Rockford, IL - The Rockford IceHogs came up just short against the Iowa Wild losing 5-4 on Friday night inside the BMO Center.

A packed crowed was brought to its feet in the opening minute when Connor Mylymok dropped the gloves and promptly dropped Mark Liwiski to the ice with a fight that ended the nights for both forwards.

Iowa struck first on the scoreboard six minutes into the game with Nic Aube-Kubel scooting out on a breakaway and sliding the puck inbetween Drew Commesso's pads. The IceHogs pulled even 1-1 later in the 1st period with a Samuel Savoie wrist shot from the slot that broke through Iowa's Samuel Hlavaj.

The Wild regained the one-goal lead less than a minute later. Hunter Haight sprinted down the far wing and went upstairs. 

In the 2nd period, it was Rem Pitlick who found a soft spot at the left circle and sniped home his 21st of the year over the shoulder to tie the game 2-2. Iowa found its third goal of the game off the stick of Haight once more, this time a power play strike.

Rockford fought back again to tie the game 3-3 at 13:47 of the middle frame. Martin Misiak's pass from behind the net deflected to Jamie Engelbert who touched in a backhander. With two seconds to go in the period, Gerry Mayhew gave Iowa a 4-3 lead heading into the intermission with a quick snap shot from 15 feet out.

Halfway through the 3rd and while on the power play, Brett Seney fed Joey Anderson on an odd-man rush into the zone and brought Rockford back even at 4-4. With 5:36 to play in regulation, Iowa's Jean-Luc Foudy wristed in the game-winning goal from the far wing.

Up next, the IceHogs take on the Griffins in Grand Rapids on Saturday, April 11 at 6:00 p.m. CT inside Van Andel Arena.