Preview: Mayhem vs. Peoria Rivermen (Game 35)
February 1, 2019 - SPHL (SPHL)
Macon Mayhem News Release
Shorthanded Situations Doom Mayhem on Thursday
In the opening minutes of last night's tilt, the Mayhem appeared to have things under control. They had generated a few scoring chances before going to an early power play. Then, a kneeing penalty called against Nick Minerva abruptly changed the momentum of the game. On the ensuing four-on-four, the Peoria Rivermen scored twice within a 46 second span.
Peoria's lone 5-on-5 goal game off a brilliant three-way passing play in the neutral zone which sprung SPHL leading scorer Ben Blasko on an uncontested breakaway. At 5-on-5, the score was 1-1. With this said, staying disciplined and keeping out of the penalty box will be paramount tonight for the Mayhem.
The Matchup
Hearing about one team's dominance throughout a season is one thing, actually facing it is another. Yesterday, the Mayhem were introduced to the Rivermen and saw first-hand why they sit 12 points ahead of anyone else in the SPHL standings.
The Rivermen moved the puck exceptionally well, crisply, efficiently, and with tremendous speed. Their depth and skill level came as advertised, and their goaltending made a Macon comeback attempt all the more difficult. Many who had questioned the magnitude of Peoria's dominance due to their weaker schedule were given a harsh awakening last night. The Mayhem have not faced an opponent like this all season, and if they seek to salvage any points from this series, they will need to dig deep and drastically improve upon their performance from yesterday.
Injury Report
Yet another bitter pill to swallow from last night's defeat was the injury to leading scorer Jake Trask. In the first period, he sustained an open-ice hit near the Macon bench and landed awkwardly before laboring off the ice. He returned to the bench in the second period and was there for the rest of the game, but he did not return to play. The latest news is that he is nursing an upper-body injury and is doubtful to return to action this weekend.
Justin Levac remains questionable with an upper-body injury, and Jimmy Soper will be out for the next month. Dakota Klecha is making progress and practicing with the team again, but his wrist has not yet fully healed. Facing the Peoria Rivermen is a challenging enough task in and of itself. Tonight, the Mayhem will be doing it severely shorthanded.
First Three-Game Series
Tonight is Superhero Night. There will be superheroes greeting fans in the lobby, as well as a superhero contest during the game. Fans are encouraged to dress as their favorite superheroes as they enjoy the Friday night action.
Tomorrow is Camo Night presented by Tommy's Bakery & Café. The Mayhem will be wearing camouflage jerseys when they battle the Rivermen to wrap up the series. The jerseys will be sold at a live auction in the Centreplex lobby following the game. It is also a Family 4-Pack Night, presented by Amici. To purchase the Family 4-Pack, call the Mayhem front office at (478) 803-1592.
SPHL Stories from February 1, 2019
- Bulls Win on the Road in Pensacola - Birmingham Bulls
- Rivermen Battle Back, Hold on Late in Macon Friday - Peoria Rivermen
- Love Scores First Goal in Narrow Defeat to Peoria - Macon Mayhem
- Morrissey Scores in 3rd Straight Game in Loss to Roanoke - Evansville Thunderbolts
- Dawgs Cruise by Evansville, 4-1 - Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs
- Preview: Mayhem vs. Peoria Rivermen (Game 35) - Macon Mayhem
- Rail Yard Dawgs Game Notes: Rail Yard Dawgs (16-15-2) vs ThunderBolts (5-26-2) - 7:05 PM - Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs
- McKeown Moves To IR - Quad City Storm
- Thunderbolts to Take on Roanoke in a 2 Game Series - Evansville Thunderbolts
- Rivermen Roll to Third Straight Thursday - Peoria Rivermen
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