Photo by Chris Loudermilk
The Rivermen scored the first three goals of the game in the first period. TJ Hensick started it off burying a rebound after Rockford goalie Carter Hutton stymied Brett Sterling and Anthony Nigro just after penalty expired.
Then, with each team down a man due to a penalty, Cracknell found Shaun Heska all alone at the top of the right circle. Heska fired a low shot past Hutton for the 2-0 lead.
Photo by Chris Loudermilk
After a face-off in their offensive zone, Cade Fairchild served up a pass to Cracknell, who was standing on the right faceoff dot. Cracknell’s goal staked the Rivermen to a 3-0 lead.
Rockford was able to get one back late in the first period as Jimmy Hayes finish a flurry of shots with a rebound chipped over an outstretched Bishop to pull within two. In the third period, Brian Connelly sent a nice cross-ice pass to Jeremy Morin, who was camped out on Bishop’s right side during a PP. Morin popped it over Bishop’s glove to bring Rockford within a goal.
Photo by Chris Loudermilk
The Rivermen added an insurance goal with under 6 minutes to play when good teamwork kept the puck in the attacking zone. Cracknell made a steal and checked his man, leaving a drop pass high in the slot for Jonathan Cheechoo, who finished it high for a 2 goal pad.
Minutes later, the game was out of reach when Phil McRae, from above the circle and against the wall, dumps a slow shot towards the net. Hutton misjudges it and it skips under his pads for a 3 goal Rivermen cushion.
That goal caused a few high emotions as play moved into the Rockford attacking zone. Bishop made a stop and then a scrum erupted. Out of this pile Stefan Della Rovere pulled Morin and they proceeded to fight. Morin was far out-classed, as Della Rovere administered shots to the body before moving to Morin’s face and then, switching hands, continued to work over the face and head of Morin. The result was 34 penalty minutes to five players, including a double-minor for roughing to Bishop.
Photo by Chris Loudermilk
With the Rivermen short-handed and the end of the game drawing nigh, Rockford pulled Hutton for an extra attacker. Bishop rose to the occasion and stopped several point-blank shots.
Bishop stopped 47 of 49 shots on goal for the win and Hutton stopped 36 of the 41 Rivermen shots on goal. Rockford held the Rivermen scoreless on three power plays while scoring once in nine opportunities, themselves.
Contact the author: Shaun.Bill@ProHockeyNews.com .
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