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 Peoria Rivermen

Greenberg's Pair Lift Rivermen over Thunderbolts Tuesday

October 30, 2018 - SPHL (SPHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


Evansville, IN - Justin Greenberg scored twice, Mason Pulde made 39 saves, and Mark Petaccio scored the game-winning goal as the Peoria Rivermen beat the Evansville Thunderbolts 3-2 at the Ford Center Tuesday morning. The win improves Peoria to 2-0-1 on the season, good for third place in the SPHL standings before Friday night's home opener against Quad City.

The Thunderbolts took an early lead with the game's first goal courtesy of an early power-play. With Rivermen defenseman Guillaume Naud boxed for hooking, Thunderbolts winger Beau Walker held in a clearing attempt at the high slot, and slipped a pass below the right-wing circle to teammate Shayne Morrissey, whose one-timer beat Rivermen goqw altender Mason Pulde for a 1-0 Evansville edge at 3:44 of the period.

The Rivermen leveled the score later in the first period with a power-play tally of their own. With Thunderbolts winger Scott Donohue in the sin bin for slashing, the Rivermen worked the puck to center Justin Greenberg atop the right circle of the Evansville zone, and Greenberg's wrist shot zipped past the outstretched glove of Thunderbolts goaltender Edwin Minney for a 1-1 score at 12:00 of the frame.

The Rivermen took their first lead of the day with an even-strength goal in the middle stages of the second period. With the puck at the right point of the Evansville zone, Greenberg picked it up and slipped behind the Evansville defense, tucking a backhander over Minney's shoulder for a 2-1 lead at 13:39 of the period.

The Rivermen doubled their lead with a power-play tally seconds before the end of the second frame. With Thunderbolts winger Mitch Atkins in the box for tripping, Rivermen defenseman Brandon Rumble uncorked a one-time drive from the high slot. The ensuing rebound from Minney's right pad bounced to the stick of Rivermen winger Mark Petaccio, who snapped it into the back of the net for a 3-1 lead at 19:58 of the frame.

The Thunderbolts got to within one on an even-strength goal late in the third period. With a netfront scramble in the Rivermen slot, Thunderbolts defenseman Frank Schumacher rang a shot off the post behind Pulde, and the rebound was popped home by Evansville forward Pijus Rulevicious for the 3-2 score with 2:35 remaining in regulation. Peoria survived an extra-attacker series in the game's final minute to hold on for the eventual 3-2 victory.

Pulde stopped 39 of 41 shots faced to earn his first win of the season between the pipes. With the victory, Pulde improves to 6-1-2 in his SPHL career.

Notes: Greenberg recorded his third career multi-goal game, and his first since January 27 of last season, also at Evansville...The Rivermen allowed the first goal of the game for the first time in the season...Petaccio's game-winning goal was the seventh game-winner of his career...The Rivermen return to action Friday night for their regular-season home opener against the Quad City Storm at Carver Arena...Friday's game will be Peoria's annual Bruce Saurs Home Opening Weekend, with Rivermen magnet schedules given away to the first 3,000 fans in the arena...The game will start at 7:15 PM, and the broadcast of the game can be heard, starting with the pregame show, at 6:55, at http://mixlr.com/peoria-rivermen/

Group, single game, and season tickets for Peoria's 35th 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.


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