Commesso blocked 38 of 42 shots, but was helpless on OT tap-in as Grand Rapids wins 4-3 and pushes the IceHogs to brink of elimination.

Drew Commesso, one of the Blackhawks top goalie prospects in THN's 2024 Future Watch, kept the AHL Rockford IceHogs in the game in a 4-3 OT playoff loss to the Grand Rapids Griffins on Friday night.

Finishing his first pro season, the 21-year-old Commesso stopped 38 of 42 shots. The former Boston University netminder blocked 19 of 19 in the scoreless first period, including a pad save on Taro Hirose's point-blank chance late in the frame.

The IceHogs, however, are down 2 games to 1 in the best-of-five series. They face elimination in Game 4 on Sunday in Rockford. Starting time is 4 p.m. CT.

The IceHogs have been hindered without defenseman Nolan Allan,  out since early April with a lower-body injury. Allan, a former defense partner of Kevin Korchinski at WHL Seattle, was rated eighth in the organization in 2024 by THN Future Watch scouts.

Commesso Next Up?

Commesso lines up currently as the No. 3 goalie in the Blackhawks organization behind Petr Mrazek and Arvid Söderblom. 

Commesso's fellow Rockford netminder, Jaxson Stauber, is more experienced at age 25 and wrapping up a second pro season. The 6-foot-3 Stauber played six games with the Blackhawks in 2022-23, but Commesso's upside is considered greater.

Either goalie might start for Rockford in Sunday's do-or-die game.

Friday's contest in Grand Rapids was tied at 1 after two periods. Then the Griffins jumped ahead 3-1 by midway through the third on goals by Austin Czarnik and Elmer Söderblom, Arvid's 6-foot-8 younger brother.

The IceHogs tied it and sent it to overtime on goals by Zach Sanford and Jackson Cates 59 seconds apart late in the third.

Jonatan Berggren scored his second OT game winner of the series at 8:12 of the extra period. Wide open, he tapped in a loose puck from the right side of the net.