DES MOINES, IA – The Iowa Wild (7-22-2-3, 19 points) defeated the Rockford IceHogs (18-8-2-3, 41 points) 3-1 in front of 5,973 fans at Wells Fargo Arena on Sunday night. Wild goalie Jeremy Smith (3-10-2) made 26 saves, including 18 in the final two periods, snapping Iowa’s 12-game winless streak at home. Defenseman Mike Reilly and forwards Grayson Downing and Rob Bordson each scored a goal in the victory. IceHogs goalie Mark Visentin (3-4-2) made 15 saves on 18 shots in the loss. Forward Mark McNeill added a goal for the IceHogs, as the team saw its nine-game winning streak over Iowa come to a halt. The Wild travels to Manitoba for a game against the Moose on Dec. 31 at 4 p.m. 
Defenseman Mike Reilly opened the scoring at 7:35 of the first period, giving Iowa a 1-0 lead. Forwards Kurtis Gabriel and Colton Beck each tallied an assist on the goal. Reilly carried the puck into the offensive zone down the left side. Putting on the brakes, he cut to the slot and wristed the puck under goalie Mark Visentin’s glove for his fifth goal of the season. IceHogs center Mark McNeill tied the game 1-1, scoring at 15:17 of the period. Forwards Vinnie Hinostroza and Tanner Kero each earned an assist on the goal. The puck bounced off the back wall after a shot from Hinostroza. McNeill shot the puck off of Smith’s shoulder and into the net for his fifth goal of the serason. Wild forward Grayson Downing scored at 18:00 of the first period, giving Iowa a 2-1 lead. Forward Christoph Bertschy and defenseman Mike Reilly each tallied an assist on the power-play goal. Downing received a pass from Reilly at the right circle. The forward wristed the puck on net, beating Visentin high on the glove side, for his ninth goal of the season.
Forward Rob Bordson scored at 8:18 of the third period, giving Iowa a 3-1 lead. Forward Colton Beck and defenseman Guillaume Gelinas each earned an assist on the goal. Bordson carried the puck into the offensive zone and wristed a shot on net. The puck bounced off of Visentin’s glove and into the net for Bordson’s third goal of the season.
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