Preview: Rivermen Head South for a Trio this Weekend
February 20, 2014 - SPHL (SPHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release
COMING IN HOT: The Rivermen (23-14-4, 50 points) enter this weekend's triple-header on a three-game win streak and with points in nine of their last 10 games overall. Last weekend, Peoria swept a three-game series at home, which included two wins against the Fayetteville FireAntz (3-0, 5-3) and one against the Mississippi RiverKings (3-0). It was Peoria's seventh weekend sweep of the year - first in three games - and helped the Rivermen to a 13-4-1 record since New Year's Day, tops in the league. In fact, Peoria hasn't lost to a team not named Bloomington since Dec. 28 at Huntsville.
HAT TRICK WEEKEND: The Rivermen begin their seventh "three games in three days" series on Friday and second in as many weekends. Despite a three-game sweep last weekend, Peoria is just 7-8-3 in three-in-three series this year and has been outscored 55-48 in those games. The Rivermen will play a total of nine "three games in three days" series this season.
RIVERMEN VS. SURGE: Friday marks the third meeting this season between the Rivermen and Surge, who play a total of seven times this year. Following back-to-back wins Jan. 3-4 in Biloxi, Mississippi, the Rivermen currently lead the series 2-0. On Jan. 3, Nick Prockow scored the game-winner in overtime to seal a 3-2 win before Eric Levine stopped 26 of 28 shots the next night for a 5-2 victory. Peoria and Mississippi will meet for a three-game series at Carver Arena March 7-9.
RIVERMEN VS. ICE GATORS: Saturday will mark the first-ever SPHL matchup between the Rivermen and Ice Gators, who play a total of four times this year - all consecutive. Despite never meeting in the SPHL previously, the two clubs has a storied rivalry from their ECHL days, including Peoria's 1999-00 Kelly Cup Championship run. That year, the Rivermen defeated Louisiana four games to two in the Kelly Cup Finals, including a 4-3 overtime victory in game six to seal the championship.
SPHL EASTON PLAYER OF THE WEEK: On Monday, the SPHL announced goaltender Kyle Rank as the Player of the Week for Feb. 10-16 after the 26-year-old notched back-to-back shutouts against Fayetteville and the Mississippi RiverKings, stopping all 65 shots he faced en route to a 2-0-0 record. In fact, Rank's shutout on Sunday marked his sixth of the year, which broke the SPHL single-season record for shutouts, which topped Riley Gill's mark of five shutouts in a season last year.
TOP OF THE "RANK-INGS": In addition to shutouts (six), Rank enters this weekend at the top of the charts in goals against average (1.84) and save percentage (.940). Plus, over his last six starts, Rank is 6-0-0 with a 1.00 GAA and a .969 saves rate during that span. Including his back-to-back shutouts last weekend, Rank has not allowed a goal in a whopping 142:30 of ice time.
STANFIELD'S STREAK: Third-year pro winger Parker Stanfield has recorded points in each of his last six games (4g, 4a) and has power play goals in each of his last two. In fact, Stanfield's two-goal performance last Sunday was his first multi-goal performance of the year. Overall, the 23-year-old is third on the team in scoring with 29 points (9g, 20a) - five points behind Nick Prockow for second.
MAKIN' MOVES: The Rivermen dealt d-man Kory Helowka to Fayetteville on Monday for veteran center Chris Greene, who collected seven goals and 13 assists in 35 games for the FireAntz this season. However, Greene was immediately promoted to CHL Quad City and became the ninth Rivermen player to be called up this season. In response, Peoria signed rookie Locke Jillson to a three-game tryout for this weekend. Jillson spent four years at Cornell University from '08-12, where he recorded 20 goals and 25 assists over 124 career games.
DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS : Peoria has allowed two goals or less in nine of its last 10 games and has a remarkable 1.40 goals against average during that span. In addition, the Rivermen have jumped all the way to third in the league allowing just 2.73 goals per game.
SPHL Stories from February 20, 2014
- Mississippi Surge Vanquishes Pensacola in Shootout, 5-4 - Columbus Cottonmouths
- Fayetteville Wins Tough Contest against Huntsville, 4-2 - Fayetteville Marksmen
- Ice Flyers Fall 5-4 to Surge in Shootout - Pensacola Ice Flyers
- Biloxi Baseball, Surge Announce Alliance - Mississippi Surge
- Preview: Rivermen Head South for a Trio this Weekend - Peoria Rivermen
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