Fiala's Two Goals, Novak's 31 Saves Lead IceHogs to 3-1 Win

Lukas Fiala scored twice and Adam Novak turned aside 31 shots to lift the Rockford IceHogs to a 3-1 win over the Cleveland Monsters at the BMO Center. Fiala opened the scoring with a late first-period power-play goal and added an insurance tally in the second. Aaron McIntyre provided Cleveland’s lone marker on a second-period rebound, but Novak made several key saves in the third to preserve the lead.

The game’s decisive moments clustered around special teams and goaltending. Fiala’s power-play goal changed the tone late in the first period, forcing the Monsters to chase momentum in the middle frame. McIntyre capitalized on an offensive rebound to knot the score temporarily, but Fiala’s second goal reestablished Rockford’s advantage and put pressure back on Cleveland. Novak’s 31 saves did the rest; his timely stops on second-chance opportunities and perimeter shots in the third kept the Monsters from mounting a late rally.

Beyond the box score, this outcome highlights two performance threads that matter in the AHL: finishing in the offensive zone and dependable netminding. Fiala’s two-goal night underscores his ability to finish on the power play and in traffic, traits that translate well to higher-leverage opportunities. Novak’s composure in the final 20 minutes, when the margin was one goal, reinforced the value of a goaltender who can weather pressure and control rebounds.

For the IceHogs organization and local fans, results like this have multiple payoffs. A clutch home win at the BMO Center energizes the roster and gives the coaching staff tangible evidence of players executing special teams and late-game procedures. For opponents and front offices around the league, Fiala’s scoring and Novak’s handling of a steady shot volume will be noted when evaluating roster depth and in-season call-up decisions. In the broader AHL landscape, performances that combine scoring bursts with reliable goaltending continue to shape playoff positioning and player development priorities.

The 3-1 victory on Jan. 25, 2026, leaves Rockford with a tangible momentum boost and puts Fiala and Novak squarely on the list of players to watch as the schedule tightens. For IceHogs supporters, the takeaway is clear: scoring punch from the wings and a steady presence in goal can carry a team through tense late-period stretches, and those ingredients were on full display at the BMO Center.