Staff Report

CHICAGO – Luke Johnson potted the game-winner in his first game back with the IceHogs, capping off a 3-2 Illinois Lottery Cup victory for Rockford over the Chicago Wolves Sunday at Allstate Arena. The win snapped a six-game winless streak for the ‘Hogs.

Anton Forsberg protected the Rockford net with 29 saves on 31 shots and has now allowed two or fewer goals in six of his seven IceHogs starts.

Johnson’s winner at the 5:13 mark of the third period. The 24-year-old forward fired the puck past the blocker side of Chicago goaltender Max Lagace as he skated down the right side of the offensive zone. The goal came in Johnson’s first game with Rockford since October 20, as Johnson spent a one-month stint with the Chicago Blackhawks prior to tonight’s outing.

Chicago forward Reid Duke trimmed the Rockford lead to one with 4:24 remaining. The goal came with Lagace lifted for an extra attacker as time was expiring on a Wolves power play. But the Forsberg and the IceHogs defense held strong in the waning minutes.

Tyler Sikura and Victor Ejdsell also netted goals for Rockford, with Sikura’s goal coming in the opening period and Ejdsell’s in the second. Those tallies bookended a first-period marker from Chicago’s Tomas Hyka. R.