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Rivermen Game Notes: Peoria Rivermen at Pensacola Ice Flyers

March 16, 2018 - SPHL (SPHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


OUT-SHOT AND SHOT-OUT

The Rivermen come into tonight's game in Pensacola after suffering a 4-3 shootout loss in Mississippi last Saturday, a game in which Peoria was out-shot 51-28 during 65 minutes of regulation and overtime. The loss, just Peoria's fourth post-regulation defeat of the season, lifts the Rivermen to 68 points, good for first place in the SPHL, seven points ahead of second-place Pensacola.

THE SERIES SO FAR

Tonight marks the third of four meetings this season between the Rivermen and Ice Flyers, and the first of two at the Pensacola Bay Center. The Rivermen and Ice Flyers last met November 3 & 4 in Peoria, with the Flyers capturing a 4-2 win at Carver Arena November 3 before taking a 3-1 win the following night. After tonight, Peoria and Pensacola will conclude their season series with a rematch tomorrow night in the Florida panhandle.

SCOUTING THE ICE FLYERS

The Ice Flyers come into tonight's contest 28- 11-5 on the season, good for 61 points, second best in the SPHL. Pensacola enters the weekend riding a three-game losing streak after dropping a pair of games in Birmingham last weekend, falling 6-3 to the Bulls last Friday before dropping a 3-2 overtime decision at the Pelham Civic Complex the following night. Entering play tonight, the Ice Flyers lead the SPHL with 37.29 shots on goal per game, and their 28.64 SOG allowed per game is also a league-best.

Pensacola ranks first in fewest goals allowed per game at 2.71, while their 3.51 goals scored per contest is fifth in the SPHL. In terms of individual point production, winger Garrett Milan leads the Ice Flyers with 40 assists and 49 total points, while teammate Jessyko Bernard leads the team with 24 goals scored on the year.

In net, Ice Flyers goaltender Brian Billett has gone 6-3-2 with a 2.68 goals-against average and an .896 save percentage.

PULDE SAVES

Last Saturday's 4-3 shootout loss at Mississippi marked the first start for Rivermen goaltender Mason Pulde since he was relieved after surrendering two goals on three shots over 8:19 of ice time at Birmingham on February 10. In last Saturday's contest, Pulde recorded career highs with 48 saves and 51 shots faced through regulation and overtime, and the Lexington, MA native turned aside two of four RiverKings attempts.

THE HURRICANE IS BACK

Last Saturday's game in Southaven also saw a goal scored by Rivermen winger Cody Dion, giving the Colorado Springs, CO native a pair of tallies in as many games back from a stint on the Injured Reserve. In 30 games played this season, Dion has registered 10 goals and assisted on 11 others, adding a +9 rating and 69 penalty minutes.

WHAT A (HAGA)MAN

Last Saturday's Rivermen game also featured Peoria winger Alec Hagaman's team-leading 22nd goal of the season, giving the fourth-year pro a team-best 52 points in just 43 games this season.

In addition to his 22 goals and 30 assists, the Peoria native has logged a league-best +32 rating on the year to go with two goals and 12 assists on the power-play, another two goals and one assist with the Rivermen shorthanded, and his four game-winning goals are one shy of the SPHL lead.

WHAT'S ON DECK

After tonight's contest in Pensacola, the Rivermen and Ice Flyers will rematch at the Bay Center tomorrow before Peoria returns home for a three-game weekend March 23-25 at Carver Arena, hosting the Macon Mayhem Friday and Saturday night before a Sunday afternoon contest with the Evansville Thunderbolts. The Rivermen will then play a pair of two-game weekends, at Roanoke March 30 & 31, and at home against the Rail Yard Dawgs April 6 & 7, to conclude the regular season.

Check out the Peoria Rivermen Statistics

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