IceHogs Fall 4-2 to Wolves in Final Frontier Faceoff

The Rockford IceHogs dropped a 4-2 decision to the Chicago Wolves in the season finale at Allstate Arena on Sunday. The loss leaves the IceHogs with a 30-36-8 record while the Wolves improved to 33-31-10.

Rockford struck first just 4:12 into the game as Ryan Gagnier extended his weekend goal streak with a strong finish to the net. The center notched his 10th goal of the season and gave the home team a 1-0 lead.

Chicago answered quickly before the end of the first period. With just 4:32 left, Gleb Trikozov tied the game with a deflection off a skate in front of the net. Trikozov would go on to finish with a game-high two goals and two points.

In the second period, Ivan Ryabkin set up Trikozov for his second goal of the night with a slick backhand pass. The Wolves took a 2-1 lead into the second intermission.

Chicago extended their lead late in the third when Noah Philp redirected a wrist shot off the back post for his 14th goal of the season. The goal gave the Wolves a two-goal cushion with under seven minutes to play.

Rockford responded with a power-play goal from defenseman Dmitri Kuzmin. The Russian blueliner, who has now scored in back-to-back games, fired a shot from the near circle to cut the deficit to one.

Felix Unger Sorum sealed the win for the Wolves with an empty-net goal late in the game, giving the visitors a 4-2 final.

In his professional debut between the pipes, Rockford's Adam Gajan turned aside 36 of 40 shots. The rookie netminder now has a 2.65 goals-against average and .914 save percentage through 10 career games.

With the loss, Rockford ends its season with a 30-36-8 record and finishes 10th in the AHL's Central Division. The Wolves, meanwhile, secure the fifth seed with a 33-31-10 record.

The IceHogs will now turn their attention to the offseason, with the 2025 AHL draft and free agency on the horizon.