The Rockford IceHogs are keeping pace as the fourth place team in the AHL’s Central Division, gaining points in eight of their last 10 games. But they’ll need to be careful down the stretch to secure a playoff spot — the Texas Stars are tied with them at 65 points but have played two more games than the IceHogs. That playoff chase is the main reason why the Blackhawks have been stingy with their call-ups recently.
There’s almost nothing else to say about 2021 first-round pick Lukas Reichel at this point: he’s having a tremendous season in Rockford despite a so-so cast around him.