Hogs on a roll: Rockford IceHogs get hot, cool off, now hit 3-game pre-holiday homestand

ROCKFORD — Coming off their first three-game winning streak of the season — and then a minor setback on Saturday — the Rockford IceHogs are hoping to continue to build a foundation of winning with their new coaching staff.

A three-game homestand that kicks off on Wednesday could go a long way in that department.

"We were happy with the stretch that we had there for three games," Hogs interim head coach Anders Sorensen said. "Consistently we're playing with more purpose, and playing with a little bit more pace.

"And I think we're in a good frame of mind. We know that if we play a certain way, we're going to give ourselves a chance to win every time we step out onto the ice."

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Hogs claw back to .500

Rockford (8-8-1-1) outscored its foes 9-3 during its season-long win streak, getting two goals from forward Evan Barrett last Wednesday in a 3-1 win over Milwaukee, and getting two more goals from forward Philipp Kurashev during a 4-1 win at Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Friday. The Hogs slipped up during a 6-2 loss back at Grand Rapids on Saturday, but they have played themselves back into the conversation of late.

"That stretch was great for us, I think it gave us some real confidence," said defenseman Isaak Phillips, who has two goals and five assists on the season.

Staying busy during holidays

The Hogs will host this three-game homestand, which includes the annual Teddy Bear Toss Game. Starting at 6 p.m. Saturday, fans are encouraged to bring new or gently used stuffed animals or toys to the BMO Harris Bank Center and toss them onto the ice when the Hogs score their first goal. There is also a winter clothing drive Saturday and fans can bring winter clothing items and receive a complementary Hogs ticket to the game on New Year’s Eve.

That game will cap off a stretch of six games in the last two weeks of the year.

"Right now it's a grind," Phillips added, "but I love it this way. Bring on more games."

Help from the Hawks

Philipp Kurashev netted two goals in the third period to help the Hogs pull away from Grand Rapids on Friday night, and he has two goals and an assist in his three-game stint with Rockford.

He's expected to be back with the Hawks at some point, but Rockford will use him while it can.

"Oh, we're happy to have him," Sorensen said. "When he's playing the way he has for us lately, he's a special player."

Goalie Collin Delia, who has spent most of his past two seasons with the Hawks, made a season-high 40 saves for the Hogs in that game as well.

The Hawks just called defenseman Wyatt Kalynuk up from the Hogs on Tuesday, after he was sent to the Hogs on Sunday. He has a goal and two assists in his four games with Rockford, and has appeared in three contests with no points this season with the Hawks. Chicago also assigned forward Mike Hardman to Rockford on Tuesday.

And on Monday it was announced that the Hogs had placed goalie Arvid Soderblom and defenseman Jakub Galvas into concussion protocol.

Jay Taft: jtaft@rrstar.com; @JayTaft

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Rockford IceHogs on rollercoaster start, hit pre-holiday homestand