San Diego Gulls rally late with two third-period goals to beat Rockford IceHogs 5-4

Late swing in Rockford lifts San Diego in high-event AHL matchup

The San Diego Gulls scored twice in a span of just over seven minutes in the third period to secure a 5–4 road victory over the Rockford IceHogs on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at the BMO Center in Rockford, Illinois. The win came after a back-and-forth game that featured five goals in the opening period and three lead changes overall.

Rockford carried a 3–2 lead out of the first intermission, but the Gulls erased the deficit in the second and ultimately moved in front for good on Stian Solberg’s go-ahead goal late in regulation.

First period: Rockford builds an early edge, San Diego answers twice

The IceHogs opened the scoring 30 seconds into the game when Gavin Hayes finished a rush chance for a 1–0 lead. San Diego responded on the power play at 5:46, with Sasha Pastujov scoring to tie it 1–1.

Rockford then pushed ahead with two more first-period goals—Jake Furlong at 16:23 and Hayes again at 17:55—before the Gulls pulled within one late in the frame. San Diego captain Ryan Carpenter scored at 19:32 to make it 3–2 heading into the break.

• Rockford goals in the first: Hayes (2), Furlong (1)
• San Diego goals in the first: Pastujov (power play), Carpenter

Second period: Solberg ties it as the pace settles

After the offensive surge in the opening 20 minutes, the second period produced one goal. Solberg tied the game 3–3 at 3:09 of the period, sending the teams into the third with the outcome still undecided.

Third period: Hayes completes a hat trick, then San Diego flips the result

Hayes restored Rockford’s lead at 5:21 of the third, completing the first professional hat trick of his career and putting the IceHogs up 4–3. San Diego answered on the power play again, with Pastujov tying the game 4–4 at 10:24.

The decisive moment followed at 12:32, when Solberg scored what stood as the game-winning goal for a 5–4 lead. Rockford had remaining time to search for an equalizer but did not score again.

Key turning point: San Diego’s third-period response after falling behind 4–3, with a power-play equalizer followed by Solberg’s winner.

Special teams and standout performances

San Diego’s power play finished 3-for-3, accounting for three of the club’s five goals. Pastujov recorded two goals and added an assist, while Solberg scored twice, including the game winner. For Rockford, Hayes scored three times, and Furlong added a first-period goal in support of the early lead.

The teams were scheduled to meet again in Rockford on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026.