Preview: Mayhem at Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs (Game 25)
December 29, 2018 - SPHL (SPHL)
Macon Mayhem News Release
Offense Dries up in Fayetteville
Fayetteville has been the weakest defensive team in the SPHL this season. They've allowed the most goals per game in the league with an average of 3.83, and have been subpar on the penalty kill (8th best, 78.8%). They had not shut out an opponent all season. With this said, nobody foresaw the top team in the SPHL being blanked on the scoresheet yesterday.
It's been a recurring theme for the Mayhem all season: the better they start, the better they finish. They've still not allowed a come-from-behind victory, going 14-0-0 this season when scoring the first goal. Last night, scoring the first goal would have been a long shot, as the Mayhem were outshot 12-1 in the opening minutes and 18-7 in the first period.
Macon managed to tip the scales in their favor as the game went on, generating around half a dozen quality scoring chances in the final frame. However, missed chances ultimately haunted them, and despite stellar play from Ian Sylves, the Mayhem could not remain undefeated against the Marksmen and were shut out for the second time this season.
The Matchup
Roanoke has cooled off a tad since having a barn burner for the ages against the Marksmen last Saturday. Just like the Mayhem, the Rail Yard Dawgs dropped games in Fayetteville and Knoxville this week. However, the Dawgs' last home game featured a miraculous five-goal comeback victory in regulation against the Marksmen. They are only a week removed from this instant classic of a game, and have won every home game they've played since the Mayhem last visited on December 1st. Both squads are in a similar spot now, having dropped two road games earlier this week with the chance to make up for it by ending the final weekend of 2018 with a win. Macon has the head-to-head series advantage, earning a 4-1-0 record against Roanoke and outscoring them 17-11 in the process. However, the Rail Yard Dawgs took down the Mayhem in their last meeting, ousting them by a 4-2 result in Macon three weeks ago.
20-Second Strikes
Three weeks in a row now, the Mayhem have lit the lamp exactly 20 seconds into a period. They are now on an alternating pattern in which they have done this every other game, with today's game slated to be the next one if the pattern continues. John Siemer scored 20 seconds into the game against Fayetteville on December 14th, Caleb Cameron scored 20 seconds into the third period on a power play against Pensacola a week later, and Stathis Soumelidis buried his eighth goal of the season 20 seconds into the third period this past Wednesday in Knoxville. The Mayhem have been excellent lately at catching their opponents flat-footed immediately after a new period starts. If this pattern continues tonight, the Mayhem will put themselves in a good position to close out 2018 on a high note.
Back to School Night
Next Friday, January 4th, the Mayhem will turn around and host the Rail Yard Dawgs at the Macon Centreplex in their first game of 2019. The Mayhem are excited to welcome all students and faculty back from their holiday breaks with Back to School Night, presented by Kinetix Health Club.
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SPHL Stories from December 29, 2018
- Bulls Drop Second Game to Ice Flyers - Birmingham Bulls
- Dawgs Hang On, Beat Mayhem, 3-2 - Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs
- Rail Yard Dawgs Outlast Mayhem in Roanoke - Macon Mayhem
- Peoria Ends Havoc Win Streak 3-1 - Huntsville Havoc
- Rivermen Grind out 3-1 Win in Huntsville - Peoria Rivermen
- Preview: Mayhem at Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs (Game 25) - Macon Mayhem
- Hauswirth's Seventh, Kelley's Shutout Down #1 Macon 1-0 - Fayetteville Marksmen
- SPHL Announces Suspension - SPHL
- Rail Yard Dawgs Game Notes: Rail Yard Dawgs (11-11-0) vs Mayhem (17-4-3) - 7:05 PM - Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs
- Rivermen Add Former Evansville Center Walker Saturday - Peoria Rivermen
- Ice Bears Send Dawgs to Pound with 5-2 Win - Knoxville Ice Bears
- Havoc Mount Epic Comeback over Peoria 6-4 - Huntsville Havoc
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