Rockford blank Wild, 4-0

ROCKFORD, IL – The Iowa Wild (13-23-1-1, 28 points) were defeated by the Rockford IceHogs (22-12-4-2, 50 points) 4-0 in front of 4,228 fans on Friday night at the BMO Harris Bank Center. Rockford forwards Dennis Rasmussen and Pierre-Cedric Labrie scored 2:49 apart early in the second period, breaking open a 1-0 game and giving Rockford the victory. IceHogs goalie Scott Darling (10-5-2) stopped all 30 shots to preserve the shutout. Rockford defenseman T.J. Brennan had two assists, as his club improved to 4-2-0-0 in the season series. Iowa goalie John Curry (6-7-0) was pulled 5:48 into the second period after allowing three goals on 10 shots, suffering the defeat. Johan Gustafsson played in relief, stopping 15 of 16. Iowa dropped its third straight and is scoreless over the last 160:12 of play after suffering its second straight shutout defeat. Iowa returns home to host Lake Erie at 7 p.m. on Saturday and 3 p.m. on Sunday.

Rockford opened the scoring at 6:56 of the first period after Brandon Mashinter tipped a shot in front of the Wild net, deflecting a shot past goalie John Curry for the 1-0 lead. Defensemen T.J. Brennan and Ville Pokka each had an assist on Mashinter’s eighth goal of the season.

The IceHogs scored twice in the first 5:48 of the middle period.to increase their lead to 3-0. Dennis Rasmussen picked off a puck in the Wild zone and moved in alone on Curry, beating him with a backhand shot for the 2-0 lead off his eighth goal of the year. Rockford made it 3-0 after Pierre-Cedric Labrie scored his fourth goal of the season. Mashinter and Pat Regin were both credited with an assist on the tally.

Garrett Ross made it 4-0 at 6:41 of the third period, potting a rebound in the Iowa crease. His 13th goal of the year was set up by Matt Carey and Brennan.