last long, as 93 seconds later Mayhew tied the score. Ryan O’Rourke was battling for the puck in the corner and was able to knock it out toward Mayhew, who sped behind the net, pulling the perfect wraparound goal just past the state of Tomkins to tie the score at two.

Rockford retook the lead 1:37 into the third. Nicolas Beaudin passed a puck along the boards down to Mitchell Fossier near the goal line. He fed it to Garrett Mitchell near the left face-off circle. Mitchell fired a wrist shot that went under the glove of Jones to put the IceHogs on top, 3-2.

It took just 90 seconds for Iowa to tie the score once again. Dumont carried the puck behind the net, moving out in front before firing a pass across the slot to Tyler Sheehy. Sheehy was being mugged by a Rockford defender, but was somehow able to get his stick on the puck to redirect it past Tomkins for his first goal of the year.

Right at the eight-minute mark, Dumont put his team on top for good. Mayhew carried the puck into the IceHogs zone, passing it to Sheehy along the boards. Sheehy made a perfect pass across the slot to Dumont, who blasted the one-timer by the Rockford netminder for his team-leading seventh tally of the year.

With 15 seconds left in the contest, Shaw added an empty net goal to secure the victory. That made it 5-3.

Mayhew finished with three points. He now has four total points in three games since returning from Minnesota. Dumont added a goal and two assists. Sheehy and Shaw each had a goal and an assist for the Wild.

Jones had his best performance of the season, stopping 33 of 36 shots. His .917 save percentage was his highest single-game performance. Jones moved to 1-5-1 with the victory.

Jones and the Iowa Wild (4-7-2) will look to build off that victory when they take on Rockford again on Monday evening. The puck drops at 6:00.

Gamesheet

By Robert Pannier