Skid now at four games

ROCKFORD — The Cleveland Monster’s, behind four points from Zac Dalpe and Jordan Schroeder, dumped the Rockford IceHogs for the second time this week with a 5-2 win at the BMO Harris Bank Center Saturday night.

The IceHogs trailed 3-2 heading into the third period before the Monsters potted a pair of goals to seal the win.

Matiss Kivlenieks recorded 33 saves in the Cleveland net.

The defeat marked the first time since the 2011-12 season the IceHogs have dropped back-to-back home games to the Monsters.

The teams played scoreless hockey through the first period but Cleveland opened the middle stanza with three straight markers– Calvin Thurkauf scored at even strength, Miles Koules added one on the power play and Zac Dalpe posted a shorthanded goal.

Rockford’s Graham Knott then responded to get the Hogs on the board with a quick wrist shot that slid under Kivelnieks’ pads. Six minutes later, Henrik Samuelsson tallied his second goal in his second game with the IceHogs to cut the deficit to one goal.

The comeback effort ultimately fell short though, as Jordan Schroeder and Terry Broadhurst found twine for the Monsters to regain a three-goal lead and put the game on ice.

Jeff Glass stopped 23 shots in his first start since returning from Chicago Thursday.

Next Home Game: The IceHogs take on the San Antonio Rampage at 4 p.m. Sunday at the BMO Harris Bank Center for Star Wars Night. More than 20 Star Wars characters will be on-hand for the Hammy Garden Gnome giveaway. R.