Dylan Sikura uses new mindset, same skillset to spark Rockford IceHogs

ROCKFORD — Just as veteran forward Dylan Sikura's game is starting to click on all cylinders, so, too, is that of the Rockford IceHogs.

Although Sikura didn't score (even in the shootout) during the Hogs' exciting 2-1 shootout win over Milwaukee at home on Wednesday, he put up a goal and an assist during Rockford's 3-2 win over the Wolfpack in Hartford, Connecticut, on Sunday, and that boosted Sikura's point streak to five games. It was also the Hogs' fifth win in six games.

That's a streak that had the locker room at the BMO Center buzzing.

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"We're on a good little run and we're playing some good hockey," Sikura, the 5-foot-11, 165-pound right-winger, said just before Wednesday's game. "It's all kind of coming together for us right now...And it sure is easier to come the rink when you're winning."

Against division-leading Milwaukee, Rockford had outshot the Admirals 32-17 but still trailed 1-0 — until winger Lukas Reichel scored with 5:46 left in the game to tie it up. Sikura found himself two opportunities to give the Hogs the win with about 3 minutes left and went just wide, and missed his one-timer in the shootout. But the Hogs pulled it out in the end when Reichel scored again in the shootout.

"We just kept going and pushing the pace," Reichel said. "We've really come together as a team and we've made some good chemistry... It was just about time to put it on the ice."

This was also a game that kicked off a stretch of five home games over the next week. The Hogs are looking at this stretch as a chance to make a move.

"These division games are important, and we've got to get them," one of the team's other veterans Adam Clendening said. Clendening is on his third stint with the Hogs, Sikura his second. "(Milwaukee) is a good measuring stick...They're big, they're strong, they're fast. Everything you want in a hockey team they have."

But the Hogs are playing good hockey at this stage of the season as well.

Sikura's surge is a big reason why.

He had five goals in three games headed into Wednesday, and came in with five multi-point games on the season, tops on the team.

A lot of that can be credited to his new mindset.

Sikura's new mindset

Sikura was a force on the ice for the Hogs in 2018-19 and 2019-20, finishing his two-season stint with a plus-2 scoring differential and 33 and 35 points, respectively. But he never really reached the goal-scoring potential that he showed in juniors.

And Sikura got plenty of looks with the Chicago Blackhawks as well. But he came up short more times than not. He scored just one goal in 47 NHL games over three seasons.

Then when he left, he eventually found his groove in Colorado, where he had a career-high 33 goals and 40 assists last season for the Eagles of the AHL. He has played in only 11 NHL games the past two seasons, but Sikura, 27, now has three goals and 14 assists in 58 NHL games.

Not gaudy numbers, by any stretch. But they're getting better, and improving at the right time.

And the way he's playing this year, he could get yet another shot at it, and sooner than later.

"Everyone that's here is playing to get to the NHL, and they'd be lying if they said they weren't," Sikura said. "But it's about just getting older and figuring out the game a little bit more. What works, what doesn't."

After a slow start, with just one assist and no goals through the first five games of this season, he's taken off. He's had two goals in three games since.

"Sure, a lot of it's mental. Obviously at the start I was struggling again there, but that was a lot in my own head, trying to figure all that out," Sikura said. "But a lot of that is just getting older, and kind of figuring out the league a little more, and what works and what doesn't. I'm more comfortable in my body, and we have good chemistry here... It's good to start producing to my expectations here, and hopefully I can keep it rolling."

And no matter what happens, Sikura is feeling better about his game overall, and how he's handling himself these days.

"I still have that drive to play in the NHL," Sikura said. "But I also want to be a good pro and a good leader down here, and lead by example. I think you kind of have to be present and be a leader."

Busy 24 hours for Hogs' star, Lukas Reichel

Rockford's second-leading scorer Reichel, who now has 11 goals and 14 assists, had a crazy stretch of 24 hours on Tuesday and Wednesday. He was called up to the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday, made his NHL debut with the Hawks in a 3-0 road loss to the New Jersey Devils that night, then returned to score the tying goal in the third period for the Hogs on Tuesday night.

He was unable to spark a win at the NHL level, but he still relished the moment(s).

"I was a little bit surprised yesterday," said Reichel, who has five goals and 10 points over his last six games with the Hogs. "And it's been a long day, but it was fun to get to play up there, and get back for this game, too."

Goalie shuffle continues

With Rockford's No. 1 goalie Arvid Soderblom stepping up his game while up the Hawks, and their No. 2 Jaxson Stauber up with the Hawks now, too, due to injuries to Alex Stalock and Petr Mrazek, Rockford has been going with the pair of Mitchell Weeks and Dylan Wells in net of late. Both have been better than expected so far.

Wells allowed only the lone first-period goal in Wednesday's win to climb to 5-3-1 on the season, and he's racked up an .894 save percentage, and is keeping the Hogs in most games he's in. Weeks is 3-1-1 with a .909 save percentage.

"You just roll with what's given, and my goal going into the year was just to get myself some opportunities," Wells said after pitching a shutout in the shootout. "I'm just looking to keep it rolling now... It's just an opportunity for me to show what I can do."

Outdoor practice rescheduled

It was decided earlier this week that, due to ice conditions, the Hogs outdoor practice at Riverside Ice Arena in Belvidere would be rescheduled from Monday to Jan. 16, 2023.

Jay Taft is a Rockford Register Star sports reporter. Email him at jtaft@rrstar.com and follow him on Twitter at @JayTaft. Sign up for the Rockford High School newsletter at rrstar.com. Jay has covered a wide variety of sports, from the Chicago Bears to youth sports, since the turn of the century at the Register Star, and for over 30 years all together.

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Dylan Sikura uses mindset, skillset to spark Hogs on early-season run