RealGM

The Chicago Blackhawks can tout not only having one of the NHL’s premier teams this season, but also having one of the AHL’s best in the Rockford IceHogs.

The IceHogs are tied for a league-high 37 points and have a 17-6-2-1 record. It’s the IceHogs’ best record through 26 games since they became the Blackhawks’ AHL affiliate in 2007 and it’s the most points a Blackhawks’ AHL affiliate has had since the Norfolk Admirals started the 2006-07 season with a 16-5-4-1 record.

Considering the IceHogs were just a few games over .500 at this point last season, IceHogs coach Ted Dent is enjoying his team’s success.

“It’s a little bit of a different feeling, but it’s a good feeling,” Dent said by phone on Thursday. “Our team is coming together nicely. We’ve had a couple good runs. Hopefully, we can continue.”

The IceHogs have been successful for a number of the same reasons the Blackhawks have been. For one, the IceHogs have benefitted from having two capable goaltenders in Scott Darling and Michael Leighton this season. Darling has a .929 save percentage in 11 games, and Leighton has a .921 save percentage in 14 games. The IceHogs had zero shutouts all of last season and already have three this season.

The IceHogs also have plenty of defenseman depth in Blackhawks prospects TJ Brennan, Adam Clendening, Kyle Cumiskey, Stephen Johns, Ville Pokka and Viktor Svedberg. Klas Dahlbeck, who is currently up with the Blackhawks, has also played in 22 games for the IceHogs.

Offensively, the IceHogs have been getting contributions throughout the lineup. Brennan leads the team with 21 points and is followed by Garret Ross (18 points), Teuvo Teravainen (17 points), Mark McNeill (16 points), Phillip Danault (16 points) and Peter Regin (15 points). Eight players have at least five goals and 10 players have at least 10 points.