IceHogs get swept by Grand Rapids Griffins
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO/WQRF) — A pivotal weekend for the IceHogs could not have gone more wrong. They went into it hoping to potentially clinch a playoff berth and catch up to the Grand Rapids Griffins for the fourth spot in the Central Division, instead they gave up a barrage of goals and dropped a pair of games to the Griffins.They lost Friday night in Grand Rapids 8-3. Saturday night at BMO Center they lost 7-5 to the Griffins. In Saturday's game, they watched the Griffins jump out to a 3-1 lead after two periods. The third period was a flurry of goals as both teams put the puck in the net four times each. Drew Commesso was in goal for the IceHogs. He surrendered six of the Griffins' goals. On the bright side for the IceHogs, Zac Sanford had a hat trick. Jalen Luypen and Gavin Hayes scored the other two IceHogs' goals. The IceHogs' magic number for clinching a playoff spot remains at five as they try to hold off the sixth -place Iowa Wild who are eight standing points behind the IceHogs. The IceHogs are eight points behind the fourth-place Chicago Wolves and ten points behind now third-place Grand Rapids.This coming week, the IceHogs have a pair of home games Friday night and Saturday night, both against the Tucson Roadrunners.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
Jets' Playoff Opponent Fires Coach Following Third-Straight Conference Finals Loss
Winnipeg's final opponent of the 2024-25 season has determined it needs to change direction. On Friday morning, the Dallas Stars announced the firing of head coach Peter DeBoer. The move comes after Dallas dropped the Western Conference Final 4-1 to Edmonton, after beating Winnipeg in six games to eliminate the Jets. Photo by Jerome Miron/USA Today 'After careful consideration, we believe that a new voice is needed in our locker room to push us closer to our goal of winning the Stanley Cup,' Stars' GM Jim Nill said in a statement. 'We'd like to thank Pete for everything that he has helped our organization achieve over the past three seasons and wish him nothing but the best moving forward.' Advertisement Joining the Stars for the 2022-23 season, DeBoer got Dallas to the Western Conference Final each of the past three years at the helm, going 149-68-29 in the process. His Stars earned the Central Division banner last year. The other 'Mr. Game Seven' didn't even make it to a sixth game in the Western Conference Final this time around, as DeBoer pulled starter Jake Oettinger after his backstop allowed two goals on the game's opening two shots. He then publicly ostracized Oettinger for his performance not only in the game but lifetime against the Oilers in the playoffs. "I didn't take that lightly and I didn't blame it all on Jake," the veteran coach said. "But the reality is if you go back to last year's playoffs, he's lost six of seven games to Edmonton, and we gave up two shots on two goals in an elimination game. So, it was partly to spark our team and wake them up. And it was partly knowing that the status quo had not been working. That's a pretty big sample size." Advertisement The 26-year-old goaltender went 36-18-4 this season with a respectable 2.59 goals against average and a .909 save percentage. he won four of six games against Winnipeg in the second round. 2024-25 was the first season of his eight-year, $66 million contract extension. For DeBoer, it was the penultimate season of his contract, to which the season ending with a Conference Final loss was no longer deemed good enough. For his career, DeBoer is 662-447-152 with Florida, New Jersey, San Jose, Vegas and Dallas. He lost twice in the Stanley Cup Finals, having not made it to the dance since 2016.
New York Post
14 hours ago
- New York Post
Stars fire Peter DeBoer after season-ending playoff debacle
This time, Peter DeBoer is the one getting the hook. The Dallas Stars fired their coach Friday, a little more than a week after an embarrassing season-sending Game 5 loss to the Oilers in the Western Conference final. 'After careful consideration, we believe that a new voice is needed in our locker room to push us closer to our goal of winning the Stanley Cup,' GM Jim Nill said in a statement. 'We'd like to thank Pete for everything that he has helped our organization achieve over the past three seasons and wish him nothing but the best moving forward.' 3 Stars head coach Pete DeBoer speaks to the media after Game 5 against the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference Final. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect In the 6-3 defeat, DeBoer yanked star goalie Jake Oettinger after he gave up two goals on two shots to open the game — just 7:09 in — a move that has since been followed with widespread criticism. 'No one's a bigger fan of Jake Oettinger than me, as a person or a goalie,' DeBoer said in the days following the loss. 'There's one motive, and that's how do we survive this and get it to a Game 6? And I have to live with those consequences. If it works, great, we're in Edmonton tonight and you guys are telling me how awesome a move it was. And when it doesn't, I've got to stand up here and do this, and I understand.' The loss marked the third straight season, all under DeBoer, in which Dallas could not get past the Western Conference final. Oettinger, 26, faced a league-high 503 shots in 18 playoff games after going 36-18-4 in the regular season with a .909 save percentage in backing Dallas to the No. 2 seed in the Central Division. 3 Head coach Pete DeBoer of the Dallas Stars looks on against the Edmonton Oilers during the first period in Game Five. Getty Images 'When you're in that moment, you're making that decision, what's going through my mind is, you know, we need to stop the bleeding here. Our team looked tentative. We're down, 2-0,' DeBoer said. 'In the back of your mind, you know, is he a little bit fatigued, he's been through a lot. He's carried us through two rounds, is he going to be a better goalie in Game 6 and 7 for us fresh.' The star netminder has worn the failure harshly in the days since as reports of discord from the Dallas players — much directed at DeBoer — has mounted. 3 Corey Perry #90 of the Edmonton Oilers scores a goal on Jake Oettinger #29 of the Dallas Stars during the first period in Game Five. Getty Images 'The reality is if I make one or two of those saves, then I'm still playing in the game,' Oettinger said on May 21, his first public comments since the season-ending defeat. 'The way I'm looking at it is, how can I get better from that? How can I make those saves that I made all playoffs?' The Stars are now the latest team to search for a coaching replacement. Already this offseason, the Rangers (Mike Sullivan), Flyers (Rick Tocchet), Kraken (Lane Lambert), Bruins (Marco Sturm), Blackhawks (Jeff Blashill), Penguins (Dan Muse) and Ducks (Joel Quenneville) have found new bench bosses. DeBoer went 149-68-29 over three seasons in Dallas, adding a 29-27 record in the playoffs. Over 17 NHL seasons, he's accumulated a 662-447-152 mark with the Panthers, Devils, Sharks and Golden Knights before taking the Stars' job in 2022-23.
Chicago Tribune
a day ago
- Chicago Tribune
Lincoln-Way East rides Cooper Johnson's five no-hit innings to win over Lincoln-Way Central. ‘Unbelievable, man.'
In recent weeks, two-way sophomore standout Cooper Johnson had been limited to just one way of contributing for Lincoln-Way East. Johnson had been serving as the team's designated hitter, but the right-hander had not pitched since May 9 due to an elbow injury. Returning to the mound with the season on the line, he wasn't worried about the layoff. 'I went in there with confidence like I always do and felt the way I always do,' Johnson said. 'I just wanted to attack and make them put it in play.' Johnson's comeback went much better than anyone could have anticipated. He threw five no-hit innings to lead the Griffins to a 3-0 win over Lincoln-Way Central in a Class 4A Lincoln-Way West Sectional semifinal in New Lenox. Johnson struck out three on his way to the win and had just one batter reach base against him via an error. It ended up being a combined one-hitter for top-seeded Lincoln-Way East (28-10) as Jake Tamer threw the final two innings for the save. Lincoln-Way East coach John McCarthy was thrilled with how ready Johnson was for the big game. 'Cooper did a great job,' McCarthy said. 'He deserves all the credit. He was outstanding and he kept attacking the zone.' Johnson also singled and scored, while Roosevelt recruit Danny Mackey III delivered a two-run single and Tyler Hudik added a single, a walk and a run for the Griffins, who will play at 11 a.m. Saturday in the sectional final against Providence (26-12), a 2-1 semifinal winner over Stagg on a walk-off homer by Enzo Infelise with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. Toledo recruit Liam Arsich had the lone hit for fourth-seeded Lincoln-Way Central (21-11). Xavier commit Luke Mensik threw 3 2/3 strong innings in relief, allowing one earned run on two hits. Johnson, though, was in total control, getting through five innings in just 50 pitches. 'First game back, it was all about efficiency,' he said. 'I got the job done without throwing a lot of pitches. It felt good.' Johnson knew he was on a pitch count in his first start since the injury, so he was not upset to be pulled out of the game with a no-hitter. 'I actually told them to take me out,' Johnson said. 'We had Tamer ready in the bullpen and I knew he'd shut it down for us.' Johnson said he felt good despite the time off. His biggest concern was whether he would be able to control his pitches. 'I knew it was going to be hard to locate my stuff the first game,' Johnson said. 'But I had it pretty well.' Mackey, for one, was impressed. 'He was awesome,' Mackey said of Johnson. 'His first game back. He was unbelievable, man. He's going to be good. He's going to be very good.' Mackey, meanwhile, provided all the run support Johnson would need. Batting eighth in the order, he came up with runners on second and third and two outs in the second inning. Mackey worked an eight-pitch at-bat, fouling off a pair of two-strike pitches before ripping a two-run single up the middle. 'It was huge,' Mackey said. 'We only scored one more run after that, so if that doesn't happen, it's a totally different ballgame. It's all about preparation in that situation. 'I haven't been swinging it well lately, but I've been putting in extra work every day, and that's exactly what I've been working for.' The same goes for Johnson, who has emerged as the Griffins' cleanup hitter and one of their top pitchers in his first varsity season. The sophomore was ready for the challenge. 'It's just a mindset thing,' Johnson said. 'No skill-related things are going to change. You just have to have the same confidence every outing, no matter who you're playing against.'
