Iowa stun IceHogs in OT, 2-1

DES MOINES, IA – The Iowa Wild (5-6-0-0, 10 points) defeated the Rockford IceHogs (4-6-1-0, 9 points) 2-1 in overtime in front of 4,463 fans on Sunday night at Wells Fargo Arena. Wild center Grayson Downing broke a 1-1 tie 1:36 into overtime, lifting Iowa over Rockford. Wild goalie Steve Michalek (4-1-0) was nearly perfect by allowing one goal and setting a career-high with 49 saves on 50 IceHogs shots. Iowa forward Teemu Pulkkinen also scored, as Iowa improved to 4-4-0-0 at home this season. IceHogs goalie Lars Johansson (3-5-0) made 20 saves in the overtime loss. Iowa welcomes the Charlotte Checkers on Thursday for a 10:30 AM game.

Wild forward Teemu Pulkkinen scored a power-play goal at 19:20 of the opening frame, giving Iowa a 1-0 lead late in the period. Pulkkinen’s first goal of the season was assisted by defenseman Mike Reilly and forward Alex Tuch. The Wild worked the puck around to Pulkkinen, who blasted a one-timer from the left-point, beating Lars Johansson for his first goal of the year and a Wild lead heading to the intermission.

After a scoreless second period, Cameron Schilling scored his third goal of the season for the IceHogs at 14:51 of the third period, tying the game 1-1. The goal was set up by forwards Spencer Abbott and Mark McNeill. Schilling’s long slap shot from the blueline beat Michalek low on the glove side.

Grayson Downing scored the game-winning goal on a breakaway at 1:36 of overtime for a 2-1 final score. Defenseman Gustav Olofsson helped set up Downing’s second goal of the season, slipping a pass out of the Iowa zone and springing Downing on a breakaway. Downing lifted a backhander past Johansson for the 2-1 victory.