ROCKFORD, Ill. – Tomas Jurco broke up a shutout to pull the Rockford IceHogs within one goal with four minutes remaining in regulation, but the Cleveland Monsters potted a pair of empty-net tallies to pull away late and skate to a 4-1 win Tuesday night at the BMO Harris Bank Center.
Jurco skated behind the net, collected the puck and snuck a shot in off the back of goaltender Matiss Kivleniek’s skate for Rockford’s first goal of the game at 16:16 in the third period. Jurco has now totaled 11 points (6g, 5a) in his last 12 games since the beginning of December.
Kivleniek otherwise kept the IceHogs off the board, including beginning the game with a shutout through the first 56:16 of action. The netminder finished with 35 saves to earn his first win in four appearances and improve to 5-9-2 in 17 total games this year.
Terry Broadhurst scored two goals for the Monsters and his brother, Alex Broadhurst, posted a three-point night with one tally and a pair of helpers.
Collin Delia turned away 20 of 23 shots in his third AHL loss of 2017-18.
NEXT HOME GAME: The IceHogs host the Cleveland Monsters on Saturday, Jan. 6. Puck drop is 6 p.m. and the first 1,500 fans will receive a free IceHogs winter hat, courtesy of BMO Harris Bank.