ROAD STRUGGLES CONTINUE FOR ICEHOGS IN 5-1 LOSS

Cleveland, Ohio - Despite opening up the scoring midway through the first period, the Rockford IceHogs (35-19-8-4) fell to the Lake Erie Monsters (36-21-5-5) by a 5-1 final score on Friday night.

For the second time in the back-to-back set, Lake Erie took control of the game in the second stanza. A turnover behind the Rockford net allowed the Monsters to snap a 1-1 tie, as Michael Chaput gathered the puck in the slot and put a wrister through the five-hole of goaltender Drew MacIntyre.

Daniel Zaar doubled the advantage to 3-1 at 8:33. Alex Broadhurst took a pass from Chaput on the right side of the cage and bouced the puck towards the net. Zaar located it and flipped a backhander into the top corner of the net.

The scoring in the second concluded with 4:43 left in the period, as Lukas Sedlack pushed his goal-scoring streak to four games when he tucked a wrist shot from the slot into the bottom right corner of the net. Over the last two games (Thursday and Friday), the Monsters outscored the IceHogs 5-0 in the second period.

The tough second period cancelled out what was a good start for the IceHogs after the team opened up the scoring at 11:59 of the first frame. David Rundblad took a feed from Tanner Kero in his own zone, skated uncontested through center ice, and blasted a slap shot past Monsters goaltender Anton Forsberg. It was the first goal in an IceHogs jersey for Rundblad.

Lake Erie answered back with just 2:43 to play in the first. While up on a four-on-three advantage, Steve Eminger fired a shot through traffic that slipped past MacIntyre to even the game at 1-1. The goal marked the first power-play strike surrendered by Rockford over the last six games.

Mac Carruth took over for MacIntyre in the third, but Sedlak added his second goal of the game with a shorthanded tally at 9:27.

The game marked the end of the season series between the two clubs, as the IceHogs went 4-3-1-0 in the eight games against the Monsters. The home team took the victory in each of the eight matchups.

Next Home Game: Friday, Apr. 1 vs. San Antonio Rampage at 7 p.m. Doors will open at 5:15 p.m. for a Blues Flame Friday. Fans 21-and-older are invited to enjoy live blues music, a happy hour special, and free appetizers at the Blue Flame Lounge on the main concourse.