ROCKFORD, Ill.—The Wolves made their final regular-season visit to Rockford on Friday night and fell to the IceHogs 4-1 at BMO Center.
Ryan Suzuki scored but the rest of the offense was stifled as the Wolves dropped their fourth game in a row. Rockford snapped a two-game losing skid in the 10th meeting of the season between the Central Division rivals.
“They were rolling all four lines and just playing hard and we didn’t match that tempo,” Wolves forward Givani Smith said. “It was definitely one of the most physical games I’ve seen so far but it’s good we can get these games in early so it will prepare us for the postseason.”
The IceHogs found the scoreboard first on Martin Misiak’s goal 6 minutes, 40 seconds into the opening period.
With time winding down in the first, the Wolves were awarded a power play and Suzuki cashed in with his 11th tally of the season. The veteran forward camped out alongside the right post and redirected a pass from Bradly Nadeau past Rockford netminder Drew Commesso. Suzuki’s goal with :18 remaining in the period was assisted by Nadeau and Juuso Valimaki.
The only goal of the second period came off the stick of the IceHogs’ Joey Anderson and Rockford held a 2-1 advantage heading into the third.
Midway through the third, Taige Harding’s marker gave the IceHogs a two-goal lead they never relinquished.
Rem Pitlick capped the scoring for Rockford with an empty-netter in the waning moments.
Cayden Primeau (21 saves) took the loss in goal for the Wolves while Commesso (29 saves) earned the win for the IceHogs.
Chicago dropped to 28-15-6-6 on the season while Rockford stands at 21-32-3-2.
“We just have to find what we have left,” Smith said. “It’s a short stretch of games here but we have to play down to the end.”
Up next: The Wolves host the Grand Rapids Griffins on Sunday at Allstate Arena (5 p.m.).
For information on Wolves ticket plans for the 2025-26 season—everything from single-game tickets to Flex Packs to group outings—visit chicagowolves.com or call 1-800-THE-WOLVES.
