ROCKFORD RALLIES TO FORCE OVERTIME, FALLS IN SHOOTOUT

CLEVELAND – Luke Johnson stretched the Rockford IceHogs’ point streak to six games with a third-period equalizer, but the Cleveland Monsters took a 4-3 shootout victory at Quicken Loans Arena Wednesday night. Terry Broadhurst and Zac Dalpe struck to seal the Monsters’ four-round shootout victory, while Anthony Louis scored for Rockford.

The IceHogs erased a two-goal deficit in the final 22 minutes of action to force extra time. Rockford went ahead early after Graham Knott found twine from in close just over five minutes into the game, but Dalpe leveled the score for the Monsters late in the opening frame.

Cleveland found the scoresheet twice more in the second period with another goal from Dalpe and an addition by Brady Austin, before Louis struck with a slick backhander to get the Hogs within one before the end of the middle stanza.

Johnson scored his game-tying effort after John Hayden forced Cleveland netminder Matiss Kivlenieks into turning the puck over behind the net, where Hayden fed a pass to the front for Johnson to tap in at 8:45 of the final frame to eventually send the game to overtime.

The teams traded chances in the extra frame before Broadhurst’s goal and a subsequent Kivlenieks save on Matheson Iacopelli sealed Cleveland’s win.

Rockford’s Collin Delia stopped 29 of 32 shots, and has not lost in regulation in his last four starts. Kivlenieks turned aside 35 of 38 for the Monsters.

Next Home Game: The IceHogs take on the Bakersfield Condors on Tuesday, Jan. 23 at 7 p.m. at the BMO Harris Bank Center. The contest marks another Fas Fuel Winning Weekday in 2017-18. If the Hogs win, tickets from Tuesday’s game can be redeemed for a ticket of equal or lesser value to the following Fas Fuel Winning Weekdays game on Wednesday, Feb. 7. Fans can also enjoy $2 tacos, select beer, and companion tickets as part of Taco Tuesday. Tickets can be purchased at IceHogs.com, by calling (815) 968-5222 or in-person at the BMO Harris Bank Center Box Office.