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 Peoria Rivermen

Rivermen Coast to Fifth Straight Win Friday

February 23, 2018 - SPHL (SPHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


Peoria, IL - The Peoria Rivermen got a pair of goals from winger Joe Kalisz and 24 saves from goaltender Peter Di Salvo as they cruised past the Havoc Friday night 4-1. The win, Peoria's 5th straight, improves the Rivermen to 28-10-3, first place in the SPHL standings before tomorrow night's game in Evansville.

The Havoc broke the scoreless tie in the early stages of the opening frame. Havoc winger Kyle Sharkey fired an initial shot that was blocked in front by Rivermen defenseman Brandon Rumble. Sharkey picked up the puck, circled behind the net, and stuffed a wrap around attempt under the left pad of Rivermen netminder Peter Di Salvo for the 1-0 Huntsville edge at 4:56 of the first period.

The Rivermen evened the score near the midway point of the first period while on the power play. With Havoc defenseman Andy Willigar sitting for high sticking, Rivermen defenseman Dave Pszenyczny skated the puck into the Havoc zone and slipped a pass to teammate Joe Kalisz, who skated through the right circle and fired a shot from just above the goal line that snuck between Huntsville goaltender Keegan Asmundson and the goal post, and into the back of the net to tie the game at 1-1 at 10:22 of the first period.

Peoria grabbed the lead in the early stages of the second period when Rivermen center Joseph Widmar raced into the Havoc zone and sent a pass across the high slot to teammate Alec Hagaman on the right wing. Hagaman corralled the puck and hammered a shot from the low right circle that sailed over Asmundson's shoulder and into the back of the net for the 2-1 Rivermen lead at 1:55 of the middle period.

The Rivermen added to their lead prior to the midway point of the middle stanza. Rivermen winger Michael Economos controlled the puck along the left-wing boards of the Huntsville zone, spun and sent a wrister towards the net. The puck was tipped netfront by winger Keegan Bruce, and snuck between Asmundson's legs and into the back of the net for the 3-1 Rivermen advantage at 9:37 of the second period.

Peoria added an insurance tally to their lead just past the midway point of the third period, cashing in on another power play opportunity, with Havoc center Sy Nutkevitch in the sin bin for cross checking. The Rivermen held the puck in the Huntsville zone, when a netfront pass found Rivermen center Justin Greenberg, who tipped the puck across the top of the crease to Kalisz, who deposited the biscuit past a sprawling Asmundson and into the back of the net for the 4-1 Rivermen lead at 11:17 of the third period.

Di Salvo earned the win between the pipes, stopping 24 of 25 shots faced. The win is Di Salvo's 5th straight victory, and improves him to 12-8-4 on the season, 7-1-1 since joining Peoria.

Notes: With a goal in the second period, Hagaman has a point or more in his last five contests with 9 total points in that span dating back to February 10th...Economos is in the midst of a five-game point streak after getting credit for an assist tonight, and has 9 points in his last 5 outings...Widmar has 9 points in his last five games (2G, 7A)....The Rivermen return to action Saturday night as they travel to Evansville, IN to square off against the Thunderbolts at the Ford Center, faceoff is set for 7:15 p.m....The broadcast of the game can be heard, starting with the pre-game show, at 6:55 p.m. at http://mixlr.com/peoria-rivermen/

Group, single game, and season tickets for Peoria's 36th season of professional hockey presented by Midwest Orthopaedic Center are on sale at the Toyota Box Office in the Peoria Civic Center, or by phone at the Rivermen office, located at 201 S.W. Jefferson Street, or over the phone at (309) 676-1040. For the latest Rivermen news and notes, follow online at www.rivermen.net or through Facebook (www.facebook.com/PeoriaRivermen)


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